In The Word
Read: Luke 22:47-62
Jesus Betrayed by Judas
47 While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading the way for them; and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus responded and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a man inciting a revolt? 53 While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”
Jesus’ Arrest
54 Now they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a slave woman, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, and staring at him, said, “This man was with Him as well.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “I do not know Him, woman!” 58 And a little later, another person saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 And after about an hour had passed, some other man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he, too, is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 And then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Judas and a crowd armed with weapons went to seize Yeshua, and Peter took a sword and cut off a man’s ear. Yeshua healed the man and willingly went away to be interrogated. Peter followed them and entered a courtyard, where three people identified him as Yeshua’s disciple, which he denied. After the third denial, a rooster crowed, and Yeshua looked right at Peter. Peter left weeping bitterly because he remembered Yeshua said he would deny Him after Peter arrogantly proclaimed that he would never deny Yeshua (Matthew 26:33-35).
Peter was bold when surrounded by Yeshua and the disciples, but his boldness disappeared when he was apart from companions and surrounded by unbelievers. It is easy to stand for Yeshua at church or with other Christians, but it can be difficult when we are alone and outnumbered by unbelievers. Yet we have been called to stand boldly for Yeshua and not yield to pressure or persecution to deny Him or live unrighteous lives. Even if no other person is with you, you are not alone as God’s Spirit lives inside you to give you the power to stand, remain holy, and speak the right words. Yeshua told the disciples not to worry when they had to defend their faith because the Holy Spirit would give them the right words (Luke 21:11-12).
You may be in a situation where you are the only Christian, maybe in your family or at work. Do not worry or be afraid, God’s Spirit is with you!