The Prediction of Denial:
Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are You going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with Me now, but you will follow Me later.” “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for You.” Jesus answered, “Die for Me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.
John 13:36-38
The Denial:
Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.” Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.
John 18:15-18
Jesus is Interrogated
Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about His followers and what He had been teaching them. Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking Me this sent question? Ask those who heard Me. They know what I said.” Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded. Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating Me?”
John 18:19-23
Then Annas bound Jesus and Him to Caiaphas, the high priest.
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked Him again, “You’re not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
John 18:24-27
Peter twice expressed his confidence, in laying down his life for Christ; once at the supper in Simon’s house at Bethany, two days before the “passover”, and again at the Passover supper in Jerusalem; and as often Christ rebuked his confidence by this expression, only varying it as the different times required, and therein gave the full proof of his omniscience.
Christ was now going to his glory, and Peter was very desirous to go with him: Jesus says “No, you can not follow me now, you are not ready for heaven, nor have you finished your work on earth. The forerunner must first enter to prepare a place for you, but you shall follow me afterwards, after you have fought the good fight, and at the time appointed.”
Truly, truly I say unto thee, the cock shall not crow till you have denied me three times. You will have denied me three times within the space of one night; nay, within so short a space as between the first and last crowing of the cock: The cock shall not crow, shall not have crowed his crowing out, till you have again and again denied me, and that for fear of suffering.” (Not a full blown threat of suffering but at the slightest hint of suffering – more to come on that in the next Gem.) Christ not only foresaw that Judas would betray him, but he foresaw that Peter would deny him. He knows not only the wickedness of sinners, but the weakness of saints.
Wouldn’t it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press <<Ctrl Alt Delete>> and start all over? You can.
1 John 1:9
Turn to the One in Ctrl; Alt (alter) the “mess up” by asking forgiveness of the One, and the one we hurt; Our mistake is “deleted” (forgiven) and we are free to go forth in Love.
Ian Vail
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
Regina Brett