Mark 14:66-72 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 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.” He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 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.
Peter, a soldier for Christ, a defender of Christ, a man who left everything to follow him, finds himself in the courtyard of the high priest, confused and afraid. He had watched Jesus deal with many crowds. He probably helped to control the crowds that pressed around Jesus, either to harm Jesus or to receive a blessing from his hands. For sure, Peter had faced many difficult situations during the years he had walked with Jesus. But now, alone among violent and hostile people, amongst the crowd that had always wanted to kill Jesus, Peter was feeling the hopelessness of the situation. His master might be killed, and everyone else who had been close to Jesus might be killed as well. Therefore, Peter exclaims, I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about. Peter, the man who affirmed first among the apostles that he would never abandon Jesus, now under pressure, asserts ignorance about knowing this man Jesus. He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about." In this heart-rending account of Peter's denial, the Holy Spirit reveals to us how weak the flesh is, how we will turn against our own words if the pressure is too great and the situation is too hard to face. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, we can become liars in our words and in our deeds. Is it any wonder that Peter broke down and wept, for in his heart this is the same man who said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Mark 14:31)
How often do we abandon Jesus when the people around us start to look closely at us? Do we remain true, when they look at us to see if we are one of those people who still believes in this man Jesus who supposedly makes us right with a mythical God that few find relevant in our materialistic culture? Are we still one of those crazies who believes in sacrifices for sin? Are we still so primitive in our beliefs? Don't we know the world has moved on in this scientific age where knowledge has freed us from such thinking? What does blood have to do with cleansing the mind, the spirit, or the soul? When people we care about, people we interact with daily, ridicule and define our Jesus as a mere man, do we defend our belief in Jesus or do we in actions and words abandon him, literally proclaiming that we don’t know this man, Jesus. Under hostile, questioning or at gatherings, do we assert that Jesus is the Son of God who came to save sinners or do we capitulate to the crowd's desire to at best view him as being a good man, a teacher of peace and love. How many of us forsake Jesus when we think we might be ridiculed or rejected? How many of us fail to talk about him to friends because we might lose their respect or companionship? Peter walked away from Jesus because he feared for his life, but how many times do we walk away from him just because we might lose a friendship, a promotion, a job, or the esteem of another person? Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)
Before Peter denied Christ, Jesus partook of the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room: And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. (Mark 14:22-24) After speaking of his body and his blood given for them, they all go to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus says all the sheep will be scattered, but He will rise again. Then Peter pledges his loyalty and says, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. (Mark 14:29) We can all praise the Lord for Peter's story. We know that because of God's grace and mercy,
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8) Jesus knew Peter loved him, yet He also knew Peter would betray him. Jesus also knew that after He went to the cross and was raised from the dead, Peter would lead many to salvation through the power of the Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost. Jesus does not judge us according to our weaknesses. We are new creatures, made perfect in him. Sometimes the enemy reminds us continually of our weakest moments, our worst failures. We need to tell him that our sins are buried under the blood of Jesus. Jesus said, So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) We do not have to carry our sins with us in a pack upon our backs. Jesus has won the victory. Peter did not have to go through his life under the guilt of knowing he had denied Jesus. He could accept God's forgiveness, knowing the price Jesus paid was enough for every sin he ever committed. John wrote, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) This means his blood cleansed us yesterday, it cleanses us today, and it will cleanse us tomorrow. Thank you, Jesus! Confess him as YOUR LORD! 
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