Read the passage and respond to these questions:
            1.  Make a simple list of the events of this night.
            2.  Consider how Jesus felt at each step of the way.
            3.  How did God answer His prayer for deliverance in the Garden?
Rooted in the reminder of God’s deliverance at the Passover of Exodus times, Jesus alerted his disciples to the pouring out of covenant blood for the forgiveness of sins.  He heard their reassurances, but Jesus knew that Judas would betray him and Peter would deny knowing him—within a matter of hours.  He knew the weakness of the human soul, because he grappled with it himself in the Garden of Gethsemane after dinner.  Nevertheless, when the moment of truth came, Jesus was able to stand and face his future death with conviction and purpose.  It was this conviction and purpose that gave him poise both to be silent and to speak, upon the accusations of the Sanhedrin.  He lived out his own teaching about “turning the other cheek.”
If I had been one of the disciples at dinner, don’t know what I would have done that night.  Would I have denied knowing the teacher and Lord I had walked with for three years?  Would I have left him to fend for himself?  Would I have wimped out at the first inquiry of a servant girl?  I confess that I do not fully appreciate the fear Peter must have felt, but can’t see myself as more advanced than he was.  I probably would have done the same thing, and felt just as stupid and remorseful later.¼br /> It is safe to say that we all have the capacity to deny Jesus at any time.  Peter was a stalwart supporter, and he was catching on to the full content of the gospel.  But we gasp at his failure, mostly because we know in our heart of hearts that we too are cowardly and weak in faith.
Our advantage now, of course, is that the Holy Spirit has been poured into our hearts to strengthen us from the inside out.  Our reliance upon God’s strength in the face of persecution and tribulation is the only thing that will carry us safely through.  The little temptations and the bigger test of our faith now are preparing us for our own moment of truth later.  Let us be ready!
Prayer
Dear Lord and Savior, fill me with your Holy Spirit and protect me from fear at the moment when my testimony must be given.  I know you and I stand by you, no matter what happens!