Peter’s First Denial
John 18:15-18 NIV
15
Simon
Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was
known to the high priest, He went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16but Peter had
to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high
priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17
“You are
not one of His disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the
servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also
was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
John 18:19-23 NIV
19
Meanwhile,
the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
20
“I
have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always
taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said
nothing in secret. 21Why
question Me? Ask those who heard Me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials
nearby struck Him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he
demanded.
23 “If I said something
wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if
I spoke the truth, why did you strike Me?”
24Then Annas sent Him,
still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
John 18:25-27 NIV
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26One of the high priest’s
servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him,
“Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?”
27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to
crow.
Matthew 26:17
“Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to
them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.””
Then he began positively
to affirm - Καταθεματίζω katathematizó, from κατα katá, ‘down’, ‘according to’, ‘intensive’,
and τιθημι tithemi, ‘I lay down’, ‘place’, ‘affirm’.
It is stronger (more dramatic) than ἀναθεματίζω
anathematízō (“to curse”).
But the common reading is
καταναθεματιζω katanathematizó, which
signifies to wish curses on himself. Peter is said to deny with an oath; here, he
positively affirms and swears, probably by the name of God, for this is the
import of the word ὀμνύω omnuó, ‘I swear’, ‘take an oath’, ‘promise with an oath’.
His language had betrayed Him, and there was a
positive witness who had seen him. He felt it necessary, therefore, to be still
more decided, and he accordingly added to the sin of denying his Lord the deep
aggravation of profane cursing and swearing, affirming what he must have known
was false, that he knew not the Lord. Immediately then the cock crew - that is,
the second crowing.
All this evil came simply from the fear of man more
than the fear of God. It is not unfair to conclude that Peter
might have gone almost as far as Judas Iscariot himself who betrayed his Master a short
while ago.
Lord
Jesus, let us not deny You by our language or act as we follow You.
Amen.
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