"Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word The Lord had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.' " Luke 22:60-61 (NIV)
Luke, the physician and travelling companion of the Apostle Paul, recorded the account of Peter's denial of Jesus. Peter was one of the twelve disciples who walked with Christ during His three year earthly ministry. Although he was one of the "inner circle" members, when the going got tough, he denied knowing Jesus. Peter repented and was forgiven. (Luke 22:62 and Mark 16:6-7)
A lot of people who followed Jesus during His last few days on earth, followed Him from a "safe" distance. They wanted to see what was happening to Him, but they did not want to be close enough to be associated with Him. (Luke 22:54 and Luke 23:49) Unlike Peter, who followed Him from afar during the trials, the Apostle John stood near the cross. (John 19:25-27) Jesus said that if we deny knowing Him before men on earth, He will deny us before His Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:33) As believers, we do not want Him to deny us. We should make sure that our family and friends know that we are believers and followers of Christ. We should not be ashamed of being associated with Him and try to follow Him in secret from afar. We should be able to say as the Apostle Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ ..." (Romans 1:16)
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