Denial

Luke 22: 31-34; 54-62
31 ‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ 33 But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ 34 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant-girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’57 But he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know him,’ he said.58 A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’
‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, ‘Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.’
60 Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Just as he was speak-ing, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.’ 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
I see myself all too clearly in Simon Peter. Jesus tells Simon of his denial of knowing him not once, but three times. Peter is so sure of his loyalty to Christ that he says he would go to prison and die for him. But, alas, just a few hours later, Peter does exactly as Jesus prophesied. He denies not only following Jesus, but curses in denial of even knowing him.
I proclaim to know and serve Christ, but I often deny Jesus through my selfish behavior because I am too concerned of what others think of me. I am also struck by the reaction of Peter after the rooster crowed. Peter realized his mistake. Jesus looked directly at him. When I confront Jesus with my wrongdoings, he forgives me. Peter went away and wept for forgiveness.
Do I look to Jesus when I realized I have sinned? Am I genuinely sorry? Do I accept the forgiveness that Christ offers to me?