"66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. 68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept." ~ Mark 14:66-72
Today, we complete our study of Mark 14 where we are presented one of the most important lessons in our walk with the Lord. This is one of those lessons that stretches across the whole terrain of our relationship with the Lord. And, that lesson is this: Our spirituality is never about us, it is always about Him.
In v.66-68 of today's passage we read, "66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. 'You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,' she said. 68 But he denied it. 'I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,' he said, and went out into the entryway."
Today's passage has the backdrop of the Apostle Peter vowing to never ever deny knowing the Lord Jesus. In addition, while in the Garden of Gethsemane when the Lord Jesus was arrested, Peter drew his sword in an attempt to defend the Lord Jesus. But, in today's passage, Peter's determination to show himself faithful to Christ failed him greatly.
While gathered around a fire with those who arrested the Lord Jesus, a young woman who was a servant of the high priest, recognized Peter and identified him as a follower of Christ. Immediately, Peter's defenses rose up and he hurried outside to the gateway so he would be less visible.
In v.69-71 of today's passage we read, "69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, 'This fellow is one of them.' 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, 'Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.' 71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, 'I don’t know this man you’re talking about.'"
In those days Galileans had a discernibly different accent which caused those who lived in Jerusalem to immediately recognize the one speaking was Galilean. This was the case here for Peter. His accent gave him away and the people noticed. This caused Peter to employ a tactic that was not known for a disciple of Christ. He cursed and swore in his response. As the truth closed in on Peter, he disassociated himself from the Lord Jesus. I have often wondered what curse words he used. I'm sure they were the worst. As a former fisherman, Peter undoubtedly had quite an exhaustive list to choose from that evening. The Apostle Peter dropped a bomb of some sort in order to save himself.
This was a defining moment for Peter. Perhaps it was then that he gave up on the idea of earning or maintaining God's love. In Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus prayed to the Father three times, receiving strength from those prayers. In that very same Garden Peter didn’t pray and he failed. When faced by his accusers, Peter lied three times. When asked whether he was the Christ, the Lord Jesus answered truthfully: "I AM." When Peter was accused of being a follower of Jesus, he repeatedly and cowardly said, "I am not."
Like Peter, we often believe we need to be our own saviors. This is our default mode given our fallen nature. Often, there are times when we think we are being champions for the Lord, but in those moments we are really denying His lordship in our lives. Never will we be anyone's savior, especially our own. Only the Lord Jesus is the Savior!
Peter distanced himself from the Lord Jesus because, he didn’t share His view on life. It wasn't that Peter’s courage failed; it was Peter's worldview that failed him. After Peter came to believe that the Lord Jesus to be the Christ, the Lord Jesus told Peter and the other disciples three times that He would be rejected and killed. Peter and the other disciples expected a Christ that would triumph over His enemies, not understanding that at His first coming the Lord Jesus came to destroy a much more sinister enemy, sin and death.
Peter did not understand his real enemy: sin and death. The Lord Jesus came to deal a death blow to both. Peter, in some sense, speaks the truth when he says in v.71, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about." Peter knew the Lord Jesus, but he didn’t really know Him. But, after all, it really isn't how much we know the Lord that saves us; it is that we are known by Him, that is what saves us. The key is that we are increasing in our understanding and experience with the words of John the Baptist: "More of Him and less of me."
In v.72 of today's passage we read, "Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.' And he broke down and wept."
Peter distanced himself from the Lord Jesus because, he didn’t share His view on life. It wasn't that Peter’s courage failed; it was Peter's worldview that failed him. After Peter came to believe that the Lord Jesus to be the Christ, the Lord Jesus told Peter and the other disciples three times that He would be rejected and killed. Peter and the other disciples expected a Christ that would triumph over His enemies, not understanding that at His first coming the Lord Jesus came to destroy a much more sinister enemy, sin and death.
Peter did not understand his real enemy: sin and death. The Lord Jesus came to deal a death blow to both. Peter, in some sense, speaks the truth when he says in v.71, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about." Peter knew the Lord Jesus, but he didn’t really know Him. But, after all, it really isn't how much we know the Lord that saves us; it is that we are known by Him, that is what saves us. The key is that we are increasing in our understanding and experience with the words of John the Baptist: "More of Him and less of me."
In v.72 of today's passage we read, "Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.' And he broke down and wept."
We are just like Peter! We do not really know the ways of God. We do not understand the way of self-giving love. When the rooster crowed a second time, a higher court rendered its verdict. Peter failed at something he had no business succeeding at: Following the Lord Jesus with a seriously flawed understanding of Him and His ways. He failed because his vision of God and reality failed.
Since the Lord Jesus had previously predicted Peter would deny Him, He knew Peter would do this. God is never surprised by our failure. He expects more failure out of us than we do ourselves. But, the beauty of all of this is this: Peter's darkest night was eclipsed by Peter's brightest day when the Lord Jesus raised from the grave. You see, it was after the resurrection that the Lord Jesus met Peter on that Galilean beach. And, it was on that Galilean beach that Peter began to truly love the Lord Jesus. Peter's failure was integral to the success that he experienced thereafter.
