In the Face of Fear
And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” Matthew 26:72 NASB
Denied – From the Greek verb arneomai. It is accurately translated “deny.” Peter refused to acknowledge that he knew Yeshua. This verb also means, “to give up, to retract, to renounce.” During the first century, many Jews, both orthodox and Messianic, were tortured unless they retracted or renounced their beliefs. They were asked to deny what they knew to be true. Many stood firm – and died.
The story of Peter is the story of each one of us confronted by fear. Peter vehemently denied his association with Yeshua. He was as passionate in his denial as he was in his previous affirmation (“you are the Messiah, the son of the living God”). Here he swears an oath to emphasize his denial. The guilt of these renunciations led him to give up on his life. He was overcome with shame. He went back to being an ignominious fisherman. Fear for his own safety made him an emotional wreck and in that moment he gave up on the most important relationship in his life.
I know Peter’s shame too. There have been times in my life when I denied who I really wanted to be in order to protect myself. I wanted to be truthful, but in fear I lied. I wanted to be pure, but in fear I chose impurity. I wanted to be just, but in fear I cheated. And every time I came out just where Peter arrived – in the valley of shame. Only the risen Lord could reclaim Peter. Only the Son of God could reclaim me. Both Peter and I needed to be more than forgiven. We needed to be restored to wholeness. We needed to have God remove that shame by replacing our defiled hearts with cleansed identity.
Denial is never something we intend. Denial is the result of panic. It comes when we begin to think we are alone in this world. It jumps up from inside when we suddenly need to protect ourselves. And it rushes out so quickly that unless our hearts and minds are fixed on the truth of life in God, it will overwhelm us in that split second when we say, “I don’t know Him.” If you know the crushing emotion of shame, you know that forgiveness is not enough. God must restore your heart along with your mind. You need to be renewed. Thank God, that is just what He does.
In a moment, shame can overwhelm. But in a moment, it can be conquered. Let your past denials become the exuberant joy of Paul’s affirmation: “I am not ashamed.”
Topical Index: arneomai, to deny, shame, restoration, Matthew 26:72, Peter
~ and again he denied it with an oath, -“I do not know this man.” Matthew 26:72
There is not one among us who does not feel or know the sting of Peter’s shame. The scriptures also state (somewhere in the story of the crucifixion), a small, often overlooked, but significant detail..
~ and they all forsook Him, and fled ~ (Mark 14.50)
We are so busy pointing our ‘religious’ (and accusing) finger at Peter (or others like him) we fail to see, we also deny Christ (via attitudes and actions) daily.
I love Peter’s story for it is my own. -And not only mine, but thousands of other like-minded “followers of the Way”- as well.
Our Savior has said, (Hallelujah!)- ~ “I will build my church”..~ Here’s the deal.. Has the Messiah, our LORD Jesus, ever (once) said anything that did not “come to pass,” or come into being? If He said it, -it is going to happen, whether you and I have a part in it or not. Have you noticed, when God speaks- life occurs? – God creates by speaking, and our Savior has said, (this is how we roll, folks..)- ~ I will build my church. ~ (Matthew 16.18) This was spoken, to who? -and by Who?
If you have any issues with the word “church” as many seem to do, then may I (I believe this is legal) suggest a substitute? ~ I will build my Bride ~ for this is who we are, this is our identity, – (it is good to know who we are)- and we are (simply stated), “His.”
His (present) Body and His (future) Bride, for we (all) ~ have been bought/redeemed/purchased with a price.~ (1 Corinthians 6.20). As the value (or worth) of any object is often determined by the price willing to be paid, then what might be the value of one soul? Christ died for many, but would He, (and did He) suffer, bleed and died for one? Yes. -And I am the one. He took my sins and my sorrows- He made them His very own. – And He took (and relieved me) of my shame. (-What a Savior!-)
The shalom of our Savior is “wholeness”- true shalom in every sense of the word. He is the Prince of Peace- our victorious, conquering, risen, saving King. Jesus does save (completely). Is there another way to say this?- that has not already been revealed? What can be added to that which is already full?
What did Christ (not) accomplish upon tHis cross? Salvation? Done. hasatan? Destroyed. Death? Defeated. And ~ He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all–how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? ~ (Romans 8.32)
The magnificent mind of Rabbi Sha’ul begins to focus.. This is a man who has “seen a lot of stuff..” He was rode hard, hung up wet- and pulled through a knothole twice (minimum) and yet he is (amazingly) able to still say.. ~ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are killed every day, and we are accounted as sheep for slaughter.” And then comes one of my favorite “NO’s” in our Bible- or if you prefer- a huge “BUT”.. ~ NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us ~ BUT in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ~ In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the ONE who loved us ~
Is Paul through here? – or is there “more?” lol!- This man is on a roll- and the inspired words start raining down.. ~ For I am convinced/persuaded/sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD ~
And then Paul seals these words with this: ~ With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it ~ Amen, (the truth stamp!) – it is so!
Did our LORD Jesus restore Peter to “right-relationship?” (am I bouncin’ up and down right now?- lol!) Hallelujah! (he timidly exclaimed..) lol! Friend, Peter experienced the “not only- but also” of Christ..
