Peter Denies Jesus
PETER DENIES JESUS
MARK 14:66-72
It is often from our bitterest failures that we learn our deepest lessons.
The record of the disciples in this Gospel is a sorry one. They had persistently misunderstood the teaching of Jesus, they had all forsaken him and fled, one of them had turned traitor, and now the leader of the group openly denied Jesus.
The place where Jesus was tried was evidently a building with a central open courtyard from which the various rooms opened off. Here Peter sat with the guards and servants beside a fire, and in its dim light a servant girl recognized him as somebody who had been seen in the company of the Nazarene—the title is here used contemptuously. In this dangerous situation, when a wrong word from Peter might have led to his being placed alongside Jesus in the courtroom, he chose the easy way out (which we would no doubt have chosen too) and denied that he knew anything about Jesus. Then he moved away to avoid further questioning. But he soon discovered that one lie leads to the necessity to tell others. The merciless interrogation went on as the maid, not easily to be put off, voiced her suspicions to the bystanders, and they turned on the unfortunate Peter. Somebody noticed his “north country” accent which indicated plainly his association with Galilee where Jesus had won most of his support, and advanced this as a piece of evidence against him. Peter, caught out, began to protest vehemently that he did not know Jesus, and even called God to bear witness against him if he were not speaking the truth. Then the cock crew, and Peter remembered and repented.
Peter, through Mark, humbly reveals himself at his weakest and worst. Not only for the early church but for those of subsequent centuries it has provided a vital lesson for Christians under persecution. It does not condone Peter’s denial, but it shows that even for such sin there is the possibility of repentance and forgiveness. “If we are faithless, he remains faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13).