Matthew 26:33-34:
Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
Has anyone known you so well that they knew you better than you knew yourself?
We can often lie to ourselves and let our pride convince us that we are someone we really aren’t.
For instance, you might try and tell yourself that you can play your favorite sport better than most -- think you are smarter than the average person -- believe that you are of “star quality.”
But, then -- when you ask someone who knows you well, and he is honest with you -- you learn otherwise.
It hurts when that happens!
We want so badly to be the people we think we are, but when we are faced with the undeniable truth -- we see we are not.
So? What was Peter thinking when he spoke to Jesus?
He had been the self-appointed spokesman for the Twelve -- had been right in seeing who Christ was when He asked who he though He was -- had even been the one brave enough to try and step on water and (for a few seconds, anyway) was able to stand on the surface of the lake!
Now that Jesus was telling him that he was susceptible to weakness like the others, Peter still believed he was better.
“Of all Your followers,” Peter thought, “I will be the last to leave you!”
Once Judas showed up with the crowd that arrested Jesus, everything started happening fast. Peter was just doing what comes natural to all of us! He was seeking to keep himself out of harm’s way -- trying not to be seen as “one of those trouble-makers.”
His pride was again leading him in a dangerous direction -- until he heard the rooster crow!
Suddenly, Peter could see he was not the brave and bold man he thought he was. Now, he saw himself as the follower who did exactly what he said he would never do: he had turned away in Jesus’ darkest hour -- and denied that he even knew Him -- not just once, but three times!
Peter learned a harsh lesson about his own pride that night.
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
There are times when we all are faced with the hard reality of who we are. We are confronted with the truth and proven to be imperfect, sinful human beings.
Has your prideful spirit gotten you in deep? Making promises and statements that you just cannot keep?
It is interesting that Peter, himself, shared the importance of humility when he wrote in 1 Peter 5:4-6:
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
In the same way, you who are younger, submit to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble."
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, the he may lift you up in due time.
