66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female servants of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. 69 And the female servant, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and you talk like one.” 71 But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” 72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Prayer Focus: Peter, who declared that he would die before denying Jesus, has been warming himself by the fire in the courtyard. Three times he is asked if he was with Jesus, if he was part of the group that followed Jesus, or if he was a Galilean. All three times, with increasing fever, Peter denies Jesus. Finally he denies even his own identity as he declares that he does not even know Jesus. The cock crowds, Peter remembers, and he begins to weep. Pray for your tears today. Pray that you might weep for the ways you forget who you are. Pray that you might weep for denying you even know Jesus.
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