Peter uttered the above words when he denied the Lord (Matt. 26:72). After the rooster crowed, Peter looked upon these words are abhorrent (Matt. 26:75). Many of us today also see these as repugnant — words that we never dream of uttering. However, our actions speak louder than our words — and sometimes adamantly say, “I do not know the Man!”
Jesus told the Jews, “Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word” (Jn. 8:55). The difference between “knowing” and “not knowing” the Father was keeping or not keeping His word. Jesus had already said, “I always do those things that please Him” (Jn. 8:29). Thus, we must “do things” that please God, keep His word, in order to rightly claim we “know” Him.
Do you “do those things that please” Christ? Have you kept His command of baptism unto salvation (Mk. 16:16; cp. Acts 2:38)? Or, do you refuse to “keep His word” and declare in your actions, “I do not know the Man”?
Steven F. Deaton
