Walking With Peter: The Road to Denial pt. 2

Jesus and disciples go to Mount of Olives. Jesus with Peter, James, and John go to the garden of Gethsemane.

10. Mark 14:32-42 - What did Jesus ask Peter, James and John to do? Watch and pray. Did they do it? No. Of the three, who does Jesus single out for their success or failure? Peter. Why him? Peter had been vocal about his devotion to Christ. Jesus is not seeing it. Peter is suppose to be a leader. The other disciples follow his example. If he prays, they pray. If he sleeps, they sleep. If they sleep and he’s awake praying, Peter is to wake them up and encourage them to pray. Peter is letting Jesus down when He needs Peter the most.

11. John 18:10-11; Matthew 26:52-54 - When Jesus was betrayed, what was Peter’s immediate response? Defended His friend and Master from the mob. What was Jesus’ reaction what Peter did? Disapproval. Peter still didn’t understand that Jesus had to go through all this.

12. Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50 - When Jesus was arrested by the mob, what did Peter NOT do? Stand by Jesus and say “Arrest me too. If Jesus must go to prison/death, then I Peter must also go to prison/death.” Instead, what did he do? He ran

The Denial

Peter and another disciple, perhaps John, followed Jesus to where He was to be put on trial by the high priest. After midnight. Cold. Peter went to the courtyard to warm himself by a fire.

13. Luke 22:54-55 - What do you think Peter is feeling at this moment? Fear; uncertainty.

14. vs. 56-59 - What were Peter’s responses to the bystanders’ accusations? Repeatedly denied knowing Jesus. Other Gospels say that Peter used expletives to punctuate his denial. Why did he do this? Fear of being caught, placed on trial, and death.

15. vs. 60-62 - When Peter heard the rooster crow, how do you think he felt? When he saw Jesus looking straight at him, how do you think Peter felt? Overwhelming guilt. Jesus perhaps being transferred from the home of the high priest to the Sanhedrin. What did he do next? Fled the courtyard and wept bitterly.

This is the last we see of Peter during the last hours of Christ’s life. He is not at the Sanhedrin. Not before Herod. Not before Pilate. Not being beaten and flogged. Not carrying a cross. Not dying on a cross. The same man who made a point to express his devotion to Jesus … the man who said “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” …Who emphatically said “I will never forsake you” …Was nowhere to be found.

APPLICATION:

1. Do you know yourself the way God knows you? Do you believe the image you or others created of yourself? Or do you accept what God’s image of yourself … how He sees you? We tend to see only our strengths/positives and ignore/discount our weakness/faults. Gets us in trouble. God sees it all and still He loves us. He gives us warnings regarding our weaknesses. Do we heed these warnings?

2. When making a commitment to God, how certain are you that you will follow through with it, particularly during times of testing by the Enemy?
If you fail to follow through with your commitment, how do you respond?