During what had to be a very somber occasion, Jesus said to one of His dear friends, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me” (Luke 22:34). Peter “spoke more vehemently, ‘If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’” (Mark 14:31).
Only hours later, Peter was in a courtyard, “among” a crowd of spectators, watching Jesus on trial. (Read Luke 22:54-62.) As he “sat among them,” a girl said that Peter “was also with” Jesus. Peter “denied it.” “AFTER A LITTLE WHILE another” said that Peter was “of them,” but Peter denied it again. “THEN AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR HAD PASSED, another confidently affirmed” that Peter was “with” Jesus, but Peter denied it a third time.
Underline those CAPITALIZED words. Peter put himself in a place where denying Jesus would be possible (even likely). And he not only went there, but he STAYED AND LINGERED there. Friends, when you’re in a place of temptation and sin, GET OUT! Don’t linger there (cf. Psa. 1:1)!