Luke 22:34
But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If we are to be totally honest, there are probably at least one or two people who could deny knowing us, and we really wouldn’t care! But for the most part, when someone treats us poorly… fails to acknowledge us… or even betrays us by skipping out when the chips are down… we are insulted, disappointed, and sometimes deeply hurt. And I am sure that Jesus felt the same way when Peter told more than one person that he had no relationship with Him… that he didn’t know Him… that he had not been in His company.
Jesus had every right to throw up His hands and say to Peter, “That’s it! I’m done with you.” But we know better, don’t we?! Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t operate this way… and neither should we. Now understand me… I am not saying that people have license to walk all over us… mistreat us… come and go in our lives according to their whims or how we react toward them, and suffer no consequences. Everyone deserves respect and fair treatment. But there will come a time in each person’s life when someone mistreats him/her… and your first reaction may be to say, “That’s it! I’m done!”
Think about that significant other you thought was so wonderful when you first met… and now you can’t believe you ever gave him/her the time of day. Consider the person who pretended to be your friend, then took advantage of your time, talents, knowledge, or possessions... and ran for the hills. What about the person who embarrassed you or tried to make you look ridiculous to others? You probably are pretty angry and disgusted with him/her…right? And you may have good reason to be!
Nobody should be another person’s doormat. But at the same time, we must be ready and willing to offer forgiveness, grace, and mercy to those who “deny” us in some way. We have all treated Jesus terribly… and He still finds a way to forgive us. We have all denied Him in one way or another… yet He loves us. We may not have actually uttered the words, “I don’t know Him,” but we have done this in ways great and small… from failing to love others in His name to ignoring the gentle whisper of His Holy Spirit to acting like fools on more than one occasion.
We lie, cheat, steal, gossip…take advantage of others’ generosity…treat people poorly…walk, talk and dress like someone who has no pride or respect…mistreat our bodies with food, drugs and alcohol…and fail to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with those we encounter. In short, we do not live as disciples of Christ… we are not acting in a manner that would make us suitable representatives of the hands and feet of Jesus… and our actions essentially are a denial of our Jesus Christ, who gave His very life on the cross for ours. And still He forgives us.
Just like with Peter, Jesus knows what we will do before we do it. He allows us the rope for either a rescue - or a hanging… and the choice is ours. Jesus stands ready to offer us grace, mercy and forgiveness – if only we will ask Him. Can you say that you do the same for others? We all “deny” Jesus… and others will “deny” us. What will you do when this happens? Just how committed to are you to Christ? Isn’t it time you decided?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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