Whom Do You Seek - EasterSample

Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with His disciples and outlined His upcoming death, but the disciples don’t really understand what is about to happen. Peter confidently tells Jesus that he’s willing to go to prison and even to die for Jesus, but Jesus knows the truth and He foretells Peter's Denial.

Jesus is then betrayed by Judas and is taken to be interrogated. Peter, following at a distance, hides in the shadows, clearly not wanting to be noticed. But, on three separate occasions, three different people approach Peter, recognising him as one of Jesus’ disciples. Given three opportunities to stand up and declare his allegiance to Jesus, Peter instead panics and denies his association each time. Throughout scripture there are many examples where human weakness is contrasted with Jesus’ strength.

As Peter’s responses fulfil Jesus’s words and fail to fulfill his own, he is filled with great shame and weeps bitterly. Jesus had spoken the truth whereas Peter had naively believed in his own strength.

I can relate to the shame that Peter experienced as I reflect on the lie of omission. I may not have denied Jesus directly with my words, but there have been occasions where I could have shared my faith, and yet remained silent. How about you? In the workplace or with friends, when someone asks about your weekend, do you talk about what you learnt in church on Sunday? Or, do you talk in vague terms and then redirect the conversation? If someone makes fun of another person because of their faith, do you speak up or remain silent in the shadows?

Today, ponder this: How might you boldly declare the gospel of Jesus today? Pray and ask God to give you strength to speak boldly about Jesus rather than trying to rely on your own strength.