Read Mark 14:30–31

“Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” (Mark 14:30–31)

I've often said that Peter suffered from “foot-in-mouth” disease. He was given to boasting and overstatement because of his over-inflated opinion of himself. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt here. Perhaps he was genuinely self-assured. He really meant it! Confident of his own loyalty and devotion to the Master, he didn’t mind stepping up and sounding as loyal as he felt. He was devoted enough to die with Him, so he said.

Peter fled with the others when Jesus was arrested. Yet he did not go far. He followed Jesus, His captors, and the crowd “at a distance” into the courtyard of the high priest. The soldiers were gathered around a small fire, and carefully, with his cloak wrapped closely around him, Peter approached the embers to warm himself. Afraid but curious, Peter’s loyalty was at war with his fear.

Jesus was tormented, humiliated, spit upon, cursed, and falsely accused. He stood there silent and bleeding. Then they began to mock Him. They blindfolded Him and slapped His face. And off in the shadows, taking it all in, stood frightened Peter.

Not one of us can look with judgment upon Peter. Not one. Why? Because we have all denied Christ. Perhaps in our workplace or in some social situation we have denied the very Lord we claimed to love and worship on the previous Sunday morning. Perhaps, at an opportune moment to share our faith in Jesus Christ, we have kept silent, afraid of being branded a religious fanatic. Silence itself can be a denial.

Who was the guilty?
Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee.
’Twas I, Lord Jesus,
I it was denied thee:
I crucified thee.
—Johann Heermann

Adapted by Insight for Living staff from The Darkness and the Dawn by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com