AfterWords: Towards the Cross - Denials

 

John 18:12-19; 24-27

During this Lenten season, we continue our journey towards the cross. We ask God daily, “What needs to change? What can I do differently? What do I need to give up or take on in my life to bring me closer to You?”

Today’s reading brings us closer to the Cross. Jesus had his last supper with the disciples. They all went out to Gethsemani for prayer where Jesus is arrested and the arduous trial period begins.

Peter…the Denier? — We wonder how Peter could deny Jesus, and we’re wondering if we might do the same. We may think of Peter as weak because of his denials, but we find that Peter is really the bravest of them all. Do you recall the story here? Peter, James, and John are right near Jesus when the Roman guards come to arrest him. When the guards arrive, who is the only one who leaps to his feet and draws his sword to protect his Lord? Peter. Jesus tells him to put away his sword and then heals the man Peter has struck. Peter is no coward. After Judas identifies Jesus, the guards close in, and the disciples scatter. Who is the one to follow behind and to sneak into the courtyard of Annas, into that burrow of snakes? Peter. Peter is no coward.

Peter does not deny his faith in Jesus, he doesn’t deny that Jesus is Messiah, he doesn’t deny that Jesus is Son of God. Peter denies his relationship to Jesus.

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” … “I am not.”
“You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” … “I am not.”
“Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” … Again Peter denied it, and…a rooster began to crow.

When we look closely at what is happening here, we may begin to see more of ourselves.

21^st Century Denials — How do our denials tend to happen today? Today, we deny the power of God in our lives, the activity of God in our lives. When life is good, we presume too often it’s due to our amazing wits and general exceptionalism. Jesus reminds us that all good things come from God:

“…[God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matt. 5:45)

The first part—rising sun—is the gift of a new day of life, and the second is the gift of life-giving rain. Everything good is from God—even our very lives exist because of the goodness of God. When we don’t acknowledge God’s part in our lives, we essentially deny God.

When we allow Jesus into only part of our lives, we deny Jesus. If we allow Jesus to guide us on Sunday but follow some other voice Monday through Friday, we are denying Jesus’ lordship in our lives. If we open our hearts to the Word on Sunday but spend more time following the Dow Jones rather than Jesus Monday through Friday, we deny Jesus.

If we hold on to fear in our lives, we deny the power and presence of Jesus in our lives. Jesus speaks these words to his disciples and to us:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

The sense here is that when we find ourselves becoming afraid, we catch ourselves. We stop and remember: Jesus says we are not to be afraid. When we ignore the words of Jesus, we deny Jesus, we deny the faith. We are not to be afraid or to live our lives in fear. That is not real living.

Conclusions — “What needs to change? What can I do differently? What do I need to give up or take on in my life to bring me closer to You?” John has told us over and over and over? “…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Jesus wants to bring us life. We find life when we embrace Jesus and all the Jesus is about…each and every day. This may require that we let go of our egotism and perceived self-sufficiency…that we let go of following someone else or some other philosophy of life…that we let go of the fear we’ve become so comfortable with. When we do these things, we proclaim Jesus rather than deny him…and we find life. This is God’s call to us today.

Sunday, March 8, 2026
Towards the Cross - Denials
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