“Jesus replied, ‘Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret.’”
John 18:20 (NLT)
Peter is able to deny Jesus only because he was trying to stay close. He followed Jesus into the courtyard, warmed himself by the fire, and blended in with the crowd. Ironically, proximity without openness became the setting for denial. Peter was exactly where he wanted to be physically, but not yet where he needed to be spiritually.
Inside, Jesus is being questioned by the high priest. When asked to explain Himself, Jesus refuses to play the game. He will not condemn Himself or reshape His message under pressure. Instead, He points outward: Ask the people. Everything He taught was public, consistent, and open for all to hear.
Here’s the contrast. Peter stays close but quiet. Jesus stands firm and open. And that same tension lives in us. We often speak freely about Jesus in safe spaces but grow silent in public ones. We don’t reject Him outright—we just keep Him private.
Jesus shows us another way. Faith was never meant to be hidden, limited to church walls or trusted circles. When we bring the message into the open—into everyday conversations, workplaces, and ordinary moments—we step out of denial and into discipleship. Jesus didn’t speak in secret. Neither should we.