“Abandoned by Peter” – Mark 14:66-72

Most of us have done things we aren’t proud of. They may be something we did that made us look foolish in the eyes of those around us, or something that we knew was wrong but we did it anyway. We all make mistakes. It is unfortunate when our mistakes are found out and exposed to the world. Yet, even in such circumstances, it can be used for good. If we are able to learn from our mistakes, we may be able to be picked up and dusted off and still get something valuable from our embarrassment and shame.

Today’s passage points out a low point in the life of one of Jesus’ most devoted followers. It is a story of courage, of commitment and, in the end, weakness and denial. But it is also a story of hope and redemption. Today, when we speak of the apostle Peter, we see him in a far different light than we do the disciple Judas. There is an ocean of difference between what these two men did, but the common theme for both is that it resulted in Jesus being alone at Calvary.

Background

Say what you will about the apostle we know as Simon Peter, but it cannot be denied that he was a man who spoke his heart, and that his heart was big. Jesus saw Simon’s potential almost from the start, and quickly made him a part of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples.

When Jesus would ask a highly significant question, it was Peter who answered. Whether the question was, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15) or, “You do not want to leave Me, too, do you?” (John 6:67), Peter was the first to speak and to speak for the others. Peter was the one who stepped out of a storm-tossed boat to walk on the water toward Jesus. Peter was the one who tried to discourage talk about Jesus being handed over to His enemies.

Because Peter was so quick to speak, he was also quick to be chided for his rashness. Peter was the one who stepped out of the boat, but it was Peter that needed to be rescued when he began to sink. Peter spoke boldly about not letting Jesus get taken by His enemies, only to be told, “Get behind me, Satan.”

In the upper room, Jesus told the remaining disciples that they would all desert Him in His hour of need. Peter spoke for them all when he said he would never deny Jesus and that he would die with Jesus before deserting Him. The others agreed. When it came time to put action to words, it was Peter who drew his sword to keep Jesus from being arrested. Once again, Peter’s spontaneity was rebuked by Jesus when the Savior told him to put the sword away.

When the disciples deserted Jesus and fled that night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter was one of those who fled. Yet while most of the other disciples fled for their lives, two—John and Peter—stayed close enough to follow Him to see where He was being taken. According to the Gospel according to John, when they realized Jesus was being taken to the high priest’s home, John knew the high priest, and John was able to enter the courtyard and get permission for Peter to come in, too.

The verses immediately before this passage in Mark gives a brief description of Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin. There isn’t a lot of detail, but apparently the trial took place where those waiting in the courtyard to see and hear some of what was going on. While Jesus was on trial for His life, Peter waited alone with a group of people around an open fire in the courtyard. What follows in today’s text is a story of deep courage and regret. After all is said and done, Peter denies Jesus and leaves Christ to go alone to the cross.

Central Truth: Even though he had the best intentions, Peter also abandoned Jesus.

Peter’s denial:

1. Denying the servant girl’s assertion (66-70a)

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, you looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again, he denied it.

Mark tells us in 14:54 that Peter was in the courtyard while Jesus was on trial. In this passage, we discover Peter huddled around the fire with others in the courtyard.

A word needs to be said here about why Peter was in the courtyard. Did he hope to rescue Jesus in some way? We can’t say for sure. But it did take courage to be so close to Jesus immediately after His arrest. It’s particularly courageous of the disciple to be in the “enemy camp” immediately after he had drawn a sword and lopped off someone’s ear. It would be reasonable to assume that he would be the most remembered by the arresting mob. Yet, here he is, waiting to see what was going to happen to Jesus.

John’s gospel account states that John told the young girl at the gate to let Peter in. From his account, it could be interpreted as the young woman asked Peter as he entered whether he was with Jesus. Matthew’s account indicates the servant girl came up to Peter specifically to ask him if he was with Jesus. In this account, coming directly from Peter himself as he recounted the events to Mark, the girl states accusingly with disdain, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” The use of the term “Nazarene” to describe Jesus has with it her distaste for Jesus and anyone having anything to do with Him.

It’s easy to read Peter’s response and ask if it was really a denial. After all, he doesn’t say, “Nope, never heard of Him.” Instead, he tells her he can’t understand her question. Is that a denial?

Let’s put it this way. Let’s suppose someone comes up to me and asks for some money for a worthy cause. I may have the money they need, but I respond with, “Losiento, pero no hablo Ingles” and walk away. Even though I know how to speak English and understand the request, I’m essentially telling the person, “I don’t understand your question,” and walking away is my way of denying the request for the money.

In this way, we know that Peter denied Jesus for the first time when confronted directly by the young woman.

Mark tells us Peter went out to wait in the gateway. The girl follows Peter—according to John, she was the gatekeeper. Only this time, she doesn’t ask Peter if he knows Jesus. Instead, she makes a declaration to the people standing with Peter, “This fellow is one of them.” Mark simply tells us that Peter denied it again. It is the second denial of the night.

