John 18:25–27 (WEL) Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So, they said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples, too?” He denied and said, “I am not!” 26 One of the servants of the High Priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter denied again, and immediately the rooster crowed.
V25 Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So, they said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples, too?” He denied and said, “I am not!”
Fear drives Peter’s dedication, loyalty, truthfulness, etc.
Situations like Peter’s are often allowed in order for God to use the situational stress to be used to mold one’s character. Peter spoke bravely but was not brave. Peter was ashamed and humbled. Then God strengthened him to be more bold. Compare 1 Peter 1:6–7, James 1:2–4, and Psalm 66:10–12. Nevertheless, Peter fell into the same trap in Galatians 2:11–18.
Principle: God will test us to reveal to us the genuineness of our faith, to refine us (sanctification), and teach us many things. Sometimes, He tests us as a chastening.
Be hopeful, pray, and trust the Lord to guide us, protect us, and lead us to spiritual maturity.
What Is Denying Jesus?
Peter is the example of denying that He worships Jesus, is a follower of Jesus, or even supports Jesus.
Types:
- Denial from fear, as Peter, and we see how God corrects the believer and makes them bolder.
- Denial from drifting from Jesus as 2 Peter 2:1 (WEL) But false prophets were among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly and deceptively bring in destructive heresies, even disowning the Lord that redeemed them. They will bring on themselves swift destruction.” Also, 2 Timothy 2:12,
- Denial because the person is a fake Christian from whatever reason they became one, as in Matthew 13:20–21 (WEL) “What landed on the rocky ground is the one who hears the word and accepts it at once with joy. 21 ‘Yet, he has no root in himself, but only endures for a while, for when oppression or persecution begins because of the word, he just falls away.’”
Dangers:
- Matthew 10:33 (WEL) “But whoever disowns me before people, I also will disown before my Father who is in heaven.”
- 1 John 2:23 (WEL) Whoever refuses to acknowledge the Son does not have the Father either, but the one who confesses the Son has the Father as well.”
- Jude 1:4 (WEL For certain people slipped in unnoticed (having been written about in advance for condemnation) who are ungodly, changing the grace of our God into a lack of moral restraint, and disowning the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Not denying/disowning:
- Revelation 3:8 (WEL) I know your actions. Look, I have given you an open door, and no one can shut it because you have little strength, have obeyed my word, and have not disowned my name.
- Revelation 2:13, 17 (WEL) “I know your actions, where you live (where Satan’s throne is), how you cling to my name, and have not disowned my faith, even in those days when Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed in your presence, where Satan lives. 17 ‘Everyone having ears, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the congregations. To him who overcomes I will give the hidden manna to eat and a white stone, and on that stone a new name written which no one knows, except the one who receives it.’”
Helps to avoid:
- Know that it is possible for us to deny Jesus.
- Pray for assisting grace to help you and others to be bold and not deny Jesus.
- Build yourself up in the faith (Jude 1:20) by reading and studying the Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians.
V26 One of the servants of the High Priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”
Peter is still being tested, but he fails again. Yet, let us still be hopeful; see Proverbs 24:16.
Matthew Henry observes:
“This third assault of the temptation was more close than the former: before his relation to Christ was only suspected, here it is proved upon him by one that saw him with Jesus, and saw him draw his sword in his defense. Note, Those who by sin think to help themselves out of trouble do but entangle and embarrass themselves the more. Dare to be brave, for truth will out. A bird of the air may perhaps tell the matter which we seek to conceal with a lie. Notice is taken of this servant’s being akin to Malchus, because this circumstance would make it the more a terror to Peter. “Now,” thinks he, “I am gone, my business is done, there needs no other witness nor prosecutor.” We should not make any man in particular our enemy if we can help it, because the time may come when either he or some of his relations may have us at their mercy. He that may need a friend should not make a foe. But observe, though here was sufficient evidence against Peter, and sufficient provocation given by his denial to have prosecuted him, yet he escapes, has no harm done him nor attempted to be done. Note, We are often drawn into sin by groundless, causeless fears, which there is no occasion for, and which a small degree of wisdom and resolution would make nothing of.”
Pett notes the contrast between Peter and Judas Iscariot:
“And what a contrast with Judas. Peter left and wept bitterly, and was restored. In contrast, Judas’ heart was set cold. He had deliberately set his mind against Jesus over a period of time, because it had never come home to him what Jesus had really come to do. And his tears, if there were tears, were tears of hopelessness, as he realized that what he had hoped for would never be, for his hopes were set in the wrong direction. There was much remorse but no repentance. It was different with Peter. He truly repented. The distinction is important.”
V27 Peter denied again, and immediately the rooster crowed.
Again, fear controls Peter and his judgement fails.
Principle: Fear affects our self-control and decisions.
We will fail God in this life. Hope is not lost, though; we acknowledge our failure, confess our sin, pray for forgiveness, believe His forgiveness of us, and God, when He has finished dealing with us, will bless us with more maturity.
James 1:2–4 (WEL) My brothers, consider it all joy when you find yourselves surrounded by various trials. 3 Know this, that the testing of your faith results in endurance. 4 Let endurance have its full, complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
We learn:
- Jesus’s compassion and care.
- More things about failure and God’s work in our soul and spirit.
Questions:
- Are you aware of others’ difficulties, sorrows, temptations, etc., so that you can pray for them?
- How have you failed and God restored?