The dark shadows of night still filled the courtyard.  Many were gathered in the stillness.  Word was out that Jesus had been arrested and was standing trial before the high priest.  I couldn’t help wondering how this could be.  Only a few days ago the city was on fire with His entrance.  His preaching was powerful and at the same time filled with hope and love.  It was different from the words we had become accustomed to.

For years our people had been under the oppression of other ruling governments, but here in Jerusalem we were still allowed to worship the way we chose.  We longed for the day when we would obtain our complete freedom, but in the meantime we waited.

Jesus had begun to open doors for us.  The old rules regarding women were slowing being dissolved by Him.  There was no discrimination.  He spoke to us as He did to the scholars in the temple. He gave us hope of freedom from our enemies as well as victory over death.  His message made me feel safe and relevant.

When I saw Peter standing by the fire, warming himself, I recognized him as one of Jesus’s men.  In the past, I would never have been so bold as to address a man, but Jesus changed that.  Three times I asked Peter if he was one of Jesus’ followers.  Three times he denied ever knowing him.

How could he?  He was like a brother to Jesus.  Now his brother was being silenced by the authorities and Peter wouldn’t even acknowledge Him.  As night turned into morning  and the events of the day that followed began to unfold, I realized that we all deny our Savior at times – even the staunchest of us have been weakened by fear.

The sun began to rise and suddenly I knew that nothing would ever be the same again.