The bystanders

Matthew 26:69-75

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant- girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant- girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said:“Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

There are always the observers

and the bystanders

Those who see all

who take it in

who watch

and wait

and weigh

and measure.

There are those who

stay on the fringes,

who hang back,

don't get involved.

And then there are those

who pitch in.

Those who, from the shadows

want to be in on the action.

Those who perceive wrongdoing

and want to make things right.

"He was there"

"That's one of his friends"

Both offered as indictments

not encouragement.

To be identified

as one of Jesus of Nazareth's cohorts

was not a compliment

but a judgment

a risky calling.

The women who served

had noticed.

Call it a woman's intuition

Call it curiosity...

It was the women

who called Peter out

on his friendship

and his loyalty.

The women

who confronted Peter

with his denial.

And Peter wept bitterly...