Negare | Denied

He denied Jesus, saying, “Woman, I don’t know him.” – Luke 22: 57 

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The story of Peter’s threefold denial of Christ is found in all four Gospel accounts. The one in Luke is in 22:55–62. A question many people ask, is why would the chief of the disciples deny even knowing Jesus Christ? Of course, we don’t know exactly, but fear was most probably one of the main reasons.

Although all the other disciples had fled (Mark 14:50), Peter still followed Jesus after His arrest, but he kept his distance. Peter watched as Jesus was being falsely accused, beaten, and insulted. Peter must have been gripped with fear and many other emotions. Peter wasn’t nearly as courageous as he had proclaimed. In fear he denied Jesus Christ.

Fear can be paralyzing. When we feel paralyzed by fear, we feel powerless and weak. It is in times of fear that we do things that are irrational, like Peter did. However, there is always hope. Even though Peter denied Jesus Christ, he received a second chance.

We read about this new chance in John 21 and it is connected to a charcoal fire. In the New Testament, only two times a charcoal fire (fire of coals) is mentioned. The first incident was in the courtyard of the high priest where Peter warmed his hands and where he denied that he knew Jesus (John 18:18). The second time was after the resurrection of Jesus, when Jesus cooked his disciples’ breakfast on the shores of Galilee on a fire of coals (John 21:9). There Peter was looking at a charcoal fire again. It is very likely that Peter thought back about that atrocious night in the courtyard of the high priest. 

There at the second charcoal fire, Peter received his second chance. Jesus did not tell Peter that he was not good enough, and needed more time to prove himself. Jesus just asked him: “Do you love me?” (John 21:15). It was such an important question. Jesus asked it three times. 

This is the most essential question for every believer, every day: Do you love Jesus? No matter what happened previously, do you love Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Saviour today? He who has Jesus has the life (1 John 5:12).

If we love Jesus, we will accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour because He died for us and His blood purified us from all sins.  If we love Jesus, we also receive what Jesus offers us: the complete forgiveness of sins. He is our all-sufficient Saviour. Christ was the perfect and final sacrifice. There is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only One who can forgive us and deliver us from the the penalty of sin. He offered Himself once, for all sin, for all time (Hebrews 10:12). By His one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). 

Let's confess Jesus as our Lord and Saviour without any fear! As we read in Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly".  We do not need to fear, as the Lord is our helper (Hebrews 13:6).

Reflection on Luke 22: 47 – 71 by Hanne Teach

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