Peter
swore with an oath, “I do not know the man.” But it wasn’t exactly true.
While Jesus is on trial, Peter is hanging around the courthouse when a maid recognizes him. She points her finger, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” Peter denies it and slinks off, only to be fingered twice more. Each time, Peter swears, “I do not know the man.” At the third denial, the cock crows, just as Jesus had predicted.
This famous denial is only the last in a long line of rejections. The dominant theme in every gospel—but especially Mark’s—is the failure of Jesus’ disciples to “get it.” Over and again they fail to grasp the point in Jesus’ teachings, and so of course they fail to live out that wisdom in their daily lives. Despite Jesus’ telling them on many occasions that he must die in order to live, they fail to understand, fail to believe. They might have thought they knew Jesus, but if they were honest, every disciple would have to confess: “I do not know the man.”
While I am sure Peter’s denial pained Jesus’ heart, I am also sure Jesus wasn’t surprised. He knew none of his disciples really knew him. They may have confessed him with their mouths, but they denied him in their lives. And what was true then is true now, true of us.
The good news is, how well we know—or think we know—Jesus doesn’t matter. What matters is that he knows us. I think of Jesus’ assurance—“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). Jesus knows us. That we can be sure of. But Jesus also declares that “my own know me.” How is that possible for Peter and all us deniers who say with our lives, “I do not know the man”? The answer must be some miracle of grace, where Jesus has us covered. And if he says we know him, all we can say in prayer is, “If you say so. Amen.”
COMPANIONS ON THE WAY
Introduction
Stories of Turning
Week One
Stories of Wild Places
Week Two
Stories of Dogged Faith
Week Three
Stories of Mercy & Forgiveness
Week Four
Stories of Simplicity & Joy
Week Five
Stories of Prayer & Surrender
Week Six
Stories of Transforming Love
David – Thank you.
As a ragged Christian who mostly stays silent during the Nicene Creed, I found your commentary on Peter’s multiple denials of Jesus very comforting – particularly that Jesus knows each of us, notwithstanding our own ignorance and denials.
“A ragged Christian”—that’s a good image, Clive. I think it’s pretty clear the disciples were majorly ragged so we shouldn’t hope for much better. In the end, it’s “Christ living in me,” as Paul later said. It’s as if Christ has taken up residence and control in his life, and does the believing and hoping and loving FOR HIM.
I do not know him – a lie and the deepest truth. Perhaps that’s why we pray to know as we are known…thanks, David!
“A lie and the deepest truth”—that’s a perfect encapsulation of it. Thanks.