ON YOUR MARK: WEEK 13 DAY 1

Mark 14:66-72

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Peter was full of passion and loyalty when he uttered the words, “Even though they all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29). Peter was also full of passion when he asked Jesus to call him out on the water in verses 28-30 of this chapter: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 

I believe that Peter fully intended to carry through on both of his statements discussed before the passage we read today, but Peter, like you and me, was running on his own strength rather than the power and strength of God. Peter’s love for Jesus and his desire to protect Him produced a confidence in his own flesh, and when the time came to act on that declaration, Peter was weak and powerless. 

Don't feel the need to make grand statements about what you will do for Jesus. Instead, continue to draw near to Him, talk to Him, praise Him and rest in Him. Then when the time comes you will know what to say and do.