Denial

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. John 18:15-18

After the shock of seeing Jesus arrested in the garden, Peter followed Jesus. John doesn’t mention the arresting officers or anyone else in the group, but Peter and he, John, were following their Lord Jesus, to see for themselves what would happen next. John also makes no mention of the other nine disciples, who apparently had scattered in the dark, after Jesus was taken. Each man has his own reaction to fear and stress. Peter and I will follow and watch.

John seems to have had acquaintance with the high priest, so he was allowed to walk right in with Jesus and His captors. Peter lurked outside, and John used his familiarity with the leadership to have Peter admitted into the courtyard. The girl keeping the door thought Peter might be one of Jesus’ disciples, but he denied it, and stood warming himself by the enemies’ fire.

Stunned, confused, afraid of what would be done with Jesus, and certainly not wanting to bring attention to himself, Peter hovered nearby and waited. He was not the boisterous loudmouth now, but the quiet observer, trying to be anonymous. It wasn’t easy.

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”  Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. John 18:19-24

The high priest (emeritus - Annas) had to start somewhere, so he proceeded to ask Jesus pertinent questions about His ministry, especially His doctrine. Jesus’ answer: bring witnesses. There are no secrets. I teach in public, where all the Jews could hear and have heard me. Ask them what I’ve taught. By now, everyone knew what Jesus taught. The Pharisees had watched His every move and had heard Him teach.The questions were just formality.

His words elicited a blow from an officer, for insubordination (they didn’t like the answer). Jesus observed that they may not like His answer, but could not deny the truth of what He had said. Annas had had enough and sent Him on to Caiaphas, the official high priest and his own son-in-law. Of course, we recognize this series of interviews as the inner workings of a “good ol’ boy” organization, and it had only just begun.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”  One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. John 18:25-27

Peter was still hovering by the fire, as Jesus was sent to His second interrogator. Someone else seemed to recognize him. “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” “I am not.” Another one, who had been in the garden when Malchus’ ear was cut off, insisted that he had seen Peter there. Peter denied it the third time, and then heard the rooster crow.

Jesus had warned Peter of this very incident in His farewell message to the eleven at supper (John 13:36-38), after Judas had been dismissed. It must have been painful for Jesus to tell Peter about this coming failure. We know it was devastating for Peter to realize what he had just done. Peter’s flaming, human zeal had driven him to cut off a man’s ear (probably meaning to behead him) in defense of his Master. Now the zeal had fizzled in response to enemy oppression, but the human viewpoint was still operating, in Peter’s instinct for self-preservation.

John was apparently not even questioned. He did a better job of blending in, I guess, without needing to give account for his presence there. As he mentioned, the high priest was familiar with him. For the servants to hone in on Peter and heckle him in such a way seems to indicate a dislike for him, and a desire to bring criminal charges against him, also. Simon Peter didn’t go unnoticed, ever, I suspect.

The other nine didn’t have to endure this ordeal, because they were not present, and no one seemed concerned about them. The Jewish religious leaders had their man, and would perform whatever illegal maneuvers necessary to put Him to death “for the benefit of the people.”

Peter and John were there. Whatever was to happen, they would witness, even if from a dark distance, and even in spite of Peter’s shameful lies. We know he meant it when he declared he would lay down his own life for Jesus. Jesus knew he meant it, too. Jesus also knew the weakness of the flesh, and the terrible self-delusion of the carnal mind, especially in fear. Peter had been proud and presumptive before, certain of what he would and would not do in a given situation.

Never again.