Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026
A Walk with the Master Series
Denial
Mark 14:26-31
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Mar 14:27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ Mar 14:28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Mar 14:29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” Mar 14:30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Mar 14:31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
Yesterday, we saw Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. Today, we see Jesus predicting the denial of all His disciples. The Passover dinner was finished, and as they were leaving for the Garden, He made this statement, And Jesus said to them, You will all fall away, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. This is a quote taken from Zechariah 13:7 predicting that all of His disciples would leave Him alone in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus again predicted His crucifixion and resurrection. The disciples did not understand the significance of that statement. It would only be after His resurrection that they would remember what He had taught them. But that night each of them denied Him.
It was Peter, as the spokesman, who said that he would not be the one to deny the Lord. Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” However, Jesus made it clear that before that night was through, Peter would indeed deny Him three times. And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
The complete story of Peter’s denial is found in Matthew 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 manAfter 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.
Yes, Peter wept bitterly and thought his relationship with Jesus was finished. But the Lord was not through with Peter. The Lord’s forgiveness is unlimited. We may deny the Lord, but it is not the same as betrayal. Judas hanged himself, not accepting forgiveness, but Peter was forgiven and was greatly used of the Lord later. We see the Lord’s forgiveness for the disciples and especially Peter in Mark16:6-7. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
Praise the Lord for our risen Savior who forgives us when we fail. Just as Peter, we can be restored even if we sometimes deny the Lord. His forgiveness is wonderful, but it is much better if we stay faithful and do not deny Him!
__________________________________________________________________
Bible Reading for the Year
May 22nd, 1 Chronicles 11-13; John 9:1-23
Prayer Needs
Please continue to pray for Jimmy and Donna Dixon. Jimmy’s father passed away last Thursday afternoon. The funeral was held Tuesday the 19th in Roanoke Rapids.
Thank you for praying for Dr. Joe Jordan. He has been transferred to a rehab facility. This will be an intense time of recovery, and he covets your prayers for strength and stamina throughout the process. Thursday the doctors had to give him two pints of blood because his blood count was so low!
Please pray for Shirley Deans. Shirley saw the ear, throat, and nose doctor about her throat cancer. She had a PET scan on Friday, May 15th over her entire body. On the 27th she will see the cancer doctor about the PET scan, and on the 28th she will have surgery to biopsy a lymph node in her neck.
Please also pray for Kenny Deans. He is continuing treatment for his leg. He will also be seeing a doctor about possible kidney stones.
Please continue praying for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. She is having stomach issues caused by the medication. Please continue to pray for complete healing.
Please pray for Peggy Warren. She is still in a lot of pain.
Please continue to pray for Robbie Harvey who has MAC lung disease. He fell and broke several ribs, but he is feeling better now. He has started a new medication for his lung disease.
Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.
____________________________________________________________
Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia