Peter Denies the Lord

Luke 22:31-34, 54-62

All four gospels contain this account. All four bring different details to it,
allowing us to get a complete picture of what happened.
This was the lowest point in the apostle’s life. Yet, it is recorded for a
purpose. There are some important lessons we need to learn from this event.

Mark 14:27-29 - on the night that Jesus is betrayed, while still in the
upper room, Jesus predicts that all of the disciples would be made to stumble
because of Him. Impetuous Peter replies that even if all the other disciples are
made to stumble, he will not be. So the Lord turns His attention to Peter.

Luke 22:31-34 – Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked for him to sift him
like wheat. We know that Satan asked for Job and was allowed to test his
faithfulness (Job 1-2). Here, he has asked for Peter.
The Lord has prayed for him, that his faith would not fail. But he also
acknowledges that the results of this test will require Peter to repent: “when you
have returned to me.”
Peter is a leader. When he returns to the Lord, he is to strengthen his
brethren and encourage them to do the same.
Peter responds by saying that he is ready to go to prison and to die for the
Lord. Jesus tells him that that very night, before the cock crows, he will deny
three times that he knows the Lord.

Jesus takes the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and prays while
Judas comes with the mob from the chief priests, scribes and elders. When the
mob arrives to arrest Jesus, Peter shows that he is ready to fight and die. He
draws his sword cuts off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus tells him
to put his sword away, heals the servants ear, then surrenders to the mob.
When his disciples see that He has surrendered, they flee.

Luke 22:54-62 – Peter followed Jesus at a safe distance to see what would
happen to Him. While Jesus was being tried in the house, Peter warmed himself
at a fire kindled by the servants in the courtyard.
A servant girl caught a glimpse of him in the light from the fire and said
that he was also with Him. Peter denied it, saying he did not know Him.
Peter left the fire and went out to the entranceway. There he was pointed
out again as a follower of Jesus. Peter insisted that he did not know the Lord.
 An hour later, another servant said Peter was a follower of Jesus. He was
confident of it because his speech gave him away (Matt. 26:73). The people of
Galilee had a distinct dialect, similar to different dialects found in our country.
Peter replied, “Man, I do not know what you are saying.” He is denying,
not only being a disciple of Jesus, but even knowing who Jesus is.
Matthew and Mark say that Peter began to curse and swear (Matt. 26:74;
Mark 14:71). He is calling down curses upon himself and swearing that he is
telling the truth.
While he was still speaking, the cock crowed. And then Jesus turned and
looked at Peter. This caused Peter to remember the words that Jesus had spoken
to him earlier. He then went out and wept bitterly.

What are some lessons we can learn from this event?

I. It Takes More Than Good Intentions To Remain Faithful To The Lord

Mark 14:30-31 – Peter had the best of intentions. All of the disciples did.
They would never dream of denying the Lord or being caused to stumble
because of Him – but they were.

Mark 8:34-38 - Jesus makes it clear that there is a price to pay in order to
be a disciple. We may have good intentions of serving the Lord faithfully, but we
will not be able to do so until we pay this price. Temptations come. Faithfulness
requires a commitment, not just good intentions.

II. We Must Watch and Pray

Mark 14:32-38 – Jesus knew that a test was coming, not just for Him, but
also for His disciples.
The way we resist temptation and remain faithful to the Lord is to:
1. Watch – be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8).
2. Pray – we should not wait until we are tempted before we pray. Prayer
should come first, so that we have the wisdom and strength to overcome.

III. We Can’t Follow At A Distance

Luke 22:54 – Peter followed, but at a safe distance. He stayed close
enough to see what was happening, but far enough away to stay safe.
This is not the way to follow the Lord. However, some Christians take this
same approach. They are recognized as members, but stay a “safe” distance
from being involved in the work of the church.
Peter teaches us that the more distance we put between the Lord and
ourselves, the more likely we are to turn away from Him.
IV. We Can’t Sit And Warm Ourselves At A Stranger’s Fire
Luke 22:55 – sitting implies a closeness, sharing, fellowship (Psalm 1:1).
It was easy for Peter to be a faithful disciple when he was in the company
of other believers. With the disciples he could confidently confess that Jesus was
the Christ, and insist that he would not deny Him.
But in the company of unbelievers, Peter’s confidence was gone. In this
sitting he found himself doing the unthinkable – denying the Lord.
We must be careful of who we surround ourselves with. Sometimes we
don’t have a choice (work, school, family), but when we do, we need to choose
to be around other Christians. Who’s fire are we warming ourselves by?

V. The Lord Is Aware Of Our Conflict

Luke 22:61 – all the time Peter spent in the courtyard, Jesus was
undergoing a trial. He was standing silent as His enemies brought forth a series
of false witnesses testifying against Him (Mark 14:55-59).
If this had been me, I would have lost track of everything else and would
have been glued to every word that was spoken, thinking of a response.
But not Jesus. While this was happening to Him, His friend Peter was
fighting a battle of his own. Satan was testing his faith, and Peter was losing.
Every other time Peter got in trouble, Jesus was there to help him
(walking on the water). But this time Jesus was in custody and Peter was on his
own. Jesus had prayed for him and warned him, but all He could do now was
watch this disaster unfold at a distance.
When the rooster crowed, Jesus looked at Peter. It was a look that saved
Peter, because it caused Peter to remember what the Lord had told him and he
realized that he had sinned against the Lord. He went out and wept bitterly.
The more I study, the more convinced I am that Jesus not only knows
what we are going through, but that He also cares. Helps us to remain faithful.

VI. Our Sin Doesn’t Have To Be Our End

Peter and Judas both sinned against the Lord that night. Judas’ sin was the
end of him. When he realized what he had done, he hanged himself in remorse.
When Peter realized what he had done, he was sorrowful, but this sorrow led to
repentance.
Mark 16:6-7 – why was Peter singled out? This let Peter know that he had
been forgiven and that he still had a place with the disciples.

When we lose a battle with sin, we need to repent, confess, and come
back to the Lord (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9). There was still a place for Peter, and
there is still a place for us.