What happened to the courage of a man who was willing to come into the enemy camp to watch after his friend? It’s reasonable to believe that Peter was once again acting rashly in the decision to come to the courtyard. But as the reality set in, and being confronted about his association with Jesus in the midst of those who had possibly been in the arresting party, suddenly Peter realized it wasn’t a good idea to say he had anything to do with Jesus. After all, if he was recognized by the girl at the gate, it would be possible someone else might not only recognize him as being with Jesus in the garden, but also as the man who drew the sword and lopped off the servant’s ear.

2. The third denial (70b-71)

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galileean.” He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you are talking about.”

You know how some people, when they find themselves in a corner, will try to talk their way out of it by using a bunch of words and try to overwhelm others with the words? Sometimes, we continue talking so the other person can’t respond. It would seem that Peter’s second denial was one of these stream-of-consciousness denials. He used a lot of words when a simply, “No, you’re wrong” would have sufficed.

As Peter continued to talk, those around him picked up on something. They came to realize that he wasn’t from around these parts. It would be akin to a person from Boston walking into our church and begin speaking. It wouldn’t take long for us to realize that this person was not from around here because of his or her accent. That’s what the crowd noticed about Peter—his accent gave him away as being from Galilee.

There were a lot of people from Galilee in Jerusalem that night. Many had come for the Passover observation. But these Galileans were all probably safely in bed, not hanging around in the high priest’s courtyard and gateway. In fact, the only other Galilean present was the accused Himself. Putting two and two together, the people around Peter said that if he was from Galilee, he was probably with Jesus.

The phrase, “He began to call down curses on himself” does not mean that Peter began swearing like the fisherman he was. Rather, it indicates that Peter began to call down curses upon himself to prove he wasn’t lying about not knowing Jesus. It would be the equivalent of, “If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning” or some other similar oath.

This is the third time Peter has been accused of knowing Jesus. He probably felt he needed to try to bring it to an end. The first denial was to say he didn’t understand the question and walk away. The second time was to deny it with many more words, too many, it turns out, to convince anyone.

Again, we should recognize Peter’s courage. While we can’t understand what he was thinking, it would be reasonable after the first time of being accused of knowing Jesus that Peter would realize it was too dangerous to stay and so leave. Maybe he was thinking that if he left immediately, it would confirm their suspicions. For whatever reason, Peter has stayed in the courtyard long enough to deny Jesus three times.

It was just as Jesus said.

3. Peter’s regret (72)

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the roost crows twice, you will disown Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

There is something chilling when we are confronted with our foolishness or wrongful action. As soon as Peter made his third denial, the rooster crowed a second time. Luke tells us as soon as the rooster crowed, Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter. The other gospels tell us that Peter simply heard the rooster and immediately thought of what Jesus had said.

Three times, Peter had had the opportunity to tell those in the courtyard, “Yes, I know Jesus, and I know that He has done nothing to warrant what’s taking place now.” He could have earnestly pled for Jesus’ innocence. Instead, this disciple who had pledged with all his heart to die with Jesus, now realized that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. When given the opportunity to stand with Jesus, Peter instead denied Him. The rooster crowed, and Peter was confronted with his shame and loss of courage. He broke down and wept.

As we read these last few words of v. 72, it should be obvious that Peter didn’t shed a tear that slowly trickled down his cheek, or that his voice caught in his throat. No. He broke down and wept. He sobbed. Overwhelmed with shame and guilt, perhaps looking into the eyes of Jesus, Peter could only do what a broken heart can do. Matthew and Luke indicate that Peter kept it together long enough to leave the courtyard before he burst into tears. John and Mark imply it happened as soon as the rooster crowed.

All we can say is that, at that moment, Peter denied Jesus three times and abandoned Jesus to face Calvary alone.

Conclusion

Say what you will about Simon Peter, but he was possibly the most human person in the Bible. We can look at him and easily see ourselves in him. In this passage, we see this man who spoke from the heart at his lowest. He had hopes and desires to stand with Jesus through thick and thin, and now he realized that he had failed miserably.

I doubt that you and I can easily identify with Peter at this time. I know in my life there are been many times when I have made a decision that caused me to act in a way that was not demonstrating loyalty to Jesus. There are plenty of times in my life when I have hung my head with shame before the Christ who died for me. And I don’t think I’m alone.

That’s why it’s important to remember that Peter found forgiveness from Christ and became one of the strongest advocates for Jesus, even dying on a cross for Him. By the power of the Holy Spirit living within him, Peter was able to be used by God for great things even though he denied Jesus three times.

Satan is telling us that God cannot or will not love us, cannot or will not use us because of how we have failed Him. That’s another lie, another effort of Satan to thwart God’s will in our lives. Rather than focus on our failings, let us look into the eyes of Jesus and know that He not only died for us, but He lives in us and through us. Let us commit to following Him with renewed surrender to Him.