Alright, so now we know Peter a little better, we can go back to John 18. Jesus and the three disciples were still in the Garden, but now they’ve got guests. Judas had come with soldiers to betray Jesus.
8 Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.’
Really, I feel like Jesus was telling Peter and the boys, “Leave right now. You aren’t a part of this”. This could be seen as a nice gesture from Jesus, but really, Jesus was fulfilling his own prophecy.
So Peter must’ve left, right.
Of course not. Peter disobeyed and took the famous swing (verse 10). Peter was about that life. I read the Bible and sometimes it all just plays out in my mind like a movie. I’ve got Peter pulling up on them and being straight up like “How dare you come for my man Jesus”, “You aint even worthy for him to deal with, and you know what, I’m gonna take you out myself.” So, he struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus, this will come into play later.)
Now a lot of us would applaud Peter. He was true to his word. But Jesus corrected Peter. Peter missed the point completely. This was the Father’s will for Jesus. This is where we tend to mess up and analyse the events in our lives from a human, worldly point of view rather than a spiritual, godly point of view. Sometimes we’re too quick to adopt the world’s methods.
The Apostle Paul put it this way: “The weapons we fight are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4) But Peter chose the way and the weapons of the flesh. Now its John 18:10-11, and Peter is like a bomb waiting to go off. He failed to pray, he disobeyed when Jesus told him to leave the Garden and he acted with a worldly perspective.
The soldiers arrested Jesus and led Him away.
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.
In verses 16-17, we get the start of the countdown to Peter’s self-implosion.
17 ‘You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?’ she asked Peter.
He replied, ‘I am not.’
Wait a minute. Have we skipped something? Is this the same Peter, the one who said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Matthew 26:35)?
Simple question. This is a little girl at the door. “Excuse me, but you look a lot like one of those guys who chilled with Jesus.” A little girl, and he’s crumbling.
Denial two came as Peter got warm by the fire with the slaves and soldiers. They turned to Peter and said, ‘You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?’
He denied it, saying, ‘I am not.’
Notice though, the slave girl and these guys by the fire weren’t even sure about Peter’s identity but check verse 26. A slave who was related to Malchus, Peter’s victim in the garden, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?”. This guy came with confidence, so Peter had to make his point clear.
John 18 would tell you that Peter simply denied again, but nah, it was deeper than just a “Nah bro, you’re tripping.” If we check Matthew 26:74.
74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed.
Peter took a special oath, something like people do when they go to court, put their hand on the Bible, and swear to tell the truth. Think of it like Peter saying “If I’m lying, I’m dying” but times 50. Making a “self-maledictory” oath in Bible days was very serious and could cost you your life.
Peter’s collapse took, what, 24 hours? 24 hours. He couldn’t keep his promise for a single day. This isn’t to judge Peter, cause enough sermons have already condemned him for being fake friend. Have you ever made a promise to God in the morning that you broke that very afternoon? I’m sure you know this , but promises don’t break or remove urges. I’m sorry, but it’s not always the thought that counts.
My Sunday Skl 