The story of Peter’s denial of Jesus (Mark 14:66-72) is something many of us can relate to–he is so human, so flawed, and disappointed. In his three pleas before the rooster crows twice, the way in which he emphatically denies Jesus are slightly different: I do not know WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT (v.68); I do not know THEM (v.70); I do not know HIM (v.71). Three kinds of ways of being in denial for Peter: denying what you KNOW about Jesus, denying association with the COMMUNITY of Jesus , and denying personal RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. In our weakest, most self-protective moments, that is who we are: we are in denial and chase after those things that we feel will be safe and comforting. And like Peter, when a rooster crows eventually, we have a tough time living with ourselves. When we come to grips with all the ways in which we deny God, here’s another one perhaps we express as we break down and weep bitterly: I do not know WHO I AM. That’s a sad denial. And Jesus Christ, the one whom we denied, did not deny us before the judgment of God and, being denied himself of any defense, rather took upon himself all the denying and games we play and was broken down so that we can restore us in grace and hear him say, “Do you love me?”

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