Peter Sat Out in the Courtyard

...but not for long.

Fear.

It’s fear.

The difference between Jesus and all others in these stories leading to the cross is that everyone else is acting in fear while Jesus persists in righteousness, bound by love.

Those who arrest him - fear of what he can do. The religious leaders - fear of who he says he is and who the people think he is. They also fear the political leaders who have the ability to make things better or worse. We’ll soon see Pilate and his fear of what might happen to his reputation should he handle the Jesus situation the wrong way.

…and then there’s Peter. Peter fears joining Jesus in chains. Despite all the teachings he was present for and the warnings Jesus made about what would happen, Peter still had fear. Can you relate to that? …knowing who Jesus is intimately but still being significantly unsure? Peter was unsure and fear set in upon his heart.

But it won’t for long. Here we see him outside the action, watching from the courtyard. Bless his heart in this moment of denial, but we know he’ll come around. (Isn’t that grace?) Peter will come around.

And so can we.

Matthew 26:69-75

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant woman came and said to him, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.”

But he denied it in front of all of them, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

When he went over to the gate, another woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”

With a solemn pledge, he denied it again, saying, “I don’t know the man.”

A short time later those standing there came and said to Peter, “You must be one of them. The way you talk gives you away.”

Then he cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment the rooster crowed. Peter remembered Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”

And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.

Prayer

God,

Thank you for today, Sunday. As your church gathers around the world, speak loudly about Jesus, which is to speak loudly about who we are to be. Shape us and form us. Make us yours. Don’t withhold your justice from us. Make us practitioners thereof.

As for me, help me this day as I seek to do what is in front of me. Deliver me from fear, wherever it comes from. Give me the boldness of Christ, not to be a brute to the people in my way, but to move with the same confidence as Christ that in the end, righteousness reigns and you’ve got me.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.