Denial – Luke 22:47-62

Joshua Infantado with BecomingChristians.com has an article, 5 Shocking Signs that You are Like Judas: 1) You are a private sinner, harboring sin but on the surface looking like a saint, 2) you love money above all else, 3) you are a traitor, 4) you have worldly sorrow that doesn’t lead to real repentance, and 5) you are selfish.  Those were shocking aspects of Judas’ character that led to the most horrible of betrayals.

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.  (Luke 22:47-62 ESV)  

The arrest begins with a kiss of betrayal from Judas, used to identify for the officers which one was Jesus.  The inept attempt by the disciples to brandish swords is remedied by Jesus’ healing touch, something the one arresting him did not deserve.  Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who let him teach in public but in private want him dead.

Peter, who failed to pray against yielding to temptation, follows and joins those who sit outside the high priest’s house where Jesus is being questioned.  As Jesus predicted he denies knowing Jesus three times and when the rooster crows Jesus turns and looks at him, sending Peter into bitter convulsions.

What would we have done in such a frightful circumstance?  We too need to pray that we enter not into temptation when persecution comes.