Have you ever stumbled upon something in scripture and felt like you just found something no one else had? Well I began to look into the endings of the four gospels, during the time when Christ was on trial. I was looking at them in regards to Peter’s actions revolving around the trial at hand. But before I get to far into sharing what I have seen portrayed in that event I want to take a look at a passage just prior to it. Let’s begin with the familiar scene of the last supper. With Christ and Peter being the center of our focus.And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. Luke 22:31-34
If you noticed the Lord has just stated that Satan had desired to sift Peter as wheat, and he doesn’t say he stopped him from doing so. Instead He indicates that Peter will be sifted, and will have to be converted. If I haven’t said it before I will say it now, I love Peter because he is one who makes the boldest statements of all the disciples, falls the hardest, and learns the quickest. I can relate to this man more than the other eleven. Upon hearing such words from Jesus, one would think Peter would fall on his knees seeking for strength and a way out from the desires of Satan. Instead Peter leans on his own strength by saying that both in prison and death he would follow Christ. This would appear to be what leads him to deny Christ three times as we will read in a moment. I wanted to read this passage to sort of set the scene a bit more as we will now turn to my favorite of the four Gospels: The Gospel of John.
By this time Jesus has been taken from the garden, by the soldiers and religious leaders. All the disciples have run just as Christ predicted when He said that all would be offended. But if you look at Mark 14:29 you will see Peter once again makes a bold statement that he would never be offended of Christ even though all others were. In this next passage I am going to break it down instead of looking at it in one large portion.
And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
We see so far that Peter is remaining true to his promise. When all others ran in offense, Peter followed, as Christ was lead away.
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
Already Peter is offended. He hasn’t even taken more then two steps into the palace of the high priest and he is already denying the very one whom he declared was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:69
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
As I came upon this I was struck with the thought that it was the soldiers and servants of the high priest who made the fire. Peter was allowing himself to take comfort in what the world had prepared for their own comfort, while Christ was only a short distance away on trial. Peter’s attitude prior to Christ being arrested was that he would follow Christ through thick and thin. But as we have read instead of standing by Christ side, Peter is off warming his hands with the very ones who arrested his Master.
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
I found it very interesting that this scene of the trial was sandwiched between Peter warming his hands and then denying the Lord. Here is the reason why. In the gospel of Mark we see that all the witnesses testifying against Christ were so false that even the Pharisees were seeking a true testimony. (Mark 14:53-56) Here in John we see that Christ is now seeking a witness for Himself. Why would the Pharisees ask Christ to speak on what He openly taught? Shouldn’t they not ask those who heard Him? And yet right there in that very room, warming his hands with the wicked stood the very one who truly knew who the Accused was. The Son of God! In silence, as the false accusations continued the stable faith of Peter began to weaken. Another thing to take note on is that the false accusers and testifiers were quoting Christ’s exact words. They had the knowledge of what He said, but not the understanding of what He spoke. If they had known they would have realized that though they destroyed the temple, in three days he would rebuild it once again, for no grave could hold Him down. John 2:19/ Matthew 26:61
And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. John 18:15-27
We have now come down to the final point for Peter, He has denied the Lord once already and just as prophesied he denies twice more that he never knew Christ. Luke reveals that upon Peter’s third denial, the Lord looked upon Peter. Luke 22:61
The reason I have taken the time to look into this is not for the purpose of slamming Peter. Rather I see in this event a sad but very close resemblance to the Church. Now please hear me out, if this does not convict you then perhaps it is not for you personally. I am not one to preach or teach something and say you all better feel convicted as I am. What I saw in this was that Christ is once again on trial before the world. They are seeking witnesses, and what they are getting are those who know a Jesus but not the Jesus. They are hearing from those who know the scriptures but do not understand the scriptures. It has become so horrendous that not only is the Lord seeking a true witness, the world has begun to seek out a true understanding of who Christ is and what He taught. Where are those who understand? Where are those who said that through thick and thin, prison and death, trial and pain they would follow all the way with Christ? Sadly they are standing in the same courtyard, hearing all the false teachings and doctrines of cults about who Christ is and they are remaining silent. Not only that, but even worse they are warming themselves by a fire which their Father did not provide but the very ones who have drug their Lord around and placed Him on trial prepared. They are, comforted by the accusers while the Lord is being accused. When will they open their mouths? Many are opening their own mouths but not with the truth, only with what appears to be. It is our calling to show forth the One True Jesus, to proclaim His name for all to hear.
As I felt convicted and began to realize the size such a task has become I wondered if Peter had anything to say about this in his epistle. Many times in his epistles Peter seems to reference back to his dealings with Christ. Such as when Christ asked him to feed the sheep, John 21:16 Peter then commands the elders to feed the flock. 1 Peter 5:2 Here is what I found.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
It is as if Peter is referring back to when Christ looked upon him after his denial. Christ looked upon Peter and found him without peace, with spot, and much to be blamed. Not that Christ goes around casting blame upon His sheep, but Peter was found unfaithful to his own claims. This is in part due to the fact that his claims of what he would do for Christ were based upon his own strength.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
This is exactly the very picture of the false accusers Peter heard on that very dark night in which Christ was on trial. They were unlearned, unstable and they were in some sense wrestling with one another in what they stated, carrying themselves to their own destruction.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
And then Peter uses a word, which I love to read in scripture. He calls us beloved. He warns us to not do as he did. We know the truth, so let us not be led away by the wicked to the fire for warmth, in doing so it will lead us to fall from the stable foundation to which we are built upon. Look at Peter, he knew who Christ was, but he allowed himself to be led towards the comfort of his flesh and in turn fell from his stability and denied his King. Let us heed this warning.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:14-18
Peter found grace in the resurrected Lord. He found knowledge in the death and resurrection and power of Christ. He is showing us that our hands are not for warming by a fire but rather for work, so let us be about the work of the ministry. Let us grow in grace for it is the only thing that will give us strength to carry on when we fall, and let us grow in understanding so that when we are strong we can be the witness Christ desires, and the testifier the world needs!
In Christ,
Brother Nathaniel
