Undeniable
Peter denied Christ. The story is well known. Before the rooster could crow in the morning, Peter, the rock, had denied being with Jesus to three separate people at three separate times. It was likely the lowest point in Peter’s life and certainly the lowest point of his physical journey of faith in the Messiah. His Lord and teacher, his friend and mentor, the one he loved and loved him, was on trial for sins He did not commit. Jesus was being mocked and falsely accused, while Peter was directly outside the proceedings, denying the One he said he would die for.
Jesus knew Peter was going to deny Him. He told the disciple as much, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” The fact that it actually happened was only a surprise to Peter. It is hard to imagine what Peter felt like after that third denial.
Fortunately, Peter's denial was not the end of the story. We know that Jesus was crucified, buried, and He arose again on the third day. He and Peter met again after the Messiah’s resurrection. They had a chance to reconcile. Then Jesus ascended to heaven, leaving Peter and the other disciples the great commission. These men were faithful to the mission that Jesus gave them.
And that brings us to the book of Acts, chapter four. A lot had happened since Jesus left. God gave the infilling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The disciples were going out and about preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. The early church was in its formative stage, and God’s power was moving in the world. Of course, the religious leaders would have none of that. So when Peter and John perform a miracle for a man crippled from birth and then speak to those present about the love of Jesus, the Sadducees and temple guards arrest them.
Peter and John were hauled out in front of the Sanhedrin to defend themselves. During their defense, the Bible says that Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” This basically means the man was spitting straight facts. He walked right through the scriptures and laid before the “rulers and elders of the people” the truth about Jesus Christ. Peter even pointed out that the same assembly he was standing before had “crucified” Jesus, God’s Messiah.
The Sanhedrin did not like this much. But according to the account in Acts, “When they [Jewish Religious Leaders] saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” It was now undeniable. Peter could not hide in the shadows any longer, nor did he want to. The power of God took a person from denying association with the Lord Jesus Christ to becoming an undeniable force associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what happened to Peter.
Jesus knew it was going to happen, too! Before He told Peter that he would deny him three times, and before Peter foolishly said he would die for Jesus, the Lord said this, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon [Peter], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus knew Peter would lose his way. But He also knew Peter would stand before the Sanhedrin, strengthening his fellow believers. The Lord knew Peter would become a force that was undeniably with Jesus.
(How can this happen in our own lives? Let me know in the comments below.)