Not only was he restored, (one of the many missions of our Master), but a message emerged from this mess of a man, – order was restored to former chaos, for Peter was not only rescued , but also he was renewed, redeemed, remade, reborn in relationship, revived and (another one) went on his way rejoicing.
And “what if?” What if our Savior were to stand before us and to say to us (today) – ~ Do you love Me? ~ Our answer, our confession too, might be the same as Peter’s.. “LORD, You know..” – for (is this true?) – He, the (now) Living Word, intricately and intimately -knows- the thoughts and intents of our hearts.
As always..~ what do the scriptures say? ~ “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account ” (Hebrews 4.13) Nothing? Am I (*ahem..) exposed? And wasn’t Peter laid bare/exposed/revealed when the rooster crowed three times? Eve, -where’s my fig leaf? Adam, have you forgotten something? God, our God, has provided Himself, the (atoning) Lamb. A Lamb has been slain for a covering, an atonement, a propitiating Sacrifice. Was the cross necessary?
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
‘Tis the Christ, by man rejected;
Here, my soul, your Savior see.
He’s the long expected Prophet,
David’s son, yet David’s LORD.
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
He’s the true and faithful Word.
Tell me, all who hear Him groaning,
Was there ever grief like this?
Friends through fear His cause disowning,
Foes insulting His distress;
Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would intervene to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.
You who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great,
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed;
See who bears the awful load;
It’s the Word, the LORD’s Anointed,
Son of man and Son of God.
Here we have a firm foundation;
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ, the rock of our salvation,
His the Name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on Him their hope have built.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr7-fgX1CB0
Skip wrote “Both Peter and I needed to be more than forgiven. We needed to be restored to wholeness.”
This iswhen SHALOM, is needed the most. Shalom is much, much more then just a greeting. It means “wellness and wholeness”. Sin loses every time to God’s grace and mercy when we confess our sins and failures to Him.
Blessed be His Holy Name!!
Thanks Skip, very fitting especially for this time of the year – looking back at my life, asking myself in what ereas of my life am I still in denial towards His ways.
From an old teaching from Beth Tikkun:
I deny God and choose to believe the lie/death because:
… I think God is holding out on me
…I think it is easier (to carry a burden of shame than to trust God)
…I set unrealistic goals for myself and give up too soon -( while change takes time and my own clean up and repentance towards healing is a journey)
…I believe I can’t do what God says, because its too much effort and I am too lazy
…I love my sin because it meets my needs (worse, I believe that I need my sin in order to be the person God wants me to be)
.. .I really believe that death is life ( example:Yeshua set me free from Torah)
Rabbi to student: Where does God’s presence dwell?
Student: Everywhere!
Rabbi: No, where does God’s presence dwell?
Student: The Prophets teach His glory covers the earth like water the sea.
Rabbi: No, where does God’s presence dwell?
Student: I don’t know
Rabbi: Where we create space for Him
Luzette, Thanks for the soul searching comments. As you said, it is especially appropriate given the season, They have gone into my saved file, and hopefully into my heart. Chag Sameach “May your name be inscribed in the Book of life”. Shalom, Michael
Oh Luzette! That (the Rabbi/Student conversation) is so profound and just what I needed today! Thank you for sharing
Ha! GOD TELLS ALL! The story of Peter’s denial is recorded in all 4 Gospels!
Ah! The weakness and fear of mankind on display. [did anyone notice I turned ‘ha’ into ‘ah’]
Have you wondered why Jesus allowed Peter to fail so miserably as to deny his Lord 3Xs that night? Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked permission to sift him like wheat (Luke 22:31). Jesus easily could’ve said “no” and protected Peter, but Jesus always has His reasons for allowing trials. He was equipping Peter to strengthen his brothers (Luke 22:32). Not only did Peter strengthen the other disciples. He became a pillar of the early church in Jerusalem, training others to follow the Lord Jesus (Acts 2).
And if your face is not turned up at the corners yet, remember this: The Resurrected Lord WENT LOOKING for Peter! He could have told John or one of the others to go tell Peter, ‘Listen, Peter, I’m not mad at you, come on back”. But no, He went and found Peter and had a talk with him. He asked Him 3 Xs “Peter, do you love me?”.
By the 3rd time Peter was probably thinking, “He doubts me — He’s probably right, I probably don’t even love Him.” Finally Peter appealed to the Lord and said, “You know”, and then Jesus told him to “go feed His sheep.”
[The Lord does not send anyone to feed His sheep that He knows doesn’t love Him.]
Peter spent the rest of his life feeding sheep.
And his letters –1 and 2 Peter– continue tonight in 2012 to strengthen us who are still in this vail of tears. God used Peter’s failures, even the denials, which make us go “Oooooh noooo, not that!”, to turn him from Simon into Peter, the Rock.
[Did anyone notice the Lord turned the fragile stone into a rock?]
–[Did anyone notice the Lord turned the fragile stone into a rock?]–
lol! Yes He did! Abram became Abraham! Saul became Paul. And the stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner!
~ And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God has also greatly exalted him and he has given him The Name which is greater than all names, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;then every tongue in one accord, will say that Jesus the Messiah is LORD, while God the Father praising.