Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

Friday, January 12, 2024

“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. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew” (Luke 22:59,60 KJV).

How was Peter the Apostle being preposterous?

On at least two occasions Peter debated with the Lord Jesus as to whether he would repudiate Him. The first incident was in the Upper Room. “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:31-33).

Next was en route to Gethsemane. “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:34,35). “And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently [violently, intensely], If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all” (Mark 14:30,31).

We remember other boasts from that night. “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake” (John 13:37). “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Matthew 26:31-33).

The disciples here were twice preposterous. Firstly, they joined Peter by contending with Christ (“Thou liest, Lord!”). Secondly, they had confidence in the flesh (“Thou canst depend on us, Lord!”). Let us learn from their errors….

Thursday, January 11, 2024

“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. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew” (Luke 22:59,60 KJV).

How was Peter the Apostle being preposterous?

This thought-provoking question was posed long ago: “If we were accused of being a believer in Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict us?” In Peter’s case, the answer is in the affirmative. Not only did his Galilaean accent thrice incriminate him (linking him to Jesus of Nazareth of Galilee), there was at least one eyewitness who could identify him as being a disciple of Jesus. This man did more than observe Peter with Jesus at His arrest: he was a relative of the fellow whose ear panicking Peter amputated there in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was being taken into custody!

John chapter 18: “[10] Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus…. [26] One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? [27] Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.” Thousands undoubtedly saw Peter with the Lord Jesus Christ all during those three years, from Galilee to Judaea. Now, Peter was trapped in weakness, recanting the very Lord he had valiantly defended in Gethsemane earlier. Peter’s overconfidence was his silliness, and his silliness became his ruin.

In the Upper Room prior to the Garden of Gethsemane, we remember Christ’s warning to Peter: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me” (Luke 22:31-34—the context of today’s Scripture). Peter refused to agree with Christ that he would fall away….

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

“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. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew” (Luke 22:59,60 KJV).

How was Peter the Apostle being preposterous?

“And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23). Therefore, throughout His earthly ministry, the Lord bore the title “Jesus of Nazareth.” Nazareth was in Galilee, northern Israel, no more than a day’s journey southwest of the Sea of Galilee. “And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11). “And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by” (Luke 18:37). Also see John 1:45,46; John 18:5,7; and John 19:19.

On the night of Christ’s trial, Peter was accused the first time as follows: “And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth” (Mark 14:67). Peter denied. The allegation is put forth a second time: “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” (Matthew 26:71). Peter denies again. Now, the third charge. Matthew 26:73 reads, “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth [variation of ‘betrayeth’] thee.” Mark 14:70 has it, “Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.” Today’s Scripture confirms the charge: “for he is a Galilaean.”

Based on these passages, we infer the Galilaeans had a thick, noticeable accent that revealed their northern extraction to those living down south in Judaea (suburbs of Jerusalem, where Christ’s trial was being held). John 1:44 reveals how Bethsaida (on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee) was Peter’s hometown. Peter’s Galilaean pronunciation of words gave away the fact that, despite his protests, he was associated with Jesus of Nazareth (remember, of Galilee). The unfortunate Apostle was truly better off saying nothing every time an allegation was made against him….

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

“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. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew” (Luke 22:59,60 KJV).

How was Peter the Apostle being preposterous?

Peter’s third denial of Jesus Christ is as follows. “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. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew” (Matthew 26:73,74). “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. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak” (Mark 14:70b,71). “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. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest” (Luke 22:59,60—today’s Scripture). “One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew” (John 18:26,27).

Overall, it was just three denials preserved in Four Gospel Records (see Matthew 26:34,75; Mark 14:30,72; Luke 22:34,61). That final denial is (literally) most revealing, for it sheds light on all three renunciations. Matthew (26:73) reports it as, “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth [variation of ‘betrayeth’] thee.” Mark (14:70) writes it was, “Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.” Today’s Scripture affirms the accusation, “for he is a Galilaean.” The more he spoke in protest, the harder it was for Peter to conceal his true identity. Every time Peter was rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter’s voice was giving away a secret. The distinct way he talked, the unique manner in which he expressed his words, made it quite obvious to them that Peter was indeed a foreigner….

Monday, January 8, 2024

“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. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew” (Luke 22:59,60 KJV).

How was Peter the Apostle being preposterous?

Read his first denial of Christ as seen from four perspectives. “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest” (Matthew 26:69,70). “And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 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 14:66-68). “But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not” (Luke 22:56,57). “Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not” (John 18:17).

Now, Peter’s second denial presented from four angles. “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. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:71,72). “And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again…” (Mark 14:69,70a). “And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not” (Luke 22:58). “And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not” (John 18:25).

As if Peter has not been ludicrous enough, the third and final denial reveals something especially outlandish about what specifically he is using to “protect” himself. Today’s Scripture is most insightful….

Sunday, January 7, 2024

“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. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew” (Luke 22:59,60 KJV).

How was Peter the Apostle being preposterous?

Peter followed the Lord Jesus Christ for the entire three years of His earthly ministry. The Lord Himself had trained him in all that which pertains to God’s purpose and plan for the nation Israel and the Earth. Peter heard Christ’s sermons, saw His miracles, walked with Him, ate with Him, talked with Him. Now, in the context of today’s Scripture, that Christ has been arrested and is on trial—facing the death penalty, with no chance of escape. “And Peter followed afar off” (verse 54). Peter has come along in the crowd to see what will ultimately happen to his Lord, though he keeps his distance lest he be noticed and also be persecuted.

On three occasions, Peter figuratively puts distance between himself and the Lord Jesus Christ. When identified as one of His disciples, Peter denies it (verses 56,57). Again, Peter is accused of being the Lord’s follower, but he argues it is not so (verse 58). For a third time, someone suggests Peter is connected to Jesus Christ, but the Apostle refutes the allegation (today’s Scripture). Verses 61,62: “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. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

We will recall that, earlier in the chapter, the Lord Jesus had foretold: “[31] And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: [32] But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. [33] And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. [34] And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” What Christ predicted indeed came to pass….