"Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew."
In today's quote, after being slapped by one of the guards, Jesus defends His actions to the high priest of the Jews; "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"
This lesson also demonstrates a failure in Peter's faith as he denied knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crowed in the morning.
As Peter demonstrated in today's lesson, a profession of faith in Jesus Christ is sometimes wasted and taken much to lightly, and again sometimes, a profession of faith is professed without fully understanding what the word "faith" truly means to us.
Of course, we know that the ordeal Jesus endured was preordained by God Himself, and nothing Peter could have done would have altered the outcome. Yet, by claiming faith in Jesus then denying Him, Peter proved himself to be "wishy washy" much the same as many "Christians" today, by only demonstrating faith when things are going well.
In order for faith in Jesus Christ to always be a valuable and beneficial asset it must be exercised, or put to use, as is made clear in James 2:20, ,"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
If one does not totally rely on faith in Jesus Christ by exercising it in situations such as when Peter was confronted by what he perceived to be his adversaries, it is useless, or "dead".
Without exercising, or "work"ing our faith, it will be nonexistent because it produces nothing. We Know that Peter believed in Jesus enough to be eternally saved, but just as many today, he did not demonstrate faith when confronted by the enemies of Christ.
Faith without works is indeed meaningless or "dead", therefore we should take our faith and run with it, relying on it for every aspect of our daily lives. Jesus will always honor our faith.~
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