Mark 14:71 KJV
But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
Peter's response to those who recognized him as a disciple of Christ is so well known that it would not be too difficult to pass over in our reading. But when one considers it, it seems shocking. Peter was the most outspoken of Christ's followers by far. He was one of those three inner circle disciples and he was the most adamant that he would die with Christ before he would deny Christ.
And yet here he is. With Christ just feet away in the midst of the battle for the souls of men, Peter was outside cursing to prove He had no relationship with Jesus.
Peter's failure should be a stern warning to all of us. The key to our faith isn't found in our loud and confident outbursts of belief and fellowship with the Lord. The key to our faith happens when the rug beneath our faith is pulled away. When we remain faithful
even then we have a faith that will get us through.
The good news is that though Peter failed this test, God was not through with Him. Before his life was finished Peter came to the sort of faith that preserved him through jailings and near execution. Finally tradition says he was executed for his faith and remained faithful and true.
We never know if our faith is what we believe it is until we have been tested. In testing we learn our weaknesses but we also find Christ's strengths.
But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
Peter's response to those who recognized him as a disciple of Christ is so well known that it would not be too difficult to pass over in our reading. But when one considers it, it seems shocking. Peter was the most outspoken of Christ's followers by far. He was one of those three inner circle disciples and he was the most adamant that he would die with Christ before he would deny Christ.
And yet here he is. With Christ just feet away in the midst of the battle for the souls of men, Peter was outside cursing to prove He had no relationship with Jesus.
Peter's failure should be a stern warning to all of us. The key to our faith isn't found in our loud and confident outbursts of belief and fellowship with the Lord. The key to our faith happens when the rug beneath our faith is pulled away. When we remain faithful
even then we have a faith that will get us through.
The good news is that though Peter failed this test, God was not through with Him. Before his life was finished Peter came to the sort of faith that preserved him through jailings and near execution. Finally tradition says he was executed for his faith and remained faithful and true.
We never know if our faith is what we believe it is until we have been tested. In testing we learn our weaknesses but we also find Christ's strengths.
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