Again Peter denied it

.... and at that moment a rooster began to crow (John 18:27). You likely know the story, Jesus had told Peter that before the cock crowed three times,  he would deny him thrice.  And here is the warning as it were from heaven.   It's not that Peter had not  been unafraid, or unwilling,  to fight for Jesus. Peter had taken up a sword and struck what he likely thought was the first blow, when  a detachment of soldiers  and some officials had come from the chief priests and Pharisees.  They had come  carrying torches, lanterns and weapons,  and  completely outnumbering the little group of followers (verses 3, 10). Jesus told him to put away his sword and healed  the man he had struck (18:11; Luke 22:51).  Peter was not yet equipped either for the the form, or with the weapons of the warfare in which he would later excel. But Peter was not the only one who was acting our of fear that morning.

When Jesus was brought before Pilot, the Roman governor of Judea, Pilot's own verdict on the charges that were brought against Jesus was that he found no basis for a charge (any charge) against Him (19:6). Right there and then,  justice demanded that he release Jesus.  They tell Pilot that Jesus deserves to die because He claimed to be the Son of God (which He was of course), and we read “When he heard this Pilot was even more afraid” (19:7, 8). Playing on that fear,  the crowd now kept shouting “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (verse 12).  Pilot had already  tried to release Jesus, he had had Him flogged Him hoping that would satisfy the crowd (19:1).  But it was the fear of the political fallout, in particular  “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (verse 12) that lead Pilot to finally hand Him over to be crucified (19:16).

We may be quick to condemn both Peter and Pilot, but have we never acted out of fear?   Which one of us has remained silent at times when we should have spoken up?  If called to renounce Jesus or die, would we immediately think of what that would mean for the family,  and rationalize that if we denied Him,  we could always repent later?  Was Peter thinking that if he got arrested he would not later be able to fight for Jesus his way, with swords?  Are we like Peter, brave in some situations, but not so much in others?  I have often wondered how I would have feared had I been called to fight in a physical war.  But the fact of the matter is,  that we are called to fight in a spiritual war, and the default is to be like Peter and Pilot were that morning.

Father Your Word tells us that when we  strengthen our feeble hands, and say to our fearful hearts“Be strong, do not fear,” then You will come and open the eyes of the blind, unstop their ears, and heal, and the waters of Holy Spirit pour down from on high (Isaiah 35:3-6). We need Your help Lord, straighten us by Your Spirit Lord. Thank You Lord that like Peter, You do restore and recommission us when we fail (John 21:15-19).  But Lord please strengthen us to act bravely in every situation,  and we will give Your the Glory in Jesus Name Amen