John 18:25-27
Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. – John 18:27
While Jesus was being questioned by the high priest about His disciples and His teachings (vv. 22–23), the author deliberately inserts the incident of Peter denying the Lord again. It seems meant to contrast Peter’s reaction in the face of a life-threatening situation with that of Jesus — a complete difference. At this moment, Peter is clearly fearful. Whether it was the servant girl earlier or now someone else, he distanced himself from Jesus.
The last person who questioned Peter was a servant of the high priest — essentially a witness to Jesus’ arrest. Peter still denied it, even blatantly lying that he was not the one in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. Peter’s cowardice and repeated lies stand in stark contrast to the courage and confidence Jesus showed while being interrogated.
In Peter, we see human weakness. To live like Jesus — to die for the truth — is almost impossible. Even Peter, who was usually the boldest and most loyal, trembled before powerless servant girls and men. When facing real threats to life, most of us, like Peter, act out of self-preservation and betray what we believe.
I imagine that the moment the rooster crowed, Peter finally woke up and realized he had done exactly what Jesus had foretold just hours earlier — denied Him three times before the rooster crowed. This Peter, once so willing to go to any length for Jesus, had witnessed many of His miracles, even the raising of the dead — how could he deny the Lord? Just a short while before, Peter had stepped up to protect Jesus, drawing his sword and cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. How did he end up as a cowardly traitor?
Dear brothers and sisters, do you know? We are really no different from Peter. At critical moments, we too are often timid. We may deny the Lord not just three times! How many times have we, like Peter, made bold declarations during worship or prayer, vowing to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and live for Him — only to find ourselves moments later slipping off the altar and falling into temptation and sin?
Let us ask the Lord to help us — not to overestimate our spiritual strength, nor to underestimate our own weaknesses. Let us sincerely seek the Lord. May He help us to follow the example of the later Peter — the Peter who, after Jesus’ resurrection, responded when Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him:
John 21:17 — Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Prayer:
Lord, You are all-knowing. You know me better than I know myself. Forgive me for often making empty promises of devotion to You. Please be gracious and teach me to become a sincere Christian, a disciple who truly desires to follow You from the heart. Shape me, Lord, to draw near to Your Word daily and walk humbly with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
While Jesus was being questioned by the high priest about His disciples and His teachings (vv. 22–23), the author deliberately inserts the incident of Peter denying the Lord again. It seems meant to contrast Peter’s reaction in the face of a life-threatening situation with that of Jesus — a complete difference. At this moment, Peter is clearly fearful. Whether it was the servant girl earlier or now someone else, he distanced himself from Jesus.
The last person who questioned Peter was a servant of the high priest — essentially a witness to Jesus’ arrest. Peter still denied it, even blatantly lying that he was not the one in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus. Peter’s cowardice and repeated lies stand in stark contrast to the courage and confidence Jesus showed while being interrogated.
In Peter, we see human weakness. To live like Jesus — to die for the truth — is almost impossible. Even Peter, who was usually the boldest and most loyal, trembled before powerless servant girls and men. When facing real threats to life, most of us, like Peter, act out of self-preservation and betray what we believe.
I imagine that the moment the rooster crowed, Peter finally woke up and realized he had done exactly what Jesus had foretold just hours earlier — denied Him three times before the rooster crowed. This Peter, once so willing to go to any length for Jesus, had witnessed many of His miracles, even the raising of the dead — how could he deny the Lord? Just a short while before, Peter had stepped up to protect Jesus, drawing his sword and cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. How did he end up as a cowardly traitor?
Dear brothers and sisters, do you know? We are really no different from Peter. At critical moments, we too are often timid. We may deny the Lord not just three times! How many times have we, like Peter, made bold declarations during worship or prayer, vowing to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and live for Him — only to find ourselves moments later slipping off the altar and falling into temptation and sin?
Let us ask the Lord to help us — not to overestimate our spiritual strength, nor to underestimate our own weaknesses. Let us sincerely seek the Lord. May He help us to follow the example of the later Peter — the Peter who, after Jesus’ resurrection, responded when Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him:
John 21:17 — Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Prayer:
Lord, You are all-knowing. You know me better than I know myself. Forgive me for often making empty promises of devotion to You. Please be gracious and teach me to become a sincere Christian, a disciple who truly desires to follow You from the heart. Shape me, Lord, to draw near to Your Word daily and walk humbly with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.