The Conflict of Peter

Christ’s number one apostle, Peter the Rock, has been used an example for his moment of weakness in denying the Savior for hundreds of years. He is looked at as the perfect example of what not to do, then used as an example of how God uses imperfect men and how Peter turned it around to be a staunch defender of Jesus Christ, even unto death.

I believe Peter’s betrayal and denial of Christ should be looked at in a different light. From looking at the circumstances differently, I believe a unique lesson, one less often mentioned, can be learned from Peter.

This isn’t meant to diminish the lesson noted above. But by looking at the story a little differently, something new can be learned.

Let’s go backwards in the story.

It starts when Christ tells his disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night” (Matthew 26:31). Peter responds by saying that even if every man was offended because of Christ, “yet will I never be offended” (Matthew 26:33, see also Luke 22:33). Christ responds “That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Matthew 26:34).

So we have Peter saying he would never deny Christ, despite Jesus telling him it was about to happen. Jesus, knowing all, tells Peter that night Peter would deny Him three times. Interesting sidenote, Peter knows the divinity and power of Christ, and yet still disputes that he would be someone to deny Christ. He is questioning, even if accidentally, the omniscience of Christ here.

I think this is a product of being with Jesus day to day for years. I’m sure Peter often got into discussions with Jesus and often felt like He was just another man. I also think this moment, where Peter tells Jesus he won’t deny Him and Jesus corrects him, may have contributed to future events, even if only subconsciously in Peter’s mind.

Fast forward and the “great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people” had come to arrest Jesus (Matthew 26:47).

An assumption must be made next. In verse 51 it says, “one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his word, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.” It has long been assumed that “one of them” was Peter. There is good reason for this given his zeal in defending Christ up until that point in the ministry.

Here is where it gets important, and we must pay special attention to the scriptures.

Verse 52 says, “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take up the sword shall perish with the sword.”

Peter had already been gently reprimanded for contradicting Jesus when He told Peter that everyone would deny Christ that night. When Peter argued the point, Jesus in a gentle way said, “I know all, and before the cock crows you will deny me three times.”

Now Peter is reprimanded again for taking out his sword in defense of Christ.

Jesus says in verses 53 and 54, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”

This is reminiscent of Matthew 16:21-23 where Peter receives, potentially, the harshest rebuke in all of scripture. Christ has begun to tell his disciples how He will be taken and killed. Peter argues and says he will not let it happen. Christ’s response, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Do we think that Peter has forgotten this rebuke when he is again rebuked for bringing up the sword in defense of Christ? We know now that Peter was learning an important lesson that he needed to learn. We don’t defend Christ with the sword, but with the Word. This was a lesson Peter would carry with him for the rest of his life as he preached of Christ and defended Christ to the world, despite all the persecution and affliction the world could put upon him.

This is where I think we can pause to think about what was going on in Peter’s mind.

He told Christ he wouldn’t let Him be taken and killed. Christ rebuked him.

He told Christ he wouldn’t deny Him. Christ let Peter know that he would deny Him three times.

He brought up the sword to defend Christ. Christ reminded him that He had legions of angels at his disposal and to put away the sword.

This leads us to Peter’s denial of Jesus Christ. Peter’s best friend. His rabbi. His King. Let us not forget or doubt that Peter knew Jesus Christ to be all these things.

I think Peter was conflicted beyond belief in those moments after Christ’s arrest. Every attempt he had made to say he would keep this from happening, he was rebuked by Jesus. Even being called Satan. What was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to intervene? Was he supposed to go break Jesus out? But Christ said not to use the sword, how then? Was he supposed to let it happen? Was he supposed to go beside Jesus and die with Him? But Jesus had told Him he would not do that… could he prove Christ wrong? No? Yes? All these conflicting thoughts in Peter’s mind. What was he to do?

And then, amid all this turmoil, and chaos, and uncertainty, and probably even doubt, definitely doubt and confusion at what he was supposed to do, Peter is spotted. A woman comes up to Peter and says, “Hey! You were with this Jesus of Galilee.” Peter denies. Another woman comes up with the same accusation. Peter denies. They surround him, Peter swears “I know not the man” (Matthew 26:74). And right at that moment the cock crew.

It’s hard to imagine what Peter was thinking and going through at that time.

Peter was weak and Peter was imperfect. He is a miraculous story of a man who denied Christ three times then never denied Him again.

I believe the true lesson to be learned from this story is this: Never deny Jesus Christ. For any reason. Under any circumstances.

Christ had just reminded Peter that He could call down legions of angels in his defense. Did Peter think something against God’s will and plan would happen if he didn’t deny Christ those three times? God’s plan was to be fulfilled.

I wonder, if amidst all the suffering that Christ felt, if one of the most painful things He felt was being denied three times by His best friend, His right hand man, His chief apostle, and future prophet of His church. Christ knew Peter. He knew Peter better than Peter knew Himself. Christ knew what was coming, and He forgave Peter even before Peter denied Him.

What I take from this story is to never deny Jesus Christ.

Though threatened with death, or even more difficult to consider, your family being threatened with death, never deny Christ.

If I were to be killed because I refused to deny Him, I go to Him. If I were to lose family because I refused to deny Him, I know where they go. It’s a crazy thing to think about. It’s impossible to consider. But Peter had to consider. Maybe one day, we will have to too.

Never deny Jesus Christ. He will never deny us.