“While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. 68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.[g] 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.”70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[h]Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice[i] you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.” Mark 16.66-72
How would you like your greatest failure to be recorded in the most popular book of all time? This is exactly what happened to Peter. The most embarrassing, tragic denial of all time is written where everyone can read it for eternity.
Jesus even predicted that Peter was going to leave Him. But Peter told Christ that even if he had to die, he would not deny Him. Like Peter, our spirit is willing to obey Christ, but our flesh is weak.
When the moment came for Peter to stand strong, he rejected Him three times. When asked by a servant girl if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, he denied it, saying, “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” When asked again by the same servant girl, he denied knowing Christ a second time. Finally, when others saw that he was a Galilean and surely must be with Jesus, Peter cursed and swore to them, saying, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
The rooster crowed the second time, and Peter had disowned Christ three times. Then Peter realized his denial and “he broke down and wept.” Peter does find redemption by Christ after the resurrection in John 20, but for now, he is a broken human, a shell of himself, denying Christ at the moment of the Messiah’s greatest need.
This, of course, is our story as well. Each time we choose sin and not Jesus, we deny Christ. When we have the chance to stand up for our faith but choose our own way, we reject Him. It’s human nature. However, we now have Christ’s nature upon us if we believe. If we are in Christ, we are a new creation. The old person is gone, and the new has come (2 Cor 5:17).
We can all identify with Peter’s story, but let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past. Lean into Jesus. Allow His love to flow over you. Remember that you are His child and His Spirit lives in you because of His grace and for His glory.
“O Lord God, it’s Peter’s denial that helps lead us to repentance. Forgive us, Lord, when we turn away from You. Give us strength to seek and serve You all the days of our lives. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we might be one with You and know Your truth and Your salvation. I love You, Lord, and praise Your name. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen