Peter's Denial

Definition of denial: disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing, refusal to recognize or acknowledge.
All the gospels give an account of Peter's denial from different points of view with the same outcome of mercy shown to undeserving sinners.
Matt.26:69-75 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders,"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And 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 too are one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
Mark 14:66-72 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway andthe rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak." And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him,  "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
Luke 22:54-62 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him,  "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
John 18:25-27  Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
While we all are horrified at Peter's denial of Christ, are we not also guilty in some thought or deed? Our sin nature leaves us open to denying Christ but we receive, upon repentance, mercy just as Peter did. Our flesh is weak but we are under divine grace. The book of Luke alone records that Jesus made eye contact with Peter after his denial and then Peter remembered and wept bitterly. We may not see Jesus looking us in the eye, but we stand accused all the same, for his conviction of our sin remains with us until we are forgiven by His grace. The thought of seperation from Him pierces the heart and leaves a cold despair. 
Definition of despair: to loose all hope. Sweet Lord, convict us of our sin. Help us to fall on our knees to You with regret for our denial of You and Your majesty. Forgive us, teach us and remember us in mercy. Amen