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 Luke 22:54-62

54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 the guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 a servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally, she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” 57 But Peter denied it. “Woman”, he said, “I don’t even know him.” 58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. 59 About an hour later someone insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

What a sad encounter. I’m sure not many of us would want this type of experience written down for all to read. But also, an encouraging encounter. We have all made mistakes of some kind. We have all denied Christ at some point through word, thought or deed. And we have all experienced the saving grace and compassion of Jesus Christ. What part of this story this spoke to your heart? My heart broke and cringed a bit when I read Peter saying, “I don’t even know him.” My heart lifted a bit when I read “The Lord turned and looked at him”. I must be honest, I thought, Peter, how can you do this? My sincerest apologies to Peter. I don’t know what I would have done under similar circumstances, so it’s a bit easy to judge from afar. Please forgive me Lord. And then “The Lord turned and looked at Peter”. I find that quite an intimate moment. To be seen by the Lord. The same Peter writes “We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, we can show others the goodness of God.” Wow! Only the power and presence of God transforms in this way.