PETER’S DENIAL OF JESUS (MATT 26:30-35, 69-75, MARK 14:26-31, 66-77, LUKE 22:31-34, 54-62)

On the night of the Last Supper, as Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives, Jesus foretold that all would fall away. Peter protested strongly, and his threefold denial followed exactly as Jesus predicted.

The prediction:

• Jesus said, "You will all fall away because of Me this night."
• Peter boasted, "Though they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away," and, "Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You."
• Jesus replied, "Truly, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times."

The denial: While Jesus was being tried, Peter followed at a distance and sat in the courtyard of the high priest, warming himself by the fire.

• First denial: A servant girl said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." Peter denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."
• Second denial: Another maid (or bystanders) said he was one of them. Peter again denied it, this time with an oath, "I do not know the man."
• Third denial: After a while, the bystanders said his accent (a Galilean) betrayed him. Peter began to invoke a curse and to swear, "I do not know the man."

The aftermath: Immediately the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of Jesus. He went out and wept bitterly, deeply repentant.

Lessons: Human resolve is weak without God's grace; overconfidence can lead to failure; and genuine repentance brings restoration.