Trying to Fit In

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. Luke 22:59-62 (KJV)

It seems as though part of our maturing as Christians involve going through a phase when we try to be good Christians and try to be okay with non-Christians at the same time. This is not to say that we should not strive to be at peace with all people. Neither is this a statement that Christians ought to remove themselves from society and go start or join an existing convent or otherwise community of faith. It is these types of actions that often lead to the formation of cults and other religious anomalies. People that are Christians through the new birth are made different by the Spirit of God working in us. This is not just evident among those who knew us before and after but even to those that may never have known us there is something different about a person that has been born again. As we examine our text today, Peter is denying Jesus for the third time. He has followed the crowd that arrested Jesus from a distance but after they arrived at the high priest’s house, Peter moved into the crowd to get a little closer. John said that it was a cold night the crowd had made a fire to keep warm while Jesus was being questioned and abused by the religious community. Peter, undoubtedly, was confused and curious at the same time. He attempted to fit into the crowd around the fire but he stuck out like a sore thumb.


I. Peter’s Identity Questioned
A. The first Young Woman studied His face in the Fire-lit Courtyard
B. Another Person noted that He looked like one of Jesus’ Disciples
C. An Hour later, A third Person observed His Speech

II. Peter is Tortured by His own Denial of Jesus (or Attempt to Fit In)
A. He lies about Who He Is
B. He lies about His Knowledge of Jesus
C. He began to Curse

III. Jesus sees Us
A. In the midst of Peter’s Lying, Jesus looked at Him
B. Jesus had Suffered all Night for Peter
C. Peter responded in Tears


Christians, or perhaps I should say, Christ followers, sometimes go to great length to deny our own identity. We first try to fit in and hope no one notices. When we are noticed, we attempt to divert the attention from ourselves. We will sometimes go a little farther in trying to act out of character in order to impress on others that we are not who we really are. But try as we do, our new person in Christ continues to make us stand out like sore thumbs. If this world were so great, we would not have needed to be delivered from it in the first place. Of course, all of this is easy to say after we have been through a few fireside denials and come to learn that there is no way to hide our new identity in Christ. How can we? If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Christianity can be socially uncomfortable until we begin to mature spiritually. Unfortunately, many Christians want to be saved and unchanged at the same time. Salvation only comes through the new birth and the Spirit of Christ takes up residence in us. It is the indwelling Spirit of Christ who brings about a change in our very person. We look the same and may even walk the same but our speech does change and it will give us away. You don’t have to punctuate your speech with hallelujahs and amen’s for others to know who you are. Just be a Christian and others will know even in your manner of speech. Your new self takes on the personality of Christ. It can be very frustrating to try to lead two different lives. Spiritual maturity requires that we be ourselves at all times. When we are saved, we can never fit into the world again. The world is against God and we who are saved can never live a life that is against God. We are still in this world but we are no longer of this world. Today we celebrate who we are by remembering what Jesus did for us. Today, we again commemorate Jesus’ death for our sins. This celebration is a reminder that we can never fit into the world again because our new citizenship is in Heaven. We strive now to bring our daily living in line with who we are in Christ. The unleavened bread reminds us that Jesus was without sin. The fruit of the vine is a reminder that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin. We did not deserve this wonderful gift but by the grace of God through our faith it is ours.


Robert C. Hudson
November 1, 2009