Peter's denial of Jesus occupies a major portion in the Passion Story--as a warning to all future disciples about how easy it is to fall the way Peter did, and the reasons for it. Far too many Christians have turned from Jesus under persecution or temptation and then lived with terrible guilt and regret afterward.
The good news is that Peter's experience shows how to find the way back through the mercy of Jesus and how to avoid his moral collapse in the first place.
Let's remember what happened by visiting the courtroom scene.
While Jesus is being questioned by Caiaphas, two of His disciples were present. At first they fled (Mt. 26:56), but feeling remorse, and perhaps hoping to do something--maybe just wanting to be near the Savior they had learned to love, John and Peter made their way to the Sanhedrin's hall.
John was known to the high priest, Caiaphas, and secured access for Peter too. When they were let in, Peter seated himself in the courtyeard far enough away from the interrogation so as not to be noticed, yet where he could see what was happening.
At that moment, a servant girl approached Peter and asked him pointedly if he was also a disciple of Jesus. "He denied it before them all" (Mt. 26:70). Can you see and hear him? Then he moved out to the gateway, to avoid detection and to be able to escape easier if they tried to arrest him. Peter was clearly feeling fear, and his fear was growing. Fear, rather than faith was starting to control him.
As Peter watched Jesus' interrogation and sensed the spirit of the people and leaders, he realized that Jesus was not going to do anything to escape. Now disappointment and confusion are added to his fear. Why is Jesus allowing this? Is it possible he is not the Messiah? Had Peter been wrong all along?
Was Peter actually feeling betrayed by Jesus? Certainly Jesus had predicted these sufferings (Mt. 26:31-32), but it didn't jive with Peter's hopes, so he denied them. How often does our denial about wrong attitudes, beliefs, or character traits in ourselves lead ultimately to our denial of Jesus? Now, the kingdom dreams Peter had treasured were falling like a house of cards.
Is it not true that we turn from Jesus when we feel disappointed in Him? He does not answer our prayers the way we had hoped; He allowed trouble we thought we would be spared from, even though He clearly said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (Jn. 17:33).
After Caiaphas' verdict, when Jesus was brutally and unjustly attacked right in the courtroom of the Sanhedrin, Peter's fear spiraled out of control. It is unnerving to watch unjust abuse. It sets off alarms of fight or flight in our heads.
It was at that point Peter was questioned again, but this time by a group of people which included a relative of the high priest's servant whose ear Peter had cut off with his swashbuckling swing in the Garden (John 18:26). His cover gone, Peter was now in full panic mode.
"He began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, 'I don't know the man?'"
"Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly" (Mt. 26:74-75).
What led to Peter's tragic fall? More important, how did Jesus relate to it and what led to his restoration? Both questions are extremely important. In the answer to the first, we will learn how to strengthen our faith to avoid Peter's personal disaster. In the second we see a demonstration of God's grace that amazes and wins our hearts forever.
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