The truth is that we do not know how we will act in a given circumstance until we actually come face to face with that situation. For example, we like to think that we will sacrifice ourselves for those we love. But it is not until the needs of a loved one conflict with our own desires that we find out how sacrificial we really are. We like to think that we will stand firm when threatened. But it is not until we actually face a threat that we find out how brave we are.
We also tend to boast the loudest in our areas of greatest weakness. The man who is truly honest does not need to tell others how honest he is. His character speaks for itself. In contrast, the person who brags about how loyal or faithful he is, is usually the one who is the least dependable. As the Scripture warns us, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV) The life of the Apostle Peter provides us with an illustration.
Though Jesus repeatedly told the His disciples it would happen they could not imagine that He would ever be arrested and condemned to death. Even worse was Jesus’ statement that one of the disciples would betray Him. Jesus went on to say that all the disciples would abandon Him. In reply Peter boasted, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” (Mark 14:29) Jesus warned Peter that his boast was misplaced, “…tonight – before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times. But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”…” (Mark 14:30-31)
Shortly after this, the religious authorities arrested Jesus and put Him on trial in an upper room in the palace of the high priest. Though all the disciples fled at Jesus’ arrest Peter, to his credit, returned and followed the arresting officers as they took Jesus to the high priest. However, Peter could not enter the courtyard of the palace until John, whom the high priest knew, spoke for him to the servant girl on duty at the door. Upon entering the courtyard, Peter joined the Temple police warming themselves at a fire. He apparently tried to blend in, as if he was one of them. In chapter 14, verses 66 through 72 of the Gospel account which bears his name, Mark tells us what happened next.
“As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came,
and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know, nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed. The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, “This is one of them.” But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” But he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!” The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.”
To understand this incident we must remember that Peter was alone, surrounded by potentially hostile people who could have turned him over to the same authorities who put Jesus on trial. We do not know where John was while Peter warmed himself by the fire. Perhaps he went upstairs to witness Jesus’ trial and did not know about the drama taking place in the courtyard. In any case, he offered no support when Peter came under suspicion.
The first to accuse Peter was the same servant girl who let him inside. She identified him as one of Jesus’ disciples. Perhaps she did this because she did not appreciate Peter’s attempt to blend in and hide his identity. More likely, it was from conceit. She wanted to show the men around the fire that she knew something they didn’t. Whatever her motives, her statement was enough to panic Peter. He lied about his relationship to Jesus and moved away from the fire. However there was no escape. No doubt the door to the outside was shut again and Peter did not have the authority to order the doorkeeper to let him out.
Once more a servant girl accused Peter of being Jesus’ disciple. This time she did not speak to Peter directly, but to the other people in the vicinity. In contrast to Jesus who remained silent when accused, Peter interrupted the discussion and denied again that he was a disciple of Jesus. The word Mark uses indicates that Peter did not make a simple statement, but denied his relationship to Jesus at some length.
Aside from displaying his cowardice, Peter’s denial only created more trouble for himself. By speaking at length his Galilean accent became obvious to those who heard him. In their minds his accent proved that Peter really was one of Jesus’ followers. When they pointed this out, Peter not only denied it, but swore and called down curses upon himself. The man who had once boldly confessed that Jesus was the, “…Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) now was so frightened that he called God as his witness that he didn’t even know the man they were talking about. He acted as if he had never before heard the name ‘Jesus.’
At this point two things happened. By now the high priest had concluded his farce of a trial and found Jesus guilty. The authorities and guards mocked and beat Jesus before dragging Him off to the court of the Roman governor. Luke records that while this was going on Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter. The other thing which happened was that the rooster crowed.
The sound of the rooster and Jesus’ look undid Peter. He remembered Jesus’ prophecy that Peter would deny Him three times. The courtyard door opened to let the crowd pass on their way to the governor. Peter went out and wept bitterly.
When we read about this incident we tend to look down on Peter and boast, “If I had been there I would not have denied my Lord!” But if we wear the name of Christ we need to ask ourselves this question: Do I deny Christ by the way I live? When I do not do what Jesus has told us to do am I not denying Him? At least Peter repented of his denial. Are we honest enough to do the same?