Denial of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was denied by the Jewish people

John 1:11 ESV

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

See also Mt 11:16–19; Mt 13:54–58; Mt 26:63–68; Lk 4:16–30; Jn 5:37–43; Ac 4:8–12; Ps 118:22

The consequences of denying Jesus Christ

Denying Jesus Christ results in judgment

John 12:48 ESV

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

See also Mt 12:38–42

Denying Jesus Christ means replacement by others

Acts 13:46 ESV

And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

See also Mt 21:40–41; Ac 18:5–6

To deny Christ is to be denied by Christ

2 Timothy 2:12 ESV

if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

See also Mt 10:32; Mk 8:38

Warnings against those who deny Jesus Christ

2 Peter 2:1 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

See also 1 Jn 2:22–23; 2 Jn 7; Jud 4

Denial, repentance and restoration: the example of Peter

Peter’s denial predicted by Jesus Christ

Mark 14:29–30 ESV

Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

Peter declares he will never deny Jesus Christ

Mark 14:31 ESV

But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Peter denied that he knew Jesus Christ

Matthew 26:69–75 ESV

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter’s restoration to Christ

See also Jn 21:15–19; Ac 1:15–22; Ac 2:14–41

John 21:15–19 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”