I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
Jesus desires us to acknowledge him before others, that what we have heard in the dark and behind closed doors we would proclaim to the world. He desires that we at least not be afraid to own up to his friendship if we are put to the test. Acknowledging Jesus is necessary so that the word of life can forth and received by others. But it is also important for us, because by acknowledging him we show our willingness to take his part. We can see that Peter denied Jesus three times because he did not yet have this willingness. Not acknowledging Jesus at that time meant that he was willing to put his own life above his friendship with Jesus. Fortunately, such sins against the Son of Man can be forgiven. Peter found grace after the resurrection around the charcoal fire. He did in fact go on to acknowledge Jesus not only with his words but with his entire life.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
In denying those who deny him Jesus isn't being mean or arbitrary. He only says of those who deny him what they themselves are saying. They are implying that they are not friends, that they do not know him. May all those wo speak words against the Son of Man discover the forgiveness he has promised. Denying Jesus in this way probably feels, and must have seemed to Peter, like an almost insurmountable failure. A similar failure on the part of Judas but with a different response did have a tragic end. But Judas despaired of the power of the Holy Spirit to grant forgiveness, whereas Peter managed to find a hope to which he could cling. The point is that the only failure that is absolutely insurmountable is the refusal to believe in or accept the hope that the Holy Spirit offers up, and to maintain that refusal until the bitter end. And yet, this choice is a frighteningly real possibility. But at least, having seen our options, let us remember never to despair of the forgiveness of the Son of Man by the power of his Spirit.
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.
If we worry about what we are to say we are all too likely to compromise, or even to let our fears get the best of us and deny the Son of Man. Instead of relying on ourselves we should remain attentive to the Spirit. He will prompt us with the words we need to remain faithful to the Son even in times of trial, even unto the end. How sad it would be to insist on relying on ourselves in such trials when the Spirit is ready and waiting to show us what to say.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe
The difference between the Peter that denied Christ and the Peter that was able to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit even unto death was a deep and experiential understanding of the hope that belonged to his call, the riches of the glory of the resurrection of Jesus which Peter then understand to be his own inheritance, and a surpassingly great power already at work among believers even in this present life. It was the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that brought this reality alive for Peter and thenceforth animated his life.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you (see First Peter 1:3-4).
How about us? Most of us have difficulty speaking even to people who like us about Jesus and what he has done for us. It seems unlikely that we would do better "before synagogues and rulers and authorities". But could it be the case only because we are too concerned about our defense or what we are to say and not enough concerned with openness to the Holy Spirit? May we receive the same eye opening experience which Paul asked the Father for his audience in Ephesus. It is the Spirit who desires to open the eyes of our hearts, to teach us, and to give us a confidence in God's power that makes even persecution seem powerless by comparison.
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