The Fire—Rejection (18:15–27