Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly, this fellow was with him , for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ”Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Luke 22: 54-62, NIV.
Gracious God, thank You for meeting with us day after day, to lead us in the study of Your Word. Please draw divinely close and be our Teacher. This we ask in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
As a consequence of following afar off, or, at a distance, Peter is left “out in the cold.” Scripture tells us, “but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. . . Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself” (John 18: 16, 18, NRSV).
It is quite interesting to note that Peter was left “outside at the gate.” He must have been following a great way behind. I can’t imagine him being there when John was going in, and John leaving him outside, just to go and bring him in afterward. It does not seem like the logical thing to do. But even if that was what happened, the record says that “he (the other disciple) went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest” (16); and even after John brought Peter in, he decided to stand around and keep warm with the “others.” We do not have to wonder what his intentions were, they are quite obvious, “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.” “Man, I am not!” “Man I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Three denials that sum up as follows: “I do not know the Man! I am not one of them!”
When we want to disguise our identity, standing around “strange fire” is a good camouflage. We will seek warmth in the wrong places, just not to be identified with “the others.” Jesus had warned Peter, by name: “. . . Simon, Simon! Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. . .” (Luke 22: 31, emphasis provided). Jesus saw just how vulnerable Peter was, for whatever reason; so He issued him a personal warning, by name.
But even though Peter fell, “Mercy said no!” Glory to God! “You cannot have him, Satan! He is a brand that has been plucked out of the fire (Zachariah 3: 2). When he has returned to me, he will strengthen his brothers [and sisters]. I have plans for him. You cannot have him!” Hallelujah! Then Peter remembered the words of Jesus. When he turned and looked into the eyes of the Savior, I imagine the look of deepest love that met his gaze, and melted his heart. Then, Scripture reads, “he went outside and wept bitterly.” Someone has said, that, “The soul would have no rainbows, if the eyes had no tears.” In the midst of his tears, he had hope. Jesus had already foretold his victory, “when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22: 31).
The Adversary would love to have all of us to sift us as wheat; but the Savior has prayed for us! Thank You Jesus! Let us “watch and pray, that we fall not into temptation!”