Key Thought

Peter denies the Lord the first time, just as Jesus had warned him that he would. On cue, the rooster crows as if God is trying to stir Peter's soul to a new-found fortitude or to remind him of his failure that has just begun to unfold. As the verses that follow show, Peter does not awaken from his spiritual slumber. He continues down the path of denial and abandonment that was begun in the Garden of Gethsemane. How many times have we been caught in the lure of sin or the spiral of spiritual weakness and not heeded the Lord's warning and not found his way of escape?

Today's Prayer

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O God, forgive me for not heeding your warnings, for not summoning my courage, for not asking for your Spirit's power, and for not taking your way of escape. Strengthen me by your Spirit, I pray, and open my eyes to see your way through my times of temptation and sin. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

At that time, Peter was still in the yard. A servant girl of the high priest came to Peter. The girl saw Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked closely at Peter. Then the girl said, "You were with Jesus, that man from Nazareth." But Peter said that he was never with Jesus. He said, "I don't know or understand what you are talking about." Then Peter left and went to the entrance of the yard. The servant girl saw Peter there. Again the girl said to the people who were standing there, "This man is one of those people {that followed Jesus}." 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 14:66-72 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.