John 13:37
Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.
Following Jesus
Peter wanted to know where Jesus was going, and Christ told Peter that where He was going, Peter couldn’t follow (John 13:36), but Peter kept insisting. Peter really had no idea what was to come. Jesus indicated before Calvary that He was going away, and so Peter asked Jesus if he could follow Him. When Jesus tried to tell him that he could not come, Peter insisted, as his pride sometimes got the best of him. He said that he would lay down his life for Jesus, but when Peter said that, Jesus had to tell him the truth, and the cold, hard truth was that Peter would actually deny Him– not once or twice, but three times (John 13:38).
Denying Jesus Today
We might not hear the cock crow three times today, but many Christians still deny Christ by their lifestyle, by their silence, and by their refusal to share the gospel when presented with the opportunity to do so. I know this is true because I have been guilty of all of these. We might not openly deny Jesus when others ask about Him, but do we fail to tell others about Him? Do our (and does my) lifestyles deny that Jesus lives in us? Truly I plead guilty, and I would imagine at one time or another all of us do.
Will We Follow Him?
I say I want to follow Him, but when it is uncomfortable or cramps my lifestyle or in a mixed company of unbelievers, I regularly don’t say anything about Him at all. That is a sin, a sin of omission more than a sin of commission, and really it is a far worse sin than one that is of commission in my opinion. I say I follow Him, but it seems I can easily abandon Him when the going gets tough. When I am with fellow saints–and I am sure it is the same with you–it is so easy to talk about Christ, to live like Christ is in us, and to abstain from sinful activities. There is positive peer pressure in the church, and I believe that’s why we need one another, but there is a very powerful negative peer pressure in this present, evil, fallen world. That’s where I tend to deny Jesus and follow the world and not Him.
A Closing Prayer
Great Creator God, please forgive me for the many times that I have an opportunity to speak the words of life that Jesus spoke and don’t and for my many sins of omission. I beg you to give more boldness to proclaim Christ as Savior, and I ask for You to set divine appointments for me throughout my day. In Jesus precious name I pray.
Amen
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