Lesson 1609

(Lesson 1609)(03-03-16) Matthew 26:69-75

"Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

Today's lesson demonstrates how weak Peter's devotion to Jesus truly was. Yet Peter is the man who the Roman Catholics refer to as the first "pope" and the man to whom they have erroneously granted all power and authority over the church Jesus established.

Peter's faith appears to have been weaker than that of most of the other apostles. It was most certainly much, much weaker that the faith Paul constantly displayed after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

I wonder how those of us who claim the mantel of Christianity would react if faced with the same situation that faced Peter that fateful night? I'm sure we would all love to believe we would have stayed by Jesus' side until they chased us away.
Although Peter was not condemned for his denial because he later repented, it behooves us all to ponder that question carefully because someday those who are lost with out Jesus will be faced with the same options, either go with Jesus and inherit eternal live, or reject Him and spend an eternity apart from God in the fiery pit with Satan.~