Aneta Dodd

Part I

Poor, impetuous Peter is back in the spotlight today. Peter loved the Lord but was so quick to react that he often fell short of the goal before him. It was just a short time before this incident that Peter cut off the ear of Malcus in an effort to defend Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He has promised Jesus that he will not forsake him or leave him and the Lord has rebuked Peter and told him that before the cock crows Peter will have denied Him three times. (Matthew 26:34)

The wonderful thing about having the four gospels is that we get four eyewitness accounts of the same event! Each eyewitness gives a little different detail into this story. Let's take each eyewitness event and piece them together for a better picture of what happened on the day Peter denied our Lord.

We will use Matthew 26:69-75 as our base of study. Other details adding to this account will be noted within the account.

Another disciple also followed Jesus. That disciple (John) was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard while Peter stood at the door outside.

Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. (Luke 22:54-55) And a servant girl (John tells us it is the girl who kept the door) came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." And He went out on the porch and a rooster crowed. (Mark 14:68) And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" And a little later (Luke says about an hour of time has passed) those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you."

One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" (John 18:26) Then hebegan to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed, And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. (Luke 22:60-61) And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." (Mark 14:72) So he went out and wept bitterly.