1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word, 2seeing your pure behavior in fear. 3Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing, 4but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. 5For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. 6So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.
7You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
8Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, 9not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
“He who would love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11Let him turn away from evil and do good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears open to their prayer;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, 16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil. 18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
The Rooster Crows
Peter Warming by the Courtyard Fire
We all know the story. Peter is warming himself outside the courtyard area of Caiaphas’ house. Jesus had already been taken inside for questioning. Peter’s world is spinning. His emotions are over the top. He remembers that just a few hours earlier, all had been tranquil as they sat around the table and enjoyed what would become known as their Last Supper together. During the dinner, Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice. Peter had been indignant, insisting that he would never deny Jesus, and he would even follow him to his death. They then went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed while His disciples fell asleep. Jesus rebuked them, saying they couldn’t even stay awake to pray with Him. Then trouble showed up.
Judas betrayed Jesus, and the guards took Him away. Peter had tried to intervene and cut off the ear of the servant, Malchus. Jesus healed the ear and rebuked Peter. He was probably feeling both useless and helpless at this time. The disciples scattered and fled, and Jesus was taken to Caiaphas’ house. Not wanting to abandon Jesus, Peter followed him from a distance. So there he was sitting by the fire when a servant girl recognized him and accused him of being with Jesus. Peter quickly denied it, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Woman, I don’t know him.” Well, so much for following Jesus to His death. Per Mark 14:68, the rooster crowed for the first time. The authorities questioned Jesus, beat Him, and then the guards spat on Him, blindfolded Him, and mocked Him. Another servant girl pointed to Peter and said, “Hey, he’s one of them.” Insistent, Peter shouted, “I don’t even know the man!” About an hour later, another bystander, a relative of Malchus, pointed Peter out a third time. Again, Peter insisted, “I don’t know the man.” And immediately, the rooster crowed the second time. Hearing the rooster, in shame, Peter wept bitterly.
Reader, what can we learn from this account? For one thing, our faith may not be as strong as we think it is. As we say in Texas, "Talk is cheap." Without fear of death or imprisonment, many of us deny knowing Him daily. It might be that we go really quiet when listening to a conversation. It might be that we won’t bother to post an answer when an atheist we know says something disparaging about Jesus. Oh, don’t worry, I’m not talking about you. I‘m talking about me. You see, there’s a lot more of Peter in each of us than we’re willing to admit. Take a lesson from this story. Stand for Jesus. Never deny that you know Him. Never deny that you’re with Him. After the resurrection, Jesus confronted Peter on his faithlessness. Peter repented. Jesus forgave him, and He gave Peter a new directive. Peter would write to all of us later saying, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15 ESV) May we do just that.