15. And Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another
disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the
court of the high priest,
16. but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other
disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and
brought in Peter.
17. The slave-girl therefore who kept the door said to Peter,
“You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I
am not.”
18. Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made
a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter also was with
them, standing and warming himself......
25. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said
therefore to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied
it, and said, “I am not.”
26. One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the
one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?”
27. Peter therefore denied it again; and immediately a cock crowed.
1. These verses include the rather famous three fold denials of
Simon Peter. It is a sad exchange! Why do you think Peter denied Jesus?
2. What do you think Peter was thinking between the first and the
second denials? between the second and third denials?
3. What must have gone through Peter’s mind as he listened to
the rooster crow after his third denial? How do you think he felt?
After the third denial, Simon Peter likely experienced one of the
most difficult emotions -- regret over a missed opportunity. He had been warned by Jesus
beforehand to NOT fall away. He had even boasted that he would NOT fall away, even if
everyone else did. Yet he still denied three times that he even knew Jesus, let alone
admit that he was a follower.
The Christian who uses the Internet to view pornography knows how Peter felt as he
listened to the crowing of the rooster. How many times has he (she?) been warned to not
“click” on to that site? How many times has he reminded himself that he
shouldn’t? How clearly has he understood that involvement with pornography is wrong?
Yet, he finds himself going there anyway!
The time has come for that Christian to carefully consider the situation and weigh his
options. Either continue to view porn, get a momentary rush followed by hours (or days) of
regret over a missed opportunity to stand firm for the Lord OR say “NO!” to
temptation, live with the short-lived discomfort of not satisfying the desires of the body
and enjoy the freedom that comes from a clean conscience.