Peter's Denial

(John 18.15-27)

One of the things that I like about the gospel narratives, is that they paint a picture of the disciples, warts and all.

It gives me some encouragement, when I read about the mess that they made of things.

That first Maundy Thursday must have been the low point of Peter's whole life.

Of course he wasn't the only one who let Jesus down, ...they all did.

Judas, betrayed him, ...the other disciples ran away, ...the crowd that had sung Jesus' praises just four days earlier, what happened to them.

But Peter was so certain that he wouldn't let Jesus down:

"Even if all fall away, I will not", he confidently declared.

But when it came to the crunch, he denied that he ever knew Jesus. ...How could he have done that?

Yet is this not something that we are all capable of?

This sketch is a modern day parallel of Peter's denial.

(A sketch from Plays for all Seasons)

Try putting yourself in Peter's shoes for a few minutes.

This is how one person imagines how Peter must have felt.

(Read part of "A new day" from, Splashes of God-Light)

I guess we can identify with Peter, because we all let people down now and again. ...Sometimes in small ways, ...sometimes in big ways.

(pause)

We all let God down now and again. Like Peter we can confidently convince ourselves that we will stand firm against temptation, ...but when it comes to the crunch, ...we fall, and we fail.

(pause)

And we all know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of failure, ...being let down by others. Of course it's the hardest when the person who lets us down is very close to us. The pain is amplified.

(pause)

Tonight is a time for us to acknowledge our failures, and the failures of others, ...and to seek reconciliation and forgiveness.

(Play Taize - O Lord Hear My Prayer)