In Matthew 26 we read of the account where Peter denied knowing Jesus three times before the cock crowed.
For Matthew 26:69-74 states,
“Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.”
One might be led to ask, “Why did Peter deny knowing Jesus?” After all, Peter was one of Jesus’ closest friends and a leader among the other apostles. One could argue that Peter was afraid that he too would be shackled, and possibly beaten / killed, if he was exposed as a [follower] of Jesus. And while this may have been true, we do find though in the Scriptures that after the cock did crow, Peter was overcome with godly sorrow.
For Matthew 26:75 states,
“And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”
But upon reflection of this incident, I was drawn to ask, “How quick are we willing to deny knowing Christ?” Today, here in America, we have no threat of being shackled / beaten / killed for identifying ourselves with Christ. Yet, when asked of our relationship with Christ – too often “Christians” will say nothing – as if they are ashamed of Christ. And when an opportunity does present itself to lead someone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ – the silence of “Christians” is often deafening. Again, it must be asked, “Are we ashamed to be known as [followers] of Christ?”
Consider what Peter later wrote concerning our need to quickly identify ourselves as followers of Christ.
1 Peter 3:15-16,
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”
The apostle Paul also stated the following in Romans 1:16-17,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Though it is true that Peter denied knowing Jesus on this one occasion, we find that his heart was truly broken over what he had done – for as we read above, he went out, and wept bitterly.
In 1 John 1:9 we read,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
If you are ashamed to stand up for Christ and to openly share your faith, you open the door for Christ to do the same to you when He returns.
Consider Jesus’ own words in Luke 9:26,
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
Let us quickly be reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7-9,
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
If you are living a life as either a “silent Christian”, or as an “ashamed to be known as a follower of Christ Christian” – maybe its time for you to approach Christ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and seek His forgiveness. Then, and only then, will you be [ready] to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.
