before you would deny Him? Once? Twice? Even Thrice?
What, do you think that YOU are stronger than His very Deciples, who walked daily beside Him, only to deny Him in the end?
Think about that, ere you answer.
Probably once. I am not as stalwart as the Apostles. This is why I find it so meaningful (and chilling) at Palm Sunday services when, during the Passion narrative, the entire congregation is invited to shout out, "Crucify Him!" when that part of the Gospel comes up. It's to close the gap between us and the people who lived all those years ago. We're not any better than they were, and in fact, probably didn't have half their spiritual fortitude. We would be part of the unenlightened rabble howling for the Crucifixion. There's no difference between us and them, except for the passing of centuries. If Jesus were to come and do it all over again, there would probably be a ton of self-righteous clergymen and parishioners helping pass out nails.
And the COCK has crowed three times for me. The number three is a symbol meaning for sure. So for us Christians, how many times have we denied the Lord.
Yet as our risen savior said to his disciples as he walked through the lock doors. Peace be with you. He did not say, why did you all leave me when I was crucified. Then he told them to go out and tell everybody the Good News.
Peter was the only one denied Him. Yet his faith was strong enough that Jesus gave him the keys of Heaven. All sin. All fall short of the glory of God. We all need Jesus to help us. I wouldn't deny Jesus. I would die for Him. Honestly. AND IF I'm wrong in my faith, I am just then worm food and the end.