69Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
74Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:69-75)
Thoughts: Peter was perhaps the second bravest of the disciples. John it seems, led Peter to the courtyard for he knew the high priest. He had connections. John went inside while Peter stayed out in the courtyard.
There is a bit of progression in Peter's challenges and a progression in Peter's denials.
A servant girl said he was with Jesus. His first denial is I don't know- a mild denial.
Another servant girl confronted him and said, "This fellow was with Jesus" Peter clearly said, "I don't know the man." Then more than one- several approached him about his accent being from Galilee. Peter then cursed and said he didn't know Jesus.
Now, many would say because he denied him, he got to live another day. Perhaps he would be brought up to trial as well. Doubtless the priests servants were on the lookout for spies and servants of Jesus. Perhaps the only way to tell the difference was their accents. This was used before when the tribe of Ephraim were asked to say "Shibbolet" and they left the "H" out.
All the reasons and excuse for denying Jesus went away when the rooster crowed. Excuses do not matter when we truly remember the words of our Lord. The One who died for us did not deny us.
There is a bit of progression in Peter's challenges and a progression in Peter's denials.
A servant girl said he was with Jesus. His first denial is I don't know- a mild denial.
Another servant girl confronted him and said, "This fellow was with Jesus" Peter clearly said, "I don't know the man." Then more than one- several approached him about his accent being from Galilee. Peter then cursed and said he didn't know Jesus.
Now, many would say because he denied him, he got to live another day. Perhaps he would be brought up to trial as well. Doubtless the priests servants were on the lookout for spies and servants of Jesus. Perhaps the only way to tell the difference was their accents. This was used before when the tribe of Ephraim were asked to say "Shibbolet" and they left the "H" out.
All the reasons and excuse for denying Jesus went away when the rooster crowed. Excuses do not matter when we truly remember the words of our Lord. The One who died for us did not deny us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be faithful to you no matter what. When the time comes to speak up for you, give me wisdom to speak with tenderness, grace, and truth.
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