Peter denies Jesus
Matthew 26:69-75 WEB
Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!”
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”
73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”
74 Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.
How do you think Peter felt around that fire?
How do you think Peter felt when he thought about what he did?
What exactly had he done?
Peter had promised Jesus that he would love Him forever. Peter said that if anyone came to take the Lord Jesus away, or to do anything against Him, Peter would stop it happening.
Peter even said he would stop Jesus being crucified on the cross! Jesus rebuked him for that.
Peter really loved Jesus and was devoted to Him. Peter didn’t always understand the teachings of Jesus, but he was totally committed to Jesus. Peter followed Jesus around everywhere.
Jesus gathers the disciples together for the last supper together before His death. Jesus washes the disciples feet. Peter wants to be cleaned all over! He is so eager to show his love for Jesus and to be identified with Him.
Just before Jesus and the disciples went into the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus turns to Peter and warns him about what will happen when He is arrested. Jesus says to Peter,
“This very night you will fall away on account of me.”
Peter says, “Even if everyone else falls away from you, I never will…”
Peter is so sure…
Jesus is arrested and tried and beaten and is going to the cross to die alone. All the disciples run away except John and Peter. John stays with Jesus as Jesus is put to death on the cross.
Peter followed behind as Jesus is taken into the Sanhedrin. Peter sneaks into the courtyard of the High Priest. People are standing around a fire. Peter goes to warm his hands. Peter is cold.
This coldness is more than physical. He is not beside Jesus any more and cannot see Him. In a few hours, the cold has seeped into his heart and Peter is seeking heat from something else.
He seeks heat from the fire of the ungodly people.
Someone recognizes Peter and confronts him. Peter instantly denies he knows the Lord.
Peter moves to the doorway. A young woman is there. She also recognizes Peter. Peter is afraid to be associated with Jesus, so he denies he knows the Lord with curses and bad language.
The people around the fire have been talking. We know that man and recognize his face. He was a follower of the Nazarene. They come to Peter and confront him again. Peter is so terrified about being recognized, he calls down the curse of God on himself, if he knows Jesus…!!
At that very moment, A cockerel crows for the dawn of the day. Peter suddenly is struck with the enormity of what he has done. He has denied Jesus, even though he promised he never would. Peter realised he was a complete failure and was filled with guilt, self-loathing, and totally disappointment in himself.
Peter realised that what Jesus said was true.
He realized he had let down his Lord and God completely and left his Saviour Jesus in his hour of greatest need.
Peter left the Sandhedrin and found a dark corner and wept bitterly. He wept for a long time. How could he do such a thing? What would his Lord and Saviour think of him now?
Maybe Peter felt quite comfortable around that fire. It was warm and comforting on that cold night.
But it all disappeared in a few minutes, when he fell into such sin. Jesus said, anyone who is ashamed of Him before other people, will be left ashamed when Jesus comes in His glory.
Anyone who is not ashamed and speaks about Jesus, witnesses, lives a right life, says no to the right things… Jesus will not be ashamed of those people.
Peter must have felt terrible for a long time.
Jesus died and rose from the dead, and it was some days before Peter could say sorry to his Lord.
The Lord Jesus is so kind. He forgives all types of sin, and even when we are ashamed of Him, He can put it right and change us into the people He wants us to be.
Jesus lifted Peter up and gave him amazing work to do in the kingdom of God. You can read about it in the book of Acts. Peter the coward and boaster, became Peter the miracle worker and preacher of the gospel. Peter became so brave and rejoiced to die for the sake of his Master. Peter never denied the Lord again….
Are there ways in our lives that we are denying Jesus?
Things I should be doing?
Things I shouldn’t be doing?
What do I need to do to put things right?
Do I need to say sorry to God?
What do I need to do to build my faith and courage?
These questions are not just for one day, but are questions we ask every day as we walk the Christian pathway. As we face our faults and failures, we are made strong in the Lord.
May that be true for every one of us…
Lettsom Inn 