Day 1192: Peter's stumble - John 18 vs 15 - 27

15-16 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17-18 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

19-21 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22-23 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25-27 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a cock crowed. John 18:15-27 English Standard Version

The disciple who was 'known to the high priest' was likely John himself, and Peter's denying his association with Christ is recorded in all four gospels. Luke goes further, and says that at the moment of his third denial “the Lord turned and looked at Peter'. Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62) He went out from the place where he'd been mingling with those who'd arrested Jesus, warming himself by the fire.

This was surely recorded in Scripture for our sake, as was the Lord's restoration of Peter which we read of in John 21:15-24. Peter would be used of Jesus to preach boldly on the day of Pentecost – what a tremendous change from the man who had once wept so bitterly over his failure! And what encouragement we get from Peter's epistles, especially his second one when he knew his days on earth were numbered. He says: “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” (2 Peter 1:12-15) Let us learn to press on even if, like Peter, we have let the Lord down badly.

How did the officers respond to the answer Jesus gave to Annas, the 'high priest'? (vs 23)

Rather than listening to what Jesus said, an officer struck Him. How sad it is that even today many can't, or won't, reason rationally, but respond with violence. Peter later said of Jesus: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, he made no threats.” (1 Peter 1:22-23)

Did you notice that two 'high priests' are mentioned? Annas and Caiaphas. The GotQuestions website explains that, in those days, high priests were installed and removed by Roman rulers. The tradition is that the Romans had deposed Annas and made Caiaphas the high priest. So, officially, Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Annas, was high priest at that time. However, Annas, the former high priest, still held sway and was also called a high priest. How good it is that “we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God.” Let us therefore hold firmly to the faith we profess.” (Hebrews 4:14)