Evidently Annas realized that he was getting nowhere for he couldn’t get
Jesus to incriminate Himself. So he sent Him across the courtyard to Caiaphas, by
which time the Sanhedrin had already gathered. John, however, chose to bypass
the whole trial, which was recorded by the other Gospels. Instead he chose to narrate
about Peter’s second and third denial of Christ. Meanwhile Peter had not moved
from his original position. He was still among those men around the charcoal
fire and warming himself. Then the same question he was asked earlier by the
maid popped up again. He was asked a second time. And it came from one of the
men he was standing with. Most probably the Galilean ascent of Peter gave him
away. All who stood around him instantly knew where he came from.
Peter was stuck. He could not back away because he had started the ball
rolling earlier when he lied to the maid. He now had to continue with another
lie to cover the truth. It is best not to begin that way. But he did. All these
only revealed his lack of depth as yet. It shows us the kind of person that he
was. He spoke too quickly, boasted too much and prayed too little. He claimed that
he was willing to follow Jesus all the way even if he had to die. Remember his
words in Matthew 26:33, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I
will never fall away.” He was also
one of the three privileged ones that Jesus brought into the inner segment of Gethsemane
to pray. He was supposed to watch and pray so that he would not fall into
temptation. But at last, he couldn’t stay awake and watch even for one hour.
This is a timely reminder to us to remember to be slow to speak and quick to
hear God’s word. It shows us the necessity to stay prayerful and vigilant in
order to stay faithful to Him.
Shortly afterward, one of the servants who was a relative of Melchus, the
man whose ear Peter had lopped off, saw him and asked him again, "Did I not
see you in the garden with Him?" By this time Peter became totally unhinged.
He became so frustrated, that according to the other Gospels, he denied the
Lord with oaths, swearing and curses. He blasphemed in order to assert the lie
that he was not one of the disciples of Jesus. Immediately, what Jesus had
foretold came to pass - the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered what Jesus had
said in Matthew 26:75, “Before
a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” At that moment, across the courtyard, Peter’s
eye caught that of Jesus’. Seeing the mercy and tender love exuding from Jesus’
gaze, Peter broke down and wept. We are told again by the other Gospels that he
quickly left that courtyard and went out and wept bitterly.
There are lessons we can pick up from
this account of Peter’s fall. First, we need to know that without the Lord we
are weak indeed. There is a need to keep close to Him so that we will not yield
to the luring temptations of the world. Second, it tells us of the danger of
self-confidence. Peter was too cocksure of himself. It shows how little he knew
of his own capacity. Third, we are reminded of the consequences of
prayerlessness. Hadn’t the Lord warned Peter to watch and pray so as to find
His grace in the time of need? Obviously, he didn’t take heed. Fourth, it tells
us exactly what Proverbs 29:25 said, “The fear of man brings a snare….” And finally, let’s be reminded of the dangers
of standing with the wicked world. It will dilute our conviction and threaten
our foundation. So let’s pray, so that we will not fall into temptation!
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