Peter's Bravery and Denial

How quickly the week and the summer flies? Tomorrow starts two-a-days in football in the morning and band starts in the afternoon. The kids will be back in school in three weeks. This is my last 'free' week of the summer. Now is a time of renewal. The students go back to school with a clean slate. They can make the year anything they want it to be. Peter got the chance to renew himself, too, right at the end of Jesus' ministry on earth.

Please read Matthew 26:31-35

Peter stood first and said that he would never deny him. Jesus said that he would that very night. Impetuous Peter is still displaying his honest impulsiveness without considering the climate that was going to be created by the arrest and legal proceedings that Jesus went through that day.

Certain characteristics of Jesus are clear from this passage:

1. Jesus is real. All his disciples will stumble because of him Zechariah 13:7. Jesus saw what was going on and he continued anyway. There was no deterring him from God's plan to bring about the plan of salvation. He told his disciples the truth.

2. Jesus is confident. 'After I am raised, I will go to you in Galilee.' He never doubted that he would win over death. He saw beyond the cross. He knew that he would give them more proof that would help them as they worked to establish the church in the world.

3. Jesus is sympathetic. He knew that his disciples were going to flee for their lives and abandon him in his hour of deepest need. He does not berate, rebuke, or condemn them. He did not chastise them for their weakness during their greatest test of faith. He understands that they will run, but they still love him and they will come back and unite and begin the building of the church. Jesus understands the big picture of the beginning of the church.

Peter was not going to abandon his love for Jesus, but Peter was overconfident in himself. He always was impulsive.

Read next Matthew 26:57-58, 69-75

Peter did not completely abandon Jesus, but he followed at a distance, but right into the courtyard of the high priest. He showed great bravery to follow Jesus into the heart of the "lion's den." Then, when he was asked by a servant, he denied that he had been with Jesus. He did this three times. His denials were getting stronger and less Christ-like as he went. This was a chaotic time and they realized the danger of being associates of Jesus around the chief priests in Jerusalem.

His denials grew with intensity. His speech gave him away as a Galilean linking him to Jesus' home area. The Galilean dialect was harsh and they weren't allowed to read the scripture in the Temple because of the roughness of their dialect. Then the third time he could stay no longer, he swore, denounced his master and then he remembered what Jesus had said earlier.

Peter's actions in most organizations would have been hushed up. There would have been a problem with the appearance of a main disciple of Jesus in a position of not supporting the leader and founder of the organization. Mark tells the story in more vivid detail (Mark 14:66-72). This tells us that the Bible is an honest document of the details of the life and ministry of Jesus and his disciples.

Peter told the story later and said that Jesus could forgive even he who had failed him at his greatest hour of need. This tells of the cleansing power of forgiveness that Peter experienced and the forgiving nature of Jesus. It is important to remember that forgiveness follows repentance in the truest sense.

Peter was brave to come into the center of the house of the enemy, the chief priest, to see what was happening. All of the other disciples left and scattered. When Peter heard the call, he remembered what Jesus had said and what he assured Jesus he would not do yet did. He then ran out and wept bitterly (repentance). Then, he got the opportunity to start over with a spiritual clean slate.


How's your slate? Is it in need of cleaning? Follow Peter's example to start the school year with a true clean slate and build on a stable foundation.

Have a Great Week!
Brad