Beech Tree News Network

It is easy to be overly critical of St. Peter the Apostle.  We read of St. Luke's account of events leading up to the crucification of Jesus and we encounter the Peter that denies three times even knowing Christ.  What makes this worse is how Peter expresses confidently that he is ready to follow the Lord even to death.  Let's look at selected portions of St. Luke's Gospel: 

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”

He said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.” But he replied,“I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Skipping ahead a few verses, the story continues:

After arresting him (Jesus) they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance.  They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them.  When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with him.” But he denied it saying,

“Woman, I do not know him.” A short while later someone else saw him and said, “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.”

About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.”

But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed,

and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him,

“Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”  He went out and began to weep bitterly.

This account describes how, in blatant and obvious fashion, Peter turns his back on Jesus, the Messiah, the one he had just pledged to follow to the grave if need be.  Peter's denial is ugly to read about, to think about.  Secretly, we want to think we are better than Peter and would never deny being a follower of Jesus.  We think, "Sure, I have my faults but would never outright deny knowing Jesus, much less three times!"  Perhaps so but our understanding of denial may be skewed by Peter's failings in this regard.  While our transgressions may pale in comparisons to Peter's in some ways, they are still significant.  

This season of Lent has prompted me to think a lot about three Christian themes — humility, contrition, and repentance.  For some reason when I was reading about Peter denying Christ three times, it was these three actions that came to mind.  I think in some ways our (my) failings in these constitute ways in which we deny Christ.

I've always thought practicing humility was one of the most Christ-like qualities that we could have.  It is in short supply today-in part because our culture seems to scream hyper-aggressiveness, confrontation, victimization, and the radical assertion of rights and/or privileges in most social settings.  In other words, don't back down and take anything off anybody.  Look out for number one.  Toot your own horn.  Don't be a door mat for anyone.  But, these things can be at odds with a true spirit of humility that is long-suffering, considerate of the feelings of others almost to a fault, gentle in our conduct, empathetic in our attitude, and patient as we seek to understand.  Are we denying Christ when we don't practice humility?

Contrition can be understood as a breaking of something hardened.  It is difficult for one with a hardened heart to turn to God.  Ask Pharaoh.  A breaking of the heart is needed.  Understanding the gravity of our weaknesses, the consequences of our sin, and the necessity of redemption is what brings about a contrite heart.  In this respect, contrition and humility are closely linked.  Are we denying Christ when we are not contrite?

It is with a contrite heart and a spirit of humility that we can find true repentance, which is a heart-felt sorry for the wrong we have done with the firm conviction to sin no more.  I have often been guilty of speaking the words of repentance without the contrite heart or the spirit of humility to make it real.  Without a measure of either, my words were just that - words.  They were neither real to me nor effective with God.  Are we denying Christ when our words of repentance are hollow?

Peter, after realizing that he had in fact denied Jesus three times as predicted, "went out and began to weep bitterly."  What does this show?  Perhaps humility, contrition, and repentance?  Do we do as Peter did?  I think so.

* * * 

John Embry is the co-founder and vice-president of Beech Tree News & WLBQ 1570 AM.  He teaches 8th grade American History at Butler County Middle School and is the head softball coach at BCHS and BCMS.  John is married to Beth and they have one daughter, five-year-old Isabella Faye; and one son, Will Lincoln (almost five months).  They live in Aberdeen - site of the original "beech tree." He can be reached at [email protected].