In Matthew 26:31, Jesus told the apostles that they all would be offended because of Him. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew the pain and suffering that He was going to bear and that His apostles would forsake Him. Peter was with Jesus at this time and he loved to speak up. He didn’t seem to be afraid to just blurt out what was on his mind.  Peter just had to open his mouth – “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” Matthew 26:33.

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Peter was confident and secure in his faith. I can just see him shaking his head and hear him saying “Nope, not me, everyone else will be offended or stumble, but not me Lord. I’ll be right by Your side. Not me.” But Jesus knew Peter would deny Him not just once, but three times. Jesus knew the time and the exact location of this event (Matthew 26:34), but Peter still didn’t understand. Peter said, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:35). He had enough trust in his faith that he was willing to even die. Peter learned a very hard lesson in Matthew 26:69-75. Jesus was right. Peter denied Jesus three time before the cock crowed and oh, how sad he was.

Sometimes we behave a lot like Peter– me included. We get confident that we know what the Bible says and that we are doing exactly what the Lord requires of us. So we end up getting lazy in our service. We might even begin thinking of our life as a check list: I’ve done this, this and that, so I’m good. We begin thinking Heaven is ours and we can just sit back and take it easy. Peter thought he wouldn’t deny Christ and yet he did. He was so sure of himself that he said it twice. Have you ever said “I’ll never do that” and then turn around and find yourself in that situation? We don’t intend to fall, but it happens to all of us. We have been warned about thinking we are secure in our faith. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). We can have confidence in our faith, but we still need to be careful and watch out for that prowling lion (1 Peter 5:8). When we get too confident, or as some people say your head gets too big, that is when Satan will get you. Remember to “take heed.”

By Kristina Odom
Kristina and her husband, Justin, serve with the church of Christ in Fairfield, IL where her husband is the preacher. Kristina is a stay-at-home mother to their three kids.