Saturday, April 30, 2022

Betrayal by Denial - Mark 13-14

 Mark 14:66-72 (ESV)
Peter Denies Jesus
And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Betrayal is a horrible behavior.  It can take on many forms.    Earlier, prior to the above events, Judas betrayed Jesus.  Because he did not want to be known as the betrayer, he told the guards that followed him whoever he kissed would be Jesus.  That was a sublet way of saying, “This is the guy you want!”   The kiss was deceptive as it communicates on thing to the people around him, but another to those who paid him money to betray Jesus.   But, Peter’s betrayal, above, might be worse.   You could say it was not a betrayal, it was a denial.  But, the denial betrayed his Lord, as he had a chance to claim Jesus’ as Lord.  Earlier, Peter said the following about denying Jesus:

Mark 14:29-31 (ESV)
Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

It was not just Peter.  But, all the disciples betrayed Jesus.  This was necessary for Christ to hang on the cross, alone.   It is interesting that two robbers hung on the cross with Jesus, but none of His followers.   

Peter breaks down and cries as a result of this betray via denial.   Judas hung himself.  Petered cried. The other disciples hid.   What do we look like when we betray him via our denial of representing Him in today’s market place? 

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