Some in Caiaphas’ home knew John tha disciple so they let him come in with Jesus while tha Son be questioned by tha High Priest. A little while later John spoke ter tha girl on duty and asked that Old Pete be allowed in ter tha courtyard.
“You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter.
“I am not.”
When they had kindled a fire in tha middle of tha courtyard and sat down ter warm themselves, one of tha servant girls of tha high priest happened by. Seeing Peter seated in tha firelight, she looked closely at him and said, “You also were with that Nazarene, with Jesus of Galilee.” Turning ter tha others she said, “This man was with him.”
“I am not,” Old Pete shot back. “I don’t know him or understand what you’re talking about.” Fearing he whar about ter be found out, he high-tailed it out and hid in tha gateway area.
About an hour later, another servant girl, or maybe tha same one, seen Old Pete near tha entryway. She said ter those standing ’round, “This fellow is one of them. He was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Ter Old Pete she said, “You are one of them.” Those crowding ’round him said, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean. Your accent gives you away.” Right then a relative of Malchus, tha feller whose ear Old Pete had sliced off, got in Pete’s face and challenged him. “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?”
Peter replied, “Man, I swear, I don’t know who you are talking about! I don’t know him!”
Right then tha Son looked right at Old Pete. Not with a wry smile. Not with an “I told you so” look. With empathy, compassion.
On three occasions Peter denied being a disciple of tha Son: once at tha door leading in ter tha courtyard, once while seated in tha courtyard ’round a fire, and finally back outside tha courtyard in tha entryway. Like a good many of us, Old Pete wanted ter be near tha Son but not with tha Son. Ter align ourselves with tha Son means we ‘ill ‘ave ter die—if not physically, then spiritually—and that be a hard course ter sail.
Our turning away from the heat of tha Son’s glare starts with a small push off from tha Son and ends in darkness with us on tha outside of tha Son’s glory looking in.
In his own strength Old Pete could not stand with tha Son, but in tha strength of tha Son’s Holy Ghost of Truth, Peter would later stand firm ter tha end—even ter death.
Make it yer task each day ter ask fer tha Holy Spirit’s skill, strength, and stamina so ya kin stand firm with tha Son ter tha end. Tha crew that sticks with Skip ‘ill reach thar destination, ya may lay ter that.