Picking a Side

Boldness (Matthew 26:33-35)

Here we are jumping into a narrative of we see two significant events collide - Judas is deceiving and Peter boasting, but were are going to focus on Peter;

Jesus is telling His disciples that they will scatter from Him because the cross;

However, Peter boldly denied his departure even if the others ran away;

Peter picked a side that he was certain he would not weaver from;

How you ever picked a side that you just knew you would not weaver;

But Jesus told Peter that his boldness would fade no once but three times and Peter became even more emboldened along with the others.

Recognized (Matthew 26:69-75)

Now as we advance in the narrative Jesus has been arrested, the disciples have scattered except for Peter who followed at a distance (v. 58);

So far Peter has held firm to part of his side - he did not run yet he wasn’t ready to die;

Peter seems to have picked a side as long as it could be done quietly;

But his quietness is about to become deafening as he is recognized;

Peter is recognized by his affiliation with Jesus (v. 68) by a servant girl but Peter denied his picked side;

Again Peter is recognized again and he denied Jesus with slight more aggression (v. 71);

For a third time Peter was recognized as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth this time he aggressively denied picking the side of Jesus (v. 73).

Despair

After his third outburst the rooster crowed which caused Peter to remember what Jesus said about his denial;

Now in Luke 22:61 it says - 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

The New King James Version. (1982). (Lk 22:61). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

In his desire to pick a different side, Peter had forgotten his own promised commitment to Christ - look at verse 35: 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 26:35). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Notice Peter was not alone in his commitment but he stood alone in his despair;

Are feeling alone in your despair?