by Over the years, I have pondered the path Peter took the night Jesus was led away to the High Priest.
John 18:13-14 “And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. 14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”
Now my thought has been, “Where exactly was Peter?” I have also thought, “Peter has certainly gotten a dreadful reputation over the years as ‘Doubting Peter.’” No one really thinks “Poor Peter.” He is used as an example so much; we all want to make sure we do not become like Peter.
However, there is good in Peter and I would like to see the good. We should all do this; see the good in people. But just where did Peter go wrong? I have been looking at the Gospels and trying to figure it out and thank the Lord, he showed me the answer in my morning Bible study.
Two good things about Peter:
First – Peter was the only one to stand up and fight for the Lord. He was the one who drew his sword and cut off the servant’s ear. We know the Lord healed it and told Peter to put away his sword. The good point is that Peter did not hesitate to fight for the Lord. They were about to take Jesus away and Peter was willing to go to combat for him. Good on Peter for fighting for the Lord. He had the courage and was man-enough to stand up for what he believed was right – the Lord! The Lord did not punish him for his bravery. Jesus just told him that he had to fulfil the Father’s plans.
John 18:10-11 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
Second – When they took Jesus away, Peter followed closely while the other disciples fled away. This is what has always captured my thoughts over the years. While I have heard many messages about Peter’s denial of Christ, I have never heard anyone say anything positive about Peter through the whole capturing of Jesus. Peter was at least brave enough to follow closely when they led Jesus away. All others fled.
Mark 14:50 “And they all forsook him, and fled.
Mark 14:54 “And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest:”
Peter had followed Jesus so closely that when he finally denied Jesus the third time, Jesus could look at Peter. Jesus saw Peter! Imagine if the Lord could literally, physically “see” us when we sin. I believe we would weep as bitterly as Peter. I also believe many Christians would sincerely get their lives right with God.
Luke 22:61-62 “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
So, just where did Peter go wrong? And how did he correct it to be used so mightily in Acts?
First – He sat with the world. I believe he was trying to do what was right. That he was attempting to stay close to Jesus, but his first mistake was sitting with the world. We will never get encouragement to do what is right when we hang with the world.
Luke 22:55,57 “And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.”
Second – He stood with the world. Again, I believe Peter was still trying to do what was right by staying near Jesus, but he was trying to do it in his own strength and his own way. He thought he could stand alone as a Christian in the midst of worldly people and still stand on what he had been taught by the Lord.
Somewhere between the first denial in (Luke 22:57 and John 18:17), and the second denial, Peter moved. He walked and then was standing, but still he was with the wrong crowd. John 18:17 has the first denial “…He saith, I am not” but it is not until John 18:25 that the second denial happens.
John 18:18 “And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.”
John 18:25 “And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.”
In between the first and second denials of Peter, John gives account of the high priest questioning Jesus. See John 18:19-23. I believe Peter could have been walking around trying to see what was happening. He was curious and wanted to know everything. His mistake – hanging with the wrong crowd – the worldly crowd.
Now, how did Peter correct his mistake of denying Christ three times?
- When the Lord looked upon Peter – I believe Peter saw his sin. Luke 22:61-62 “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter… And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Peter had also seen his sin in Luke 5:8 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
- After he denied the Lord, Peter went out, wept, repented and picked himself back up. He was determined like never before to still be used of God.
- Peter obviously saw his mistake – his sin – and corrected the problem. Now this is the fun part God showed me this morning in my Bible study:
Just prior to preaching the message at Pentecost, Peter was now standing with the right crowd – the Lord’s crowd.
Acts 2:14 “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:”
We know Peter goes on in the remainder of Acts 2 to preach an awesome message from God and about three thousand souls are added to the church.
I believe Peter’s mistake was hanging with the wrong crowd, but when he saw it – his sin – he corrected it and got back with the right crowd – God’s people. He went on to be used mightily for God!
Psalm 1:1 ”Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
