Hello and welcome to Thursdays foundations podcast. Today we are looking at Matthew 26:57-75, however I’m going to focus on the last 5 verses, Peter’s denial of Jesus. You can find the whole reading on the website.

REFLECTION:

Let’s look at the Bible verses together:

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter is an interesting disciple in the book of the Bible. His mouth often moved faster than his brain. On our thought from Tuesday he swore allegiance to Jesus unto death when Jesus predicted his denial. We read yesterday and today that he didn’t quite have it all together. He fell asleep in Jesus’ moment of need. Yet, when we read that all the other disciples had abandoned Jesus, Peter, to his credit, has followed the drama since the arrest. Although we read today he kept his distance.

I can relate to Peter. I often find myself with good intentions but not always the means to back it up.

A quick story before we talk in more detail about Peter – it’s a story where my mouth moved faster than my brain. I used to work for the University catering team alongside when I first joined the staff team here at STC. I was waiting tables at a rather fancy mid-summer-meal for a prestigious law firm in our city at one of the fanciest University buildings. To my boss’s dismay the professional pianist had not turned up… and to my own surprise… I found my mouth saying these words… I know people who play piano at our church… do not worry I will sort it out.

“Great” she said, and left the prep room.

I then realised what I had said and I began to panic. I couldn’t ring Becca Staniforth at short notice. It was already evening and she has small children. So, I rang a talented student in our church at the time, called Grace and she exposed the enormous hole I had got myself into. To find a willing person to play for three hours. With no practise. On a grand piano she has never seen. In the fanciest room at the University. In front of a large crowd. Over dinner. “That’s correct,” I said. “No way,” she replied! “But maybe Gavin can…” she said. “Put him on,” I said. So long story short. Gavin, who used to be on staff here at STC until recently, dug out a crushed tux. I arranged a taxi. And 30 minutes later… he dazzled the crowd. Much to my relief.

He got paid in a fancy five course meal. Result.

So back to Peter. The disciple who will never deny Jesus has found himself here… Weeping bitterly… It makes you think, why are we being told this detail? And why are we told these things three times? I’d love to briefly explore these two questions today and touch on what happened next to Peter as something for us to take away.

Firstly, why did Peter keep his distance & why did he deny knowing Jesus?

Presumably fear, he watched from the courtyard as Jesus was falsely accused, beaten and insulted. Peter was scared Jesus would die and what that would mean to be associated with such a man. Peter quickly found he wasn’t nearly as bold and courageous as...