QUESTION 46 What could you not watch with me one hour?

   QUESTIONS JESUS ASKED BIBLE STUDY

     Read Matthew 26:69-74 KJV: 

 

  Wilt thy lay down thy life for my sake? (John 13:38)

  What, could you not watch with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40)

  Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? (John 21:17)

 

PETER DENIES JESUS 

Reference: Matthew 26:69-74; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27

 

Jesus called and chose twelve men unto him to be His apostles: Simon (whom He also named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James and John (brothers whom he called “the sons of thunder”), Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (the son of Alphaeus), Simon (called Zelotes), Judas (the brother of James), and Judas Iscariot (the traitor) (Luke 6:13-16).

 

The apostle Peter holds a special place in many hearts. It was to him that Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom, when he was instructed, three times, to 'feed My sheep. Peter was the one who unlocked the gate of the kingdom (Matthew 16:19) - first to Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2:38) and later, to the Gentiles... in the house of Cornelius, the Roman centurion (Acts 10).

 

Peter was the big fisherman who showed great affection for his Lord and Master and he was the one who often blurted out what the others were thinking. He was the one who walked on water and sank down into the angry waves when his faith failed... (Matthew 14:28-31), and Peter was first to confess: - "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:13-16).

 

He witnessed Christ's transfiguration on the holy mount (Mark 9), he was the one Jesus said to tell “Peter” and the disciples he had risen (Mark16:7), and he was one that ran to the empty tomb, when he heard the wonderful news - "He is risen from the dead" (Luke 24:12). He was excited to discover that he would sit on a throne in Christ's kingdom and judge the 12 tribes of Israel... (Matthew 19:28), and Peter was the one who declared his love for Jesus was immovable and unshakable (Mark14:27-31) - yet immediately denied Him three, terrible times (Mark 14:66-72).

 

It was only hours away from His crucifixion when Jesus told them He was soon to go away and they could not follow Him... instead they would be universally hated; hunted down and killed for their faith. In the midst of receiving all this bewildering information Peter asks a question that was in the mind of all the disciples, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now?'... but then boldly declared - "I will lay down my life for You." 

 

Why would one of Jesus’ chief disciples deny knowing Him? There were two main reasons why Peter denied Jesus: weakness and fear.

 

Peter’s denial was based partially on weakness, the weakness of human frailty. After the Last Supper, Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to await His arrest. He told them to stay awake and pray while He went off to pray alone. When He returned to them, He found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour?” Jesus warned Peter to stay awake and pray because, although his spirit was willing, his flesh was weak. But he fell asleep again, and, by the time the soldiers had come to arrest Jesus, it was too late to pray for the strength to endure the ordeal to come (Mark 14:33-42). (We too, in this last hour need to stay awake and pray, because even thou our spirit is willing our flesh is weak. We need to pray that we may be able to endure what may come our way in times of weakness.)

 

And the other reason for Peter’s failure was fear. To his credit, although all the others had fled (Mark 14:50), Peter still followed Jesus after His arrest, but he kept his distance so as not to be identified with Him. There’s no question that fear gripped him. From the courtyard, he watched Jesus being falsely accused, beaten, and insulted. Peter was afraid Jesus would die, and he was fearful for his own life as well. The world hated Jesus, and Peter found that he was not as prepared to face the ridicule and persecution that Jesus was suffering. He found that he wasn’t nearly as bold and courageous as he had proclaimed, and in fear he denied the One who loved him. When Peter heard the rooster crow and remembered what the Lord had told him, he went out and wept bitter tears (Mark 14:72).

 

After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, Peter and six other disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus appeared to them on the shore, next to a charcoal fire, where He had prepared a meal for them. This was now the third time that Jesus had showed Himself to His disciples, after that he was risen from the dead (John 21:14).  

 

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 

 

Jesus said to Peter a second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” And Peter said, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus said again, “Feed me sheep.”

 

Jesus said to Peter a third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” And Peter was grieved because the Lord had asked him three times if he loved Him.  Peter answered, “Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus said a third time, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:14-17)

 

This gentle exchange between Jesus and Peter showed that the apostle was forgiven and restored to his place of leadership. Three times Peter had denied the Lord. Now, three times he affirms his love for Jesus. Likewise, three times the Lord commissions Peter to care for His flock. His church.

 

And on the day of Pentecost, Peter and all who were waiting for the promised gift from God, received power from on high when the Spirit of God came to dwell within his mortal body... and like all who trust in JESUS, Peter found that His grace is sufficient, for His power is perfected in our weakness.

 

After receiving the power of the Holy Ghost, Peter boldly stood and preached to the crowd about Jesus. Peter’s zeal and boldness on the day of Pentecost stand in stark contrast to his denial of Jesus. Not only did he preached on the day of Pentecost but preached for the rest of his life. 

 

Jesus could have easily protected Peter, but Jesus had a higher goal. He was equipping Peter to strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32) and feed His sheep. Not only did Peter strengthen the other disciples, but he became a pillar of the early church in Jerusalem, exhorting and training others to follow the Lord Jesus (Acts 2). And he continues to this day to strengthen us though his epistles. 

 

This story emphasizes that despite our own human weaknesses, failures, and sins, Jesus Christ is eager to forgive us and restore our relationship with Him. 

 

Notes: