PETER DENIES KNOWING JESUS

0. Bible Story Summaries

a) The collection of Bible story summaries highlights the simple yet profound truths found in the ancient and enduring stories of the Bible. Each of the summaries provides a brief synopsis of Old and New Testament Bible stories with Scripture reference, interesting points or lessons to be learned from the story, and a question for reflection.

b) We shall look at each of the Bible story summaries.

1. Peter's Failure Leads to a Beautiful Restoration

a) Although Peter denied knowing Jesus, his failure resulted in a beautiful act of restoration. This Bible story underlines Christ's loving eagerness to forgive us and restore our relationship with him despite our many human weaknesses. Consider how Peter's poignant experience applies to you today.

2. Scripture Reference

a) 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.

3. Peter Denies Knowing Jesus - Story Summary

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

b) 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 to death." (Luke 22:33, NIV)

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

d) 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.  Jesus was led away to the house of Joseph Caiaphas, the high priest.

e) 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.

f) 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.

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

h) 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 in 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 that 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 all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself 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)

4. Points of Interest from the Story

• All four Gospels include this episode, but only John mentions Peter's restoration by Jesus.

• The accusers vary in the four accounts; however, Peter's frightened reaction to them is consistent.  He was terrified that he might suffer the same fate as Jesus.

• Peter denied Jesus three times and reaffirmed his love for Jesus three times.  Jesus used the word "agape" in his first two questions and "phileo" in the third one, as if asking, "Are you really my friend?"  Jesus' command to Peter to take care of his sheep meant Peter had been fully forgiven and restored.

• In both his denials and restoration, Peter sat by a fire.  Fire can symbolize destruction in the Bible but also cleansing and the Holy Spirit.

• Jesus predicted how Peter would die.  Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome after he boldly proclaimed his faith in Jesus and refused to recant. 

• The story emphasizes that despite our own human weakness and sin, Christ is eager to forgive us and restore our relationship with him.

5. Question for Reflection

a) Is my love for Jesus expressed only in words or in deeds as well?