This incident probably haunted Peter the rest of his life. Both he and John were put on the spot; neither was any better than the other in having this done to them. The other disciples fled. Peter and John followed the mob to the Sanhedrin. John kept up with them; Peter held back. John was at considerable risk, yet he was not afraid. In the violence and confusion nine fled. Every disciple was put on the spot, and what they all did could not be taken back. All of them later followed Jesus until they died. The practical lesson here is how much like them we are.
John 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not. 18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
Verses 19-24 take place while Peter is still hanging around the fire.
25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. 26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? 27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Jesus was on trial. While he was, Peter and John were as well. It’s the same today. Not a day goes by that Jesus is not put on trial by the lost and wicked. Because we are Christians, it’s a sure thing we’ll be put on trial. The unbelievers, the worldly crowd, questioned Peter. If we lag behind like Peter did, the devil will take advantage of it to test our loyalty to the Lord. We’ll see it as well. Possibly someone interested in being a Christian will ask about Jesus. Perhaps those who are atheistic or humanistic will ask. It can be a direct or indirect. What do we do?
Peter was asked essentially the same question three different times, in three different situations. Many times we’re not the aggressor in asking about one’s relationship with the Lord; it’s the lost that turn things around and ask. It often comes at our least uncomfortable times. We have to respond. Peter didn’t realize the depth of what he had done until that fourth voice spoke-the rooster. God help us that we don’t do likewise. We can’t undo the past, but we can be ready for the future. Remember the Lord said if we deny him, he will deny us at the judgment. Paul said that if we suffer with him we will reign with him. John chose to stand firm and endure.
Let’s look at Peter’s denial. The first time was by an individual, the girl at the gate. The high priest knew John. He knew he loved his Master. He respected him for that and allowed him to come inside. Assuming Peter was right behind him John turned but saw Peter afar off. He was timid finding himself feeling alone. The devil worked on him just as he will do us. John’s determination kept him with Jesus. Jesus was sentenced. John was let go. He was not seen as a threat. John said nothing but confessed knowing his Master by his own actions. The way we live is more effective than our words. Jesus protected John for his actions.
Seeing Peter lagging behind John went back to the gate and asked the girl to let Peter come in. There she, one individual, asked Peter if he was a follower of Jesus. Many times we’ll be asked for our viewpoint by one person. We might be asked if it’s wrong to do this or that or what we think about certain things. Inside the question is another one-“are you really a Christian?” People expect and need the truth. Be sure to give a Biblical answer. Doing otherwise is denying the Lord. Notice her question. She said are you “also” one of the disciples? Peter said “I am not.” Not only did Peter deny the Lord, he denied John, his fellow disciple. I’m sure this broke John’s heart. When we get afraid and deny the Lord, we also deny our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Peter found himself in a catch 22. He had denied the Lord and John. He now felt he couldn’t go on in. He had nowhere to go, so he went to the fire. He went to the wrong crowd. Sometimes we can’t help being in the wrong crowd. We work around the lost. Peter was at the fire not wanting to be there. He didn’t strike up a conversation. He knew it was the wrong crowd. He didn’t open his mouth; he wanted to blend in, but not join in. As Christians we cannot blend in; it will show some way.
Notice verse 25. While at the fire “they” confronted Peter. They ganged up on him. Earlier Peter had bragged about his loyalty. We better watch how much we brag. We can be ganged up on by others even if they mean no harm. Peter just couldn’t blend in. His speech or accent was different. He stuck out. He was a Galilean; the crowd was Judean. He should have witnessed but felt outnumbered. We are never alone; we’re never outnumbered when Jesus is there.
Matthew says about one hour later that a man confidently affirmed Peter was a disciple. He witnessed Peter in the garden. He knew he had cut off the man’s ear. Someone knows you’re a Christian. Someone is a witness of your witness. The man knew and put Peter right on the spot again. We have to be careful that we live right. What we do can peg us to the wall. Mark says that Peter began to curse and swear. He gave the ultimate denial when he said he didn’t know what he was talking about. The devil can work us right into a similar corner. What will we do? When the rooster crowed Peter realized his abandonment of the Lord. He had no choice but to run away, hide and cry.
Lord, help us when we’re put on the spot. The Bible mentions Peter’s denial over and over so we won’t make the same mistake. Determine to be a John. He knew what to say and what not to say. He knew when to say it and when not to say it. He knew how to say it. Knowing this we won’t be caught off guard. Just because we are put on the spot doesn’t mean we have be caught off guard. Later, Peter would refer to his denial in his epistle with a caution to all believers not to make the same mistake. Our prayer should be that we “be ready to give an answer of the hope that lies in us.”
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 