Peter’s Darkest Hour

Peter is in the high priest court yard waiting as Jesus is put on trail.

The stress and anxiety are off the charts

What will happen?

Why did armed soldiers show up?

I am so confused?

Its during stressful and dark times we make bad decisions.

never make a major purchase or sale something within one month of a tragedy

Widows are taken advantage of after a funeral

During a financial crisis people will liquidate stocks at the bottom of the market,

Peter was told he would deny the Lord three time and vehemently argues with this assertion.

Matthew 26:33–35 KJV 1900

33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Matt 26.33-

Matthew 26:57–58 KJV 1900

57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Its all falling apart now!

The group of twelve has split up and fled.

Their leader has been taken captive by the Jewish authorities and are weaponized .

Its a dangerous time to be identified with Christ.

The crowds have gone from praising him to anger.

Sitting there in the middle of a cold night scared.

Illustration -

While Jesus was undergoing His trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter was also undergoing a testing. He had followed the Lord and gained entrance into the house of the high priest (). As he sat in the courtyard (cf. ) awaiting the outcome of the trial, he had three opportunities to speak up for his Lord

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 26:69–75 (Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:55–62; John 18:17–18, 25–27)

While Jesus was undergoing His trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter was also undergoing a testing. He had followed the Lord and gained entrance into the house of the high priest (John 18:15–16). As he sat in the courtyard (cf. Matt. 26:58) awaiting the outcome of the trial, he had three opportunities to speak up for his Lord

I The Confrontation

Matthew 26:69–71 KJV 1900

69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

Mark 14:67–68 KJV 1900

67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

Mark 14:66 KJV 1900

66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

First a maid, probably a female porter, challenged Peter with the statement that he was one of the followers of the Lord. “Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee,” she said (26:69).

mark 14:67-68

Evidently she recognized John as a disciple and because John had gained access to the courtyard for Peter, she suspected that Peter was also a disciple (). Feeling every eye on him, Peter categorically denied his relationship with the Lord. “I know not what thou sayest,” he said ().

A couple of things:

Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary (a) The First Denial (26:69–70)

First a maid, probably a female porter, challenged Peter with the statement that he was one of the followers of the Lord. “Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee,” she said (26:69). Evidently she recognized John as a disciple and because John had gained access to the courtyard for Peter, she suspected that Peter was also a disciple (John 18:16). Feeling every eye on him, Peter categorically denied his relationship with the Lord. “I know not what thou sayest,” he said (Matthew 26:70).

This caught him by surprise

His reaction was quick and defensive.

mark

Matt 26:69-71

Look: they are out for blood, he did have the foreknowledge that Christ had.

He was just trying to protect himself and stay alive!

In Mark - Lady I cant even understand what you are saying !!!!

The confrontation brought out where he was at the time ....

A surprise reaction - have you ever acted wrongly when confronted.

illustration - lying to the FBI is a crime. Even if you are not under oath you can not lie to and investigator.

When people are backed into a corner they lie to get out

In this case Peter denied the Lord.

II The Certified Statement

Matthew 26:71–72 KJV 1900

71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

matt 26.7

The next confrontation follows up the first and has a direct connection to Jesus.

He is now being cornered and anxiety is off the charts.

This time he ups it one by giving an oath.

This time Peter denied his relationship to the Lord with an oath. In a court of justice, a man taking this kind of oath invoked malediction on himself if his statement were false. “I do not know the man,” Peter said. It would seem that at this point the cock crowed, but Peter did not heed the warning.

He is in deeper and deeper now He uses and oath in the denial.

Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary (b) The Further Denial (26:71–72)

This time Peter denied his relationship to the Lord with an oath. In a court of justice, a man taking this kind of oath invoked malediction on himself if his statement were false. “I do not know the man,” Peter said. It would seem that at this point the cock crowed, but Peter did not heed the warning.

There was disbelief and he had to ratchet it up a notch to get others to believe.

remember what he said previously

Matthew 26:35 KJV 1900

35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Illustration - when we start lieing we have to lie to cover the lie.

A web will eventually entrap us.

A husband affair will go from one lie to another

What was peter thinking?

Self preservation ?

Illustration -

III The Conformation of the Prophecy

Matthew 26:73–75 KJV 1900

73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

This next confrontation was from a group. A his speech gave him away.

We know who you are!

You are not from around hear.

The net is being drawed.

There is no way out to but to publically denounce as hard as I can Jesus.

Mark 14:70–71 KJV 1900

70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

mark 14.

luke

Exploring the Gospel of Matthew: An Expository Commentary (c) The Final Denial (26:73–74)

Peter’s oath silenced suspicions for the moment, but after a while (Luke 22:59 says it was about an hour later) he was accosted again. Those who were standing around queried him a third time. “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee,” they said (Matthew 26:73). What a wonderful testimony to have: “Your speech gives you away. You have been with Jesus”!

Peter soon put an end to that impression. He continued to call down God’s curse on himself if what he said were false and added profanity to his disclaimer. The people in the courtyard stopped accusing him of being a disciple of Jesus when they heard that. Nothing will more quickly annul a Christian testimony than bad language.

Such were Peter’s denials. Few of us can afford to cast stones at him. Most of us have experienced cowardice in our own hearts and have seen where it leads.

Peter’s oath silenced suspicions for the moment, but after a while ( says it was about an hour later) he was accosted again.

Those who were standing around queried him a third time. “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee,” they said (). What a wonderful testimony to have: “Your speech gives you away. You have been with Jesus”!

Peter soon put an end to that impression.

He continued to call down God’s curse on himself if what he said were false and added profanity to his disclaimer.

The people in the courtyard stopped accusing him of being a disciple of Jesus when they heard that.

Nothing will more quickly annul a Christian testimony than bad language.

Such were Peter’s denials. Few of us can afford to cast stones at him. Most of us have experienced cowardice in our own hearts and have seen where it leads.

While Jesus was undergoing His trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter was also undergoing a testing. He had followed the Lord and gained entrance into the house of the high priest (). As he sat in the courtyard (cf. ) awaiting the outcome of the trial, he had three opportunities to speak up for his Lord

Luke 22:60–61 KJV 1900

60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

But this is what broke Peter

luke

Luke 22:59–61 KJV 1900

59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

luke 22.59-

The Lord looked up Peter

He remembered

Depression and guilt would flood his soul.

could you imagine jesus looking at you after you deny him!

That stare would bring grief and repentance.

The good news is he remembered and was remorseful.

Judas felt and hung himself

Perter confessed and started the Christian faith.

This darkest day in Peters life would propel him to be a bold warier for the Lord.

Acts 2:36–38 KJV 1900

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 4:13 KJV 1900

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

How has the Lord used your darkest Hour?