Peter's Denial

They all ran. When Jesus was arrested in the garden, “they all forsook Him and fled” (Mark 14:50). Then the soldiers “led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house” (Luke 22:54). Peter followed. “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple” (John 18:15). Peter did not go home. He loved Jesus, and he wanted to know what would happen to Him. Matthew says he went in and sat with the servants “to see the end” (Matthew 26:58). At a distance. Luke adds, “But Peter followed at a distance” (Luke 22:54). He came after Jesus, but he did not walk beside Him. The other disciple. This disciple “was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest” (18:15). Many think this was John, the writer of this Gospel. A courtyard was an open space inside the walls of a house. Let in at the door. “But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in” (18:16). What this means for you. Peter was brave enough to follow when the others ran. But it is hard to stand strong when you are following Jesus from far away. Stay close to Him. Talk to Him, read His Word and spend time with people who love Him.

Scattered (Mark 14:50). In the garden “they all forsook Him and fled.” Yet two of them followed the soldiers to the high priest's house. Peter's love for Jesus was real. Following (18:15). “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple.” Years before, by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus had said to him, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). That night Peter was still following, and Matthew says he went in “to see the end” (Matthew 26:58). At a distance (Luke 22:54). “But Peter followed at a distance.” He was close enough to see what was happening, but he was not beside his Lord. Mark adds that he “sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire” (Mark 14:54). Known to the high priest (18:15-16). The other disciple “was known to the high priest,” so he could go in with Jesus. Many think this was John, the writer of this Gospel. He “spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.” Among them. The courtyard was the open space within the walls of the high priest's house. Officers from the chief priests had come to the garden to take Jesus (John 18:3). Now Peter was standing among the same kind of men. For you. Peter did not run, and that took courage. But a disciple who follows from far away is easier to frighten. Ask Jesus for the courage to follow Him closely, even when the people around you do not.

Soldiers had arrested Jesus in the garden. All of His followers ran away. But Peter did not go home. He followed Jesus to the high priest's house. Luke tells us Peter followed from far away. Another follower of Jesus came too. Many people think this follower was John. The high priest knew him, so he could go in. He helped Peter get inside too. Matthew says Peter wanted to see what would happen. But following from far away is not the best way. Jesus wants you to stay close to Him. You can talk to Him and read His Word every day.

Peter loved Jesus very much. He followed the men who took Jesus away. But Peter stayed far behind Jesus.

A simple question. “Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not’” (18:17). She was not a soldier or a judge. She was a servant girl at a door. A promise gives way. Only a few hours before, Peter had said, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Now, most likely out of fear, he would not answer a servant girl's question truthfully. Fear can make even a brave person say something that is not true. By the fire. “Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself” (18:18). Officers like these had come to the garden to arrest Jesus (John 18:3). Inside the house. Inside, Jesus was being questioned by the high priest (John 18:19). I am He, I am not. In the garden Jesus had said, “I am He” (John 18:5). He told the truth about Himself, even though it led Him to the cross. In the courtyard Peter said, “I am not.” He hid the truth to keep himself safe. What this means for you. Has anyone ever made fun of you for loving Jesus? It can feel scary. Remember that Jesus is never ashamed of you. Ask Him to help you be brave and tell the truth about belonging to Him.

A small question (18:17). The first question came from “the servant girl who kept the door”: “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?” She asked it as if she expected him to say no, and Peter said it: “I am not.” Two answers. In the garden Jesus had said, “I am He,” and armed men fell back (John 18:5-6). At the door Peter said, “I am not.” Jesus told the truth and went to the cross. Peter hid the truth to stay safe. A fire of coals (18:18). “Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.” He stood among the men who served the leaders who wanted Jesus dead. Inside (18:19). Inside, Jesus was being questioned by the high priest. Why did Peter say it? Hours earlier he had promised, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). He meant it. But he was trusting his own strength. Most likely it was fear that caught him by the fire. The snare. “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). A snare is a trap. Fear of what people would do most likely caught Peter that night. For you. Fear of what others think can trap anyone. Trust the Lord, and ask Him for courage to say you belong to Jesus when it costs you something.

The girl at the door looked at Peter. She asked if he was one of Jesus' followers. Peter answered, “No, I am not!” Peter was probably afraid of what might happen to him. It was cold, so the servants and guards made a fire. Peter stood by the fire with them. Inside, Jesus was being asked questions. In the garden, Jesus had told the soldiers who He was. Now Peter said he did not belong to Jesus. Being afraid can make us say things that are not true. Jesus is never ashamed of you. He can help you be brave and tell the truth.

A girl asked Peter if he was Jesus' friend. Peter said, “I am not,” but that was not true. Maybe he was afraid.

The second time. “Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, ‘You are not also one of His disciples, are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not!’” (18:25). The third time. “One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with Him?’” (18:26). John tells us the servant whose ear was cut off was named Malchus (John 18:10). Strong words. “Peter then denied again” (18:27). Matthew tells us that Peter “began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man!’” (Matthew 26:74). He called a curse down on himself if he was lying. It does not mean he used bad words. The way he talked. The people said, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you” (Matthew 26:73). Peter talked like a man from Galilee, the area where Jesus had taught. The rooster. “And immediately a rooster crowed” (18:27). Mark tells us it was the second time the rooster crowed that night (Mark 14:72). Just as Jesus said. At supper Jesus had told Peter, “the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times” (John 13:38). Every word came true. What this means for you. Jesus knows everything about you, even the ways you will fail. Nothing about you surprises Him. And He loves you anyway.

Arneomai (18:25). “He denied it and said, ‘I am not!’” Denied is arneomai (say: ar-NEH-oh-my), to say no to someone, to disown him. Matthew uses the same word for the first denial: “But he denied it before them all” (Matthew 26:70). A witness from the garden (18:26). The third question came from a relative of Malchus, the man whose ear Peter had cut off (18:10). “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” This man had been in the garden himself. With an oath (Matthew 26:72-74). Matthew says Peter “denied with an oath, ‘I do not know the Man!’” Then he “began to curse and swear.” He called a curse down on himself if he was lying. Each denial was stronger than the one before. A Galilean. “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean” (Luke 22:59). Peter's way of speaking gave him away (Matthew 26:73). The rooster (18:27). “Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.” Jesus had told him, “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times” (Mark 14:30). Mark 14:72 says, “A second time the rooster crowed.” Foretold. Jesus had warned Peter about all of this at the supper (Luke 22:34; John 13:38). Peter's failure did not catch Jesus by surprise. For you. Sin often grows step by step: following from far away, a quiet no, then louder and stronger words. When you notice the first step away from Jesus, turn back to Him right away.

Peter was still standing by the fire. Some people asked him, “Aren't you one of that man's followers?” Peter said, “No, I am not.” Then one of the high priest's servants spoke up. He was a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off. He said, “Didn't I see you with him in the garden?” Peter said no a third time. Matthew tells us Peter even swore that he was telling the truth. Right then a rooster crowed. Earlier that night Jesus had warned Peter about this. Jesus said Peter would deny Him three times. It all happened just as Jesus said. Jesus knows when we will fail. And He still loves us.

People by the fire asked Peter about Jesus again. Three times Peter said he did not know Jesus. Then a rooster crowed.

The look. “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter” (Luke 22:61). Luke is the one who tells us about this look. Jesus had loved Peter all along, and He had prayed for him before that night. Peter remembered. “Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times’” (22:61). Bitter tears. “So Peter went out and wept bitterly” (22:62). To weep bitterly is to cry with deep sorrow. Peter cried because he loved Jesus, and he had said that he did not know Him. The prayer answered. Jesus had told Peter, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:32). Peter's tears showed that he still loved his Lord. Not the end. Jesus would later meet Peter again and forgive him. What this means for you. When you fail Jesus, it is right to feel sorry. But do not hide from Him. Jesus went to the cross for Peter's sins and for yours, and He welcomes everyone who comes back to Him.

Emblepo (Luke 22:61). “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.” Looked is emblepo (say: em-BLEP-oh), to look straight at someone. The same word is used in Mark 10:21: “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him.” It is also the word John uses when Simon first met Jesus: “Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’” (John 1:42). Remembered (22:61). “Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’” One look brought back the words of the supper. Pikros (22:62). “So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Bitterly is pikros (say: pee-KROHS), with sharp, painful sorrow. Mark adds, “And when he thought about it, he wept” (Mark 14:72). Godly sorrow. Peter's tears did not drive him away from his Lord. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is turning from sin back to God. The prayer answered. “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:32). Those were the tears of a man who still believed. Jesus would later meet Peter again and forgive him. For you. The Lord who looked at Peter knows your failures too, and He carried them to the cross. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Luke tells us something more about that night. When the rooster crowed, Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. Peter went outside and cried very hard. His heart hurt because he loved Jesus. Jesus loved Peter very much. Before this happened, Jesus had prayed for Peter. He prayed that Peter would not lose his faith. Later Jesus would meet Peter again and forgive him. But Jesus went to the cross for Peter's sins and ours. When you do wrong, do not run from Jesus. Come back to Him.

Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Peter went outside and cried, because he loved Jesus. And Jesus still loved Peter!

🎉 All Matched!