Have You Ever Disowned Him?

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man! Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75 Peter was one of Jesus' close friends, disciple! He spent time with Jesus, he saw His miracles FIRST HAND! He was there! When they took Jesus away after Judas betrayed Him Peter followed at a safe distance. He watched them question Him, slap Him, spit in His face. Then there was the servant girl who recognized Peter, as one of Jesus' followers or friend. At first he just pretended that he had no idea what she was taling about but after the second time, Peter did it. He said, "I don't know the man." Wow. Then even his accent gave him away but Peter denied knowing Jesus again. Immediately the rooster crowed and Peter remembered...what Jesus had told him...you will deny or disown me three times and Peter wept bitterly. How sad. Have you ever disowned Jesus? Have you ever had that moment when you didn't speak up when someone was making fun of Jesus or Christians? You probably cringed inside but didn't say anything. Or even so step away that you swear(like Peter did in verse 74)? Peter didn't even want to sound like Jesus at that moment lest he be associated with Him. You know what I am talking about...trying to belong or fit in so much that you distance yourself from Jesus in silence. We should sound like we hang out with Jesus. We should be recognizable that we belong to Jesus. Our speach or "accent" should sound like Him! You want to know the best part? Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him. Jesus knew that this man, his friend and follower, would claim to not know Him but yet HE STILL LOVED PETER> The same is with us. He knows that there will be times that we will fail, yet HE STILL LOVES US! Does it hurt? You bet. It hurts both Him and us. Peter wept bitterly. I am guessing that he was discusted with himself. He failed his friend, Jesus. It doesn't end there. Peter didn't let it end there. He went on to follow Jesus. After the crucifixition Jesus came back! He visited Peter! He didn't hold it against him, He forgave him. Just like He has forgiven us. When we mess up we can still have a relationship with Jesus. He loves us so much that even when He knows that there will be times that we fail Him that He will never leave us or fail us or even give up on us! So know that just because you have messed up things in the past that there we have forgiveness and we can restore our relationship with Him (JESUS)! He is good like that :) Shanin