Daily Wisdom

An Oath of Betrayal – Mark 14:70-72

Key Passage

Again Peter said that it was not true. A short time later, some people were standing near Peter. The people said, "We know you are one of those people that followed Jesus. You are from Galilee, the same as Jesus." Then Peter began to curse. He said strongly, "I promise to God that I don't know this man you are talking about!" After Peter said this, the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus told him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter was very sad and began to cry.

— Mark 14:70-72 ERV (Read Full Text)

Key Thought

Peter swore that he didn't know Jesus. Then he heard the rooster crow and he realized the bitter truth. Not once… not twice… but three times he denied his Lord. The third time he even cursed and used an oath to deny Jesus. How could he have done it? How could he have slipped so far? Only minutes earlier he had been willing to draw a sword and take on the armed group that had come to arrest Jesus. Where had his courage, his conviction, and his commitment gone? We must realize that none of us is strong enough to guarantee we won't fail or abandon our Lord at times. However, the test we face involves two parts. The first part is the pressure to sin. If we yield to that temptation and sin, the second is to have the courage to recognize it as sin, be convicted to the core of our hearts of that sin, and to change our hearts and behavior to return to our deeply held allegiance to the Lord.

Prayer

O Father, give me courage. I want to demonstrate my allegiance to you, your Son, and your Kingdom no matter what my outward circumstances and pressures may bring. But, dear Father, if I fail and sin, please help me to have the courage to recognize it, to be emotionally convicted by it, and to be spiritually committed to come home and show that it was an exception to a life lived wholly for you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Related Scriptures

"Satan (the devil) has asked to test you men like a farmer tests his wheat. O Simon, Simon (Peter), I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me."
Luke 22:31-32

When they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these {other men love me}?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Then Jesus said to Peter, "Take care of my lambs. " Again Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Then Jesus said to Peter, "Take care of my sheep. " A third time Jesus said, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was sad because Jesus asked him three times, "Do you love me?" Peter said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!" Jesus said to Peter, "Take care of my sheep. I tell you the truth. When you were young, you tied your own belt and went where you wanted. But when you are old, you will put out your hands and another person will tie you. That person will lead you where you don't want to go." (Jesus said this to show how Peter would die to give glory to God.) Then Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me!"
John 21:15-19

Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right. But your body is weak."
Mark 14:38

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