Peter’s Denial:

Context:

• Jesus had previously said that all his disciples would fall way.
• Peter had confidently claimed that he would never fall away.

Matthew 26:33-34 “...Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times...”

Was Peter confident in his ability to stay true to Jesus?

Are you confident in your ability to stay true to Jesus?

Peter was warming himself in the courtyard, and a servant girl recognized him as someone who was with Jesus:

• Matthew 26:70 “...But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean...”
• Mark 14:68 “...But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed...”

The servant girl saw him again and said “This man is one of them.”

• Matthew 26:72 “...And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man...”
• Mark 14:70a “...But again he denied it...”

Bystanders, upon hearing his accent, then accused him of being “one of them”

• Matthew 26:74 “...Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed...”
• Mark 14:71 “...But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak. And immediately the rooster crowed a second time...”

Matthew 26:75 “...And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly...”

Mark 14:72 “...And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept...”

Why did Peter deny Jesus?

• Was he predestined to deny Him?
• Was he simply reacting in a self-saving, rather than self-sacrificing manner?

Is self-preservation a natural human response?

Did Jesus, the perfect human respond from self-preservation?

• He prayed for the cup to pass.
• He stopped the attempt to prevent His capture.
• He willingly went to the cross, when He could have saved Himself.
• The perfect man reacted as self-sacrificing, not self-saving.

Have you ever failed to admit your allegiance to Jesus?

How do you feel when you realized you’ve fallen short?

What did Jesus think of you?

• He loved Peter.
• He loves us.