So many times when I read this passage, I tend to think of Peter as a "bad" person, and wonder how he could possibly just deny Christ outright like he did. And three times, no less!
Then, I began to think about it: how many times do I deny Christ and His presence in my life daily? Ask yourself this question, and consider your answer for a few minutes. It's quite a piercing question, isn't it? When I asked myself this, I began to feel really bad about the way I treated Christ in my everyday life.
Then I thought about who this passage was about--Peter. I mean, this is a man who is one of the most famous of the twelve disciples. But then I read the rest of the story (John 21:15-17). Jesus forgave Peter even for such a seemingly heinous sin. You see, even though Peter disowned Christ those three times, Jesus was willing to forgive Peter, and to help him become a great disciple despite his past failures.
So, how do you treat Christ in your everyday life? Do you deny Him through your words or actions? Remember, Jesus is willing to forgive your past failures, and to help you become a great witness for Him.
I think we all need to pray that God would help us to stop denying Christ and to start denying ourselves, so that we can be better disciples for Him.