I do not know the Man!

Matthew 26:69 records the following conversation:

"Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." (Matt 26:69)
But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." (Matt 26:70)

Now right before this, the Lord had told Peter that he was going to deny three times that he knew Him. This was the first instance--verse 70.

The second time is in verse 71.

"And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to them there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene." (Matt 26:71)
But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" (Matt 26:72)

In other words, Peter raised up his right hand (with his left hand on the Torah?) and said, "I do hereby swear, that I do NOT know Jesus Christ!"

Goodness gracious!

Friends, I highly recommend that you do not try this at home!

That's 2 denials down, 1 more to go--verse 73

"And after a little while, those standing by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your accent gives you away." (Matt 26:73)
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. (Matt 26:74)
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which He said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And going out, he wept bitterly." (Matt 26:75)

So I was pondering: was Peter's sin all that much different than Judas's?

Personally, I think not.

But their responses certainly were!

"Now I rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance; for you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. (2Cor 7:9)
For godly sorrow brings about repentance leading to salvation, without regret; but worldly sorrow brings about death." (2Cor 7:10)

You see, there's 2 types of sorrow in this world--godly sorrow, which Peter evidenced, and worldly sorrow, which Judas evidenced.

There's not that much difference between the sin of these two men. The difference was in their responses to their sin, and ultimately, their repentance!

How about you?

Have you committed some terrible sin that you feel the Lord won't forgive you of?

I'm here to tell you today, that that feeling of condemnation you might have, comes from the devil, and not from the Lord!

Godly sorrow leads to REPENTANCE, which, I recommend, you do immediately!

If you find yourself in this position, and you feel that I'm talking to you, it's the Holy Spirit talking to you, and He wants to restore you, and restore your fellowship with the Trinity, just like Peter.

Come back home today.

God's waiting for you, with open arms! (Luke 15:20)