02/29/2024
I can’t deny him
“Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.”
Matthew 26:74-75 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.26.74-75.NLT
When we don’t acknowledge Jesus it puts a curse upon your life.
Peter had made a promise to Jesus that he was a true rider. Like Tupac boasted in his song, “I can’t deny it, I’m a true rider!” A rider is somebody who stands on business and will not run when it’s time to go down.
When Jesus told the disciples how he must go to Jerusalem to be executed on the cross Peter spoke up and made a declaration that he was a rider.
Luke 22:33-43
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
When the Roman guards came and arrested Jesus, Peter tried to protect Jesus by cutting off the ear of one of the soldiers. But Jesus picked up the ear and miraculously put the man’s ear back on his head and told Peter to put his sword away because those that live by the sword will die by the sword.
Peter wasn’t no punk! He was ready to fight but Jesus took away the option of fighting and the only option left was to go to jail and die.
Peter followed from a distance.
When we realize the real cost of being a follower of Jesus and consider the fact that we could lose our lives it makes us back up at times and start following from a distance
When they get to the judgment hall to interrogate Jesus, people outside start asking Peter if he was one of Jesus disciples. How could they not recognize Peter? Everywhere Jesus went Peter was always front and center! But when the stuff got real he tried to shift to the background. It’s easy to follow your leader when they are popular but it’s hard to be around them when they are being persecuted.
The religious leaders were literally spitting on Jesus and punching him in his face when they asked Peter the third time, “aren’t you one of his disciples, you talk like him?”
Peter called down a curse on himself by saying, “ may a curse be on my life if I’m lying, I don’t know him!”
This is so disturbing. I’ve always gotten this text wrong. I’ve always said, Peter started cussing. No! It’s worse! He spoke a curse over his life just to avoid death.
How afraid did Peter have to be to speak a curse over his own life?
Better yet what are we afraid of losing that we put ourselves at risk of being cursed?
Jesus told his disciples that, “ who ever tries to save their lives will lose it but whoever gives their life for my sake shall find life. “
Are you a rider or have you denied Jesus?
Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three
