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 preceding 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 answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then 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 robber?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 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 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 Yahshua, and Peter took a sword and cut off a man’s ear. Yahshua healed the man and willingly went away to be interrogated. Peter followed them and entered a courtyard, where three people identified him as Yahshua’s disciple, which he denied. After the third denial, a rooster crowed, and Yahshua looked right at Peter. Peter left weeping bitterly because he remembered Yahshua said he would deny Him after Peter arrogantly proclaimed that he would never deny Yahshua (Matthew 26:33-35).
Peter was bold when surrounded by Yahshua and the disciples, but his boldness disappeared when he was apart from companions and surrounded by unbelievers. It is easy to stand for Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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. Yahshua 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!