Mark 14:66-72
Peter Disowns Jesus
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Matthew 18:21-22
Times to Forgive
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
I love St. Peter...He gives me hope as a sinner that I can overcome my own denials I have about our Saviour...Peter denies Jesus after His arrest...I know that I have denied Him also...Some may think that how could Peter deny Jesus in His hour of need...I think it is how we react in certain situations...Peter has just seen His Master arrested...No doubt, he did not want to be arrested...This may have been his first reason, he denied knowing Jesus...Right after Jesus' arrest would have been a pressing situation...Peter could have been flogged or even crucified (or maybe, so he thought), if he admitted that he was one of the Twelve Disciples...
Children are the last generation to know the Father and Son, how will they know the Trinity without our teachings...After all Jesus in His Great Commission tells us to make disciples of all nations and all people (Matthew 28:16-20)...Surely, we are to be evangelists for the Master, who knows all things...How else would all nations know the Father and Son without each of us recognizing the Father and Son, and acknowledging the Father and Son at these proper times?...
Peter did not only deny Jesus once, but three times...But I too know, there have been times when I have been with someone or in a group, and should have given credit and glory to God, or should explain that Jesus or God is in control and did this or that, so others would understand better the Divine Providence of our LORD...But I have failed to do it...After all when we think about God deserves the glory and not us...I have denied Him more than three times...And these were nothing like the atmosphere following Jesus' arrest...
I do not want St. Peter to think that I wanted him to deny his Master on the night of Jesus' arrest...It is not that Peter was right in doing this, and certainly not acknowledging Jesus should never be done...But by him denying Jesus, it gives me a connection to Peter...I can relate to him and the situation he was in...Peter gives me hope and belief that as a wretched man that I too can be forgiven by His Great Teacher...When St. Peter ask Jesus, if seven was the number of times he should forgive his brother, Jesus says not seven but seventy-seven...I am sure that in my life I have used up my seventy-seven times of forgiveness and more and more I will need the Good Teacher's forgiveness again....I thank God for the lessons of Peter, and forgiveness lesson of St. Peter with our Savior...