The Lord’s Message:  Journey to the Cross:  Peter Denies Knowing Jesus Three Times

The Lord’s Message:  Journey to the Cross:  Peter Denies Knowing Jesus Three Times
Date:  March 8, 2026
Where:  Tilghman Methodist Church
Scripture Reference:  Luke 22:54-62

            If I were to take a poll this morning as to which one of the disciples that you would like to be, I have a good suspicion that many of you here would say “Peter.”  Peter is a fisherman.  He is seen as the leader of the disciples.  He is brash and bold.  He has what some would refer to as “chutzpah.”  He is the one who answered Jesus’ question of “Who do you say I am?” with “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”  He was the one that stepped out of the boat during the turbulent storm.  None of the other disciples would do that.  He was willing to fight for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He even went to Caiaphas’ house, where the Sanhedrin was being convened to tried Jesus.  He had “chutzpah.”  Was that enough to prevent Him from falling into sin?  Is that enough to prevent us from falling into sin?

            Let us pray.

            Last Sunday, we looked at the trial of Jesus by the Sanhedrin.  This trial was supposed to be one where the judges were impartial, truthfulness was brought forward on the testimony of two faithful eyewitnesses and the sentencing would be just and fair.  In the end, we found that the judges had an axe to grind, the eyewitnesses told lies, and the sentence handed down was abusive. 

            Even though there was a line of countless false witnesses, none of them could bring forth an account that agreed with another.  In the United States, when a court case is held, both the prosecution and the defense can bring forth witnesses.  I was thinking under Jewish law could Jesus bring forth His own witnesses.  The answer to that question is a resounding, “Yes!’  Another point that proves that the trial of Jesus held by the Sanhedrin was a sham. 

If Jesus were to bring forth eyewitnesses who would have defended Jesus?  The obvious answer would have been the disciples.  What happened to the disciples after Jesus was arrested and then brought to trial?  Judas Iscariot would not have defended Jesus.  He was too filled with shame and guilt for betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver that he hung himself.  The rest of the disciples all fled.   There were two disciples at Jesus’ trial.  In John 18:15, John writes that “Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus.”  We are told in the next verse that this other disciple must have had an in with the high priest, Caiaphas. Most commentators agreed that the “other disciple” was the writer, and disciple of Jesus, John.  According to this passage of scripture, John was let into the courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside.  Then John asked the girl on duty to allow Peter in and Peter was allowed in.  This is the first of three denials of Peter where he denies knowing Jesus.  This “girl on duty” plays a significant and spiritual role.  She is the physical gatekeeper in allowing people into the courtyard of the high priest.  She is also the one who is first to test Peter about whether he will be faithful to God or rely on his capability, his “chutzpah.” 

His “chutzpah” has gotten him out of many situations and also caused him to fall into other situations.  After Peter makes the bold declaration about Jesus being the “Son of the Living God,” he confronts Jesus.  This is after Jesus tells him and the rest of the disciples that the Son of Man is going to Jerusalem to suffer many things at the hand of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  He tells Jesus, “Never Lord!  This shall never happen to you!”  Jesus responds with “Get behind me Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”  Even just several hours before Jesus was arrested, Jesus told them that all the disciples would fall away.  Peter responds with “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You.”  In this courtyard, Peter’s faith is being put to the test.  Will he stand up for Jesus and declare that he is one of Jesus’ disciples are will he cower and try to protect his life and say, I do not know who Jesus is?  Here is Peter’s gatekeeper.  He cannot straddle the gate. He only has two decisions for his response. 

If we remember listening to what Larry read, we know that Peter denies knowing Jesus, not once, not twice, but three times.  Peter is not the only one of the disciples to fail this test.  All the disciples fail.  The ones that fled to safe lodging.  They denied Jesus.   John failed.  There is no recording in the Bible, that John made a declaration at Jesus’ trial. 

So, in Luke 22:60, when the rooster crowed, it did not crow for just Peter, but Judas Iscariot, John, the rest of the disciples, and for you and me when we have denied Jesus. 

You might have been thinking, if I was Peter, I would have professed knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  If you would allow me to be so bold, let me ask you this gatekeeper question, when have you denied knowing Jesus? 

Have you remained silent when you felt in your heart God telling you to speak?  Do we live faithfully on Sunday and the rest of the week our lifestyle tells a different story?  Have we been unkind to another person?  Does your Bible sit on the shelf until Sunday morning?  Do we rely on ourselves, our knowledge, our ability, or trust in God to overcome the situations in life?  There are many more ways that we deny knowing Jesus and trusting in Him.  I want for you to take some time this week to think about ways that you have denied Jesus.  The most tragic of all denials is not to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent here to be one of us, to die on the cross to pay the debt that we could not pay, which is death for our sins.  So that through Jesus we would have eternal life.  That is the ultimate denial.  I pray that none of you here today are in that kind of denial.  This is not an exercise to feel shame, but one to strengthen your walk and love for Him. 

In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus explains the repercussion for denying knowing Him.  Jesus is not talking about loss of entry into the kingdom of heaven, but loss of faith.  The loss of faith which is not experiencing the deeper love of a relationship with God.  Jesus wanted His disciples, and all of us, to be courageous in our confession of our faith even when we would face persecution.  Our faith and our relationship with God grow more each time we make this profession of faith that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  I was wearing my hat that says, “I Still Believe” at the movie theater.  A woman came up to me and said, “I love your hat.”  Now, some people think that it is about Santa Claus.  I do not want them to have any delusion.  I politely tell them “I still believe in Jesus.” She replied, “So do I.”  We had a wonderful conversation.

I must admit that it is easy to do this in the United States, but if you go out of this country, that is where the real opposition will occur to point of even death.  The Apostle Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:11-13. 

Peter’s denials were not a complete rejection of His Lord and Savior, Jesus.  It was a momentary lapse – a slipping back from his commitment to die for Jesus.  In Luke 22:61, when Jesus looked at Peter, it was not a look of condemnation, but one of love and compassion. Jesus has earlier said in Luke 22:31 that He was praying for Peter.  Jesus’ prayer was not just for Peter, but for the rest of the disciples.  Jesus even says to Peter, “when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  Jesus knew that not only Peter was filled with remorse, but the rest of the disciples as well.  Jesus’ prayer is for us when we have denied knowing Jesus.

So, let us continue to listen to God and do what He says.  Amen.