The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall

So Jesus tells Peter and the others of their betrayal, Peter is insistent that these things shall not happen and what does Jesus say to him Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times. Why 3 times? 3 is a significant number in the Bible – Jesus was give 3 gifts at His birth, Gold frankincense & Myrrh, His ministry lasted a little over 3 years, he had 3 in His inner circle (Peter, James & John), there were 3 on the cross, Jesus and the 2 thieves, He rose after 3 days, there are 3 members of the trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit and I’m sure we could go on and on and on…

Is there any significance to the 3 denials? Later on we will see this number appear again in the Gospel of John but let me speculate by saying this. I think Jesus told Peter it would be 3 times because He knew Peter would be at his lowest point. He knew Peter’s faith would be put to the test. If something happens once maybe it’s a coincidence. Twice is a little harder to explain but 3 times, that’s no longer a coincidence – I believe one of the reasons was Jesus wanted Peter to remember “3 times” so when it came to pass Peter would know to trust Jesus’s words.

Peter had a hard time now and again trusting what Jesus said. It’s not that he didn’t want to believe, it’s not that Peter didn’t love the Lord but he is like us, from time to time his faith wavered and he needed that assurance and encouragement, the encouragement that Jesus really is in control, He really does know best and as long as we remain faithful to Him we have nothing to fear. Peter didn’t learn these lessons on his own, he had to go through the testing and he came out stronger because of it.

Now let’s skip ahead a little bit, we know how Jesus was betrayed by Judas and was arrested. Mark 14:53

53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. 54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.

Mark 14:66 Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.

69 And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70 But he denied it again.

I’ve heard several preachers mention how sad it was that the bold, tough, rugged Peter was reduced to a coward before a little servant girl. The same thing has been said about Elijah, that he was willing to stand up to the 450 prophets of Baal but when Jezebel came after him the mighty Elijah ran away and hid from a woman, how sad. I suppose that makes for a good story even though now a days you will be accused of misogyny for making such statements. But was Peter really afraid of a servant girl? Why did he deny knowing Jesus?