Peter

Anyone who has spent an extended amount of time in the Christian church, knows about peter's betrayal. Here's the verses from Mark 14:26-31:

26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

And here are the verses- later on in chapter 14, where Jesus' prophecy came true.

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway [8] and the rooster crowed. [9] 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.


I cannot imagine the pain Peter must have been feeling, watching his friend's crucifixion. It must have been pure torture to see his friend suffering so much, and not being able to do anything about it. I know when my friends suffer now, it hurts me to the core, but what they are dealing with is NOTHING like what Jesus endured that day.

Peter denied knowing one of his best friends three times that day, but, unlike any of the other disciples, he was there. Now, I can't say that what Peter did was right, by any means. The bible tells us that if we deny Him among our peers, He will deny us before his father. Peter spent the rest of his life trying to make up for what he did. But when all of Jesus' other disciples withdrew and hid from public eye, Peter was there, watching and hurting right along with Jesus.

Someday- I will get to meet Peter- and talk to him. I will ask how he must have felt that day. Why he said what he said, and most of all, what he would do if he could relive that day. Does he wish he had died for his faith in Jesus? Would he have done exactly what he did, knowing he was able be forgiven of his sin and minister to a lot of people for the rest of his life? Was it worth it?

No one has ever mentioned in a sermon that Peter was the only disciple there that day. I did some research and there doesn't seem to be any evidence that any of the others were there. He may have denied his savior, but he was there. Watching from a distance. He had a view of Jesus' love and sacrifice, few believers ever have had, or will have. I think there's something to be said about Peter being there, don't you?