As we look back over our life so far, many of us can pick out one, or maybe more times when we did something that we are terribly ashamed of, times when we were a big disappointment to ourselves and others. If we could go back and change things, do it differently this time, we would. Sadly, we can’t. Thinking back, we hang our heads in shame, and maybe even cry. Our Scripture today, as we close out Holy Week, tells the account of a very sad event from the Gospels, and that is when the Apostle Peter, the leader of the Twelve, did something that he vowed he never would do, and that was to deny the Lord Jesus three times. Let’s take a look at that sad time.
Prior to the events in our Scripture, Jesus had been in the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples. It was now the middle of the night, and Judas came with some soldiers and Temple guards and betrayed Jesus. He was arrested and led away. The other disciples all fled, and Jesus was led to the High Priest’s house where He was interrogated. This is where our Scripture begins. Peter truly loved the Lord Jesus, and after the guards left with the Lord in chains and shackles, he followed at a distance (vs. 54). Not too closely, as he was still quite afraid, so he stayed back, but he did follow. When we follow Jesus at a distance, though, we are much more apt to get into trouble, which Peter found out.
Peter saw Jesus being taken into the High Priest’s house, and decided to stay in the courtyard in order to find out what would happen. In Biblical times a person’s courtyard or patio was not as private as one today might be. Anyone could come in, sit, rest, etc. and go on their way. That night there were a group of people there, some servants, some of the guards, and others. Peter thought he could casually join them and no one would notice (vs. 55). However, that wasn’t the case. One of the servant girls noticed him, and recalled having seen him with Jesus before (vs. 56-57). Possibly earlier in the week she had seen and heard Jesus teaching, and remembered seeing Peter with Him. Peter got scared. With some guards right there, and this woman being a part of the household of the High Priest, he could possibly get arrested himself! Peter feared for his own safety, and quickly told her she was wrong. He didn’t know Jesus.
A short while later another person in the courtyard said the same thing, that they recalled Peter being part of Jesus’ group. Peter even more emphatically denied it. Then someone spoke up and said Peter was part of Jesus’ group because he had the Galilean accent (vs. 58-60). A third time Peter, in great fear, denied knowing Jesus. Matthew even records that Peter cursed and swore that he didn’t know the Savior (Matthew 26:74). Immediately a rooster crowed.
Yes, the rooster crowed, and Peter heard it, bringing to his mind what Jesus had told him just a few hours earlier, that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster would crow (Mark 14:30). At this moment, too, something also occurred that we often don’t remember. We all recall the rooster crowing, but how many remember that at that moment the Lord Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house, and as He crossed the courtyard, He looked directly at Peter? (vs 61). This was the lowest moment in his whole life! Not only did Peter do something he vowed he would not do, and the rooster reminded him of that, but at that moment, Jesus was brought out and He looked directly at Peter, who then left and wept bitterly (vs. 62).
Peter wept bitterly. Not only had he denied the Messiah, but also turned away from a very dear Friend who had loved and taught him for three years. Peter had said he would never disown Jesus, despite His predictions (Luke 22:33-34) But when he became frightened, he went against his promise. Peter couldn’t stand up for Jesus for 12 hours. Peter knew he failed as a disciple and friend, and broke down in sobs.
Jesus looked at Peter in that moment. What kind of look was it? Was it compassion? Disappointment? Resignation? Sorrow? Love? The Scripture does not say. I am thinking that it was a mixture of all of those, but most likely especially one of love and forgiveness as He saw how devastated Peter felt at that moment.
Peter made a big mistake, one that might seem impossible to overcome. However, Jesus sees beyond the mistake to the heart of His disciple. Later, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, after the Resurrection, Jesus would remind Peter of who he really is, and Whose he is (John 21:17). He reminded Peter that he was to feed, to lead and teach Jesus’ sheep, Peter’s fellow believers. Whatever our greatest heartache or regrets are, we can turn them over to Jesus. He will forgive, as He did for Peter. That moment when the rooster crowed did not define Peter. It was the moments with Jesus, and serving Him, that did.
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