Daily Devotion for Monday 21st July 2025

St John 18: 15 – 18

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,  but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in.  The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’  Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing round it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.

Reflection

The saying ‘fall from grace’ comes to mind when reading this passage.  Only moments before Peter has drawn his sword in defence of Jesus and now he denies even knowing him.  How quickly we can change from standing for the truth to evading it, from being selfless to selfish, from showing kindness to lacking in mercy.

We sometimes see spectacular falls from grace in public figures but, if we are honest, we see them in ourselves also.  We too can go from faithfulness to rejection in record breaking time.

Reading these verses on their own makes for very bleak reading.  There is nothing here that speaks of redemption or offering a glimmer of light.  It’s a bleak passage which shows the harsh truth of Peter’s denial.  It can’t be covered up, it is revealed for what it is.

But reading this after Easter we remember that this is part of a bigger story where later Peter finds himself being offered a new beginning by Jesus.  After the Cross and the Resurrection Jesus comes to Peter by the sea shore and gives Peter the chance of redemption.  It is a moment of great tenderness where Peter is met with the embodiment of grace in Jesus.  Peter accepts Jesus’ love and forgiveness and goes on to boldly proclaim Christ as the church begins to spread.  

Each day is filled with choices and opportunities for us to walk the way of Jesus, in truth and love.

If today we should fail to stand with Jesus when love, mercy, grace and truth are called for all is not lost.  Jesus always offers us another chance to begin again.  Will we, like Peter, embrace God’s forgiveness and make ever new choices to walk in God’s way?

Prayer

I’m sorry, Lord,
when I have been too scared or ashamed
to say that I know you,
let alone love you.
In your tender mercy
raise me up
and set my feet on higher ground
where I am set free to begin again
and share unashamedly my faith in you.
Amen.