333 Words of Grace

Sunday, January 14, 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?

Take one final look at Luke 22:31,32 (the context of today’s Scripture): “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat [separate you, after shaking you to point of overthrowing your faith]: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” This very night, the men whom the Lord Jesus Christ had intimately trained for the last three years, would abandon Him and pretend as if they never knew Him. He knew it with absolute certainty, and notified them of it. It would be unspeakably traumatic for all involved, and, had it not been for His intercessory prayer here, none of those men would have ever returned to His ministry.

Once Peter committed those dreadful deeds of denial, the Lord Himself served as a heartbreaking reminder. Read the verses immediately following today’s Scripture: “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.” Staring from a distance, Jesus fixed His eyes on Peter and Peter noticed and instantly called to mind what He had told him not long before. That started Peter, and the rest of the Little Flock, on the path to recovery from Satan’s snare.

When we as members of the Church the Body of Christ fail (returning to the preposterousness of the bondage to sin), we have not surprised Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit. Provisions have already been made and (whether we are aware of it or not) sin will thus be overcome. We should drive out Bible ignorance and endless despair by studying God’s Book rightly divided, giving us matchless victory and indescribable joy….

Saturday, January 13, 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 Luke 22:31,32 (the context of today’s Scripture): “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat [separate you, after shaking you to point of overthrowing your faith]: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” The Lord Jesus Christ was quite familiar with the weaknesses of human flesh. None of His disciples could convince Him that He could depend on them, that they would not forsake Him. He not only anticipated their repudiation of Him, He also made a provision to reverse their preposterousness. Christ prayed that, after Peter (their leader) would be attacked and fall, he would be “converted” (turned toward the right direction) and recover his brethren (the other disciples) from their spiritual mess.

Just before the close of the Gospel Record of John, we read of the Apostles’ restoration to ministry (Peter, their leader, is now thrice allowed to make up for his three-fold renunciation). “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

Let us now see what we members of the Church the Body of Christ can learn from all of this….

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….