Matthew the apostle wrote about Jesus being arrested and tried in the high priest Caiaphas' palace, and Peter followed “afar off” to see what would happen to Jesus. Matthew declared, “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what you are saying”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse seventy-one of his book, Matthew wrote when Peter, “was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, ...” Matthew began words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “he was gone out” or “Peter left and departed” “into the porch” which means “to the large gate or front part of the high priest's house”, “another maid” or “an additional young girl, female slave and maid servant who has charge of the door” “saw him” which means “perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered Peter”. Matthew shared how another “young girl” identified Peter.
The verse continues, “... and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.” Matthew added the words, “and said unto them” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to the others who were around them” “that were there” which means “who were at the the large gate or front part of the high priest's house”, “this fellow” or “this man” “was also with Jesus” which means “was alongside Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “of Nazareth” which refers to “belonging to Nazareth which means one separated and was the town where Jesus grew up”. Matthew shared how this additional young girl” also accused Peter of “being with Jesus” who was from the town of “Nazareth”.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see this second “young maiden” accuse Peter of being with Jesus. This girl identified him as one of Jesus' followers, and she had specific knowledge of Jesus being from “Nazareth”. Jesus knew Peter would “deny” Him “three times”, and although Peter thought himself to be greater than any of the other disciples, he was now tested. Jesus knew he would fail, and yet, Jesus continued to have a relationship with him. Jesus knows everyone reading these words, and He understands their weaknesses and propensity to “deny” Him under pressure as well. This is why He came. His desire was to “save” people from their sins so they might live with God forever and ever, and those who are wise will not only consider how Jesus knows them, suffered for them, died for them, but also made provision for them to live with Him in heaven eternally.
Next time Matthew shares how Peter, “again … denied with an oath”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment