Peter Denies Christ Series

Peter Denies Christ

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. Moreover, when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later, someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not."

Moreover, after about an hour, another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. Furthermore, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Moreover, Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." Moreover, he went out and wept bitterly.

All four Gospels record an episode of the Apostle Peter denying Jesus three times on the night of Christ's betrayal in the high priest's courtyard. In each account, his first denial is in response to the challenge of a servant girl. Immediately following the third denial, a rooster crows, causing Peter to remember the Lord's prediction. Peter then goes away and weeps with bitter remorse.

Scripture References

The story of Peter's denial of Christ is told in the following Scripture passages: Matthew 26:33-35, 69-75; Mark 14:29-31,66-72; Luke 22:31-34, 54-62; John 13:36-38, 18:25-27, 21:15-19.

Peter Denies Jesus Story Summary

Jesus Christ and his disciples had just finished the Last Supper. Jesus revealed Judas Iscariot as the apostle who would betray him.

Then Jesus made a disturbing prediction. He said all his disciples would abandon him during his time of trial. The impetuous Peter vowed that even if the others fell away, he would remain loyal to Jesus no matter what: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and death." (Luke 22:33, NIV)

Jesus replied that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.

Later that night, a mob came and arrested Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away. Then Jesus was taken away to the house of Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest.

Following from a distance, Peter sneaked into the courtyard of Caiaphas. A servant girl saw Peter warming himself by a fire and accused him of being with Jesus. Peter quickly denied it.

Later, Peter was again accused of being with Jesus. He immediately denied it. Finally, a third person said Peter's Galilean accent gave him away as a follower of the Nazarene. Calling curses down upon himself, Peter vehemently denied that he knew Jesus.

At that moment, a rooster crowed. When he heard it, Peter went out and wept bitterly.

After Jesus' resurrection from the dead, Peter and six other disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus appeared to them on the shore, next to a charcoal fire. Peter dove into the water, swimming to shore to meet him:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you dressed and went where you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (John 21:15-19, NIV)

This gentle exchange between Jesus and Peter showed that the apostle was forgiven and restored to his place of leadership. Three times Peter had denied the Lord. Now, three times he affirms his love for Jesus. Likewise, three times the Lord commissions Peter to care for the flock.

Lessons from the Story

The story emphasizes that despite our human weaknesses, failures, and sins, Jesus Christ is eager to forgive us and restore our relationship with him. The Lord's command to Peter to take care of his sheep meant that Peter had been fully forgiven and restored. No matter what mistakes we make in the past or how far we fall, Jesus wants to restore us to a place of trust.