Daily Devotional For Sunday, March 15, 2026

Good day Southside! If you have been reading these devotionals you know that we are making our way through the Gospel of Matthew. Today, we are going to pick up where we left off yesterday. Today, we are reading Matthew 26:69-75:

“Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean. (70) But Peter denied it in front of everyone. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said. (71) Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ (72) Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. ‘I don’t even know the man,’ he said. (73) A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, ‘You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.’ (74) Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed. (75) Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly’” (NASB).

Well, we come to see that Peter, who drew the sword in the Garden of Gethsemane to protect Jesus all by himself from 600-1,000 armed soldiers, is not the “rock” he thought he was. We all are like Peter at times. We can come across as confident in our faith and then all of a sudden, we crumble under the slightest peer pressure. The irony in this story is that while Jesus is on trial, so is Peter. While Jesus holds up astonishingly well, Peter crumbles, with a whole lot less pressure, even with little girls pointing him out as a disciple. 

What some miss here is how a servant girl starts this. As a girl, she is powerless and she holds no position of prominence – she is a servant/slave. Yet, Peter crumbles. Peter denies any affiliation with Jesus. The Greek New Testament word translated as denied is [ἀρνέομαι; arneomai]. This word also means “to disown.” To avoid any further confrontations, Peter retreated to the edge of the crowd by the gate. This time another servant girl pointed him out and he denied with an oath. Which means he probably invoked the name of God as a means to prove his lie. 

Luke tells us Peter stayed for about another hour (see Luke 22:59) before he is pointed out a third time. Peter probably thought after this second denial he was safe and out of danger. He may have even engaged with others in the courtyard attempting to get information about what was happening to Jesus. 

Then others, recognizing his Galilean accent, point Peter out. With so many pilgrims in for Passover, it was possible that he was one of them – or at least – he seems to give that impression. This third time Peter swore with an oath. The Greek New Testament word he used is [καταθεματίζω; katathematizō]. This word comes from the same root as “anathematize”—asking God to punish him if he is lying. Graciously God forbears, but the rooster does immediately crow. Peter instantly remembered Jesus’ prophecy concerning his 3 denials, he left humiliated, embarrassed and bitterly weeping. 

Peter thought he could enter the courtyard in cognito. The last thing he wanted was to be detected and pointed out as one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter the “rock,” found himself stuck between a hard place. After the third denial, Peter had denied knowing Jesus before dawn, thus breaking his promise to Jesus. Luke fills in a poignant detail: “The Lord turned and looked at Peter” (Luke 22:61). Their eyes met. Seeing the utter sadness in Jesus’ bruised and bloodied face, Peter lost it. He recalled the Lord’s prophecy: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matt. 26:75); Matt. 26:34). 

Peter, the “rock,” hit rock bottom and he left devastated at his broken promise to Jesus. New Testament Greek scholar A.T. Robertson puts it this way: “The tears were bitter, all the more so by reason of that look of understanding pity that Jesus gave him. One of the tragedies of the Cross is the bleeding heart of Peter” (Source: A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures, p. 221). Peter suffered such grief for two reasons: his sin and Jesus’ look at him. As the “rock,” he had made a promise that he would never deny any affiliation with Jesus. Now, he found himself crushed under the rock of 3 denials.

Reflection Assignment: Do you ever deny any affiliation with Jesus when you are around non-Christians either through your words, actions or attitudes? When others are putting Jesus on “trial” in front of you, how do you respond? We all can relate to Peter’s pride, self-assurance and self-confidence. When has yours caused you to compromise your faith rather than courageously stand for it?

Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 10:33, “But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I do not want to ever deny having an association or affiliation with You. I do not want to be timid or fearful with my faith. I want to stand for You, godliness, holiness and righteousness. I do not want our eyes to meet in heaven one day and I am overwhelmed with guilt for denying You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly