Last week, after Peter’s debacle with cutting off Malchus’ ear, we heard John’s testimony that Jesus said,
11 “Put away your sword! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” John 18:11
Matthew remembers more of Jesus’ words to Peter in the garden.
53 “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matt. 26:53-54
Luke relates that Jesus said,
51 “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. Luke 22:51
You would think that Peter would slink away after being humiliated. The other disciples had fled in all directions. But Peter and John follow at a distance as the Jewish guards, chief priests, and Pharisees bind Jesus and lead him back across the Kidron Valley, first to Annas, the previous high priest, then to the house of Caiaphas the present high priest. John and Peter make it to the courtyard of Caiaphas. John is able to go in because he “was known to the high priest.” (John 18:16) But Peter has to wait outside the gate.
Soon, John comes back , speaks to the girl on duty, and brings Peter into the courtyard. John seems to disappear. Perhaps he was able to get in closer, maybe within earshot of the action with Caiaphas and the selected members of the Sanhedrin who had been rounded up for this clandestine meeting in the wee hours of the morning.
Meanwhile, back in the chilly courtyard, the girl who let Peter in the gate speaks to him – first denial.
69 “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Matt. 26:69-70
Here comes the second denial. Peter goes to the fire to warm himself and another says to him,
73 “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” John 18:73-74
One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him.
26 Didn’t I see you in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied it. John 18:26-27
And so, for the third time, (as Jesus predicted) Peter denies that he knows Jesus.
Luke records that Peter’s last denial went like this—
60 “Man I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Luke 22:60-61
Perhaps Jesus was being drug through the courtyard to the next trial as Peter was giving his last denial. How agonizing to see his master just as these words leave his lips. The crow of the rooster must have been like a stab in his heart.
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke 22:62
In later years, God would use Peter’s bold, determined spirit, but there are times when we overstep our bounds and the Lord must rein us in with humility. It was a powerful, though painful lesson.
How I relate to Peter. There have been so many times in my life when I have shoved forward in my own strength, sure that I was right, only to have to eat humble pie and retreat to rediscover His will and His way. I don’t know that I have boisterously denied Him as Peter did, but I have to ask myself, Have there been times that I have denied Him with my silence?
Food for thought in this Lenten season as we look toward the cross where Jesus gave all for us.
~ Joyce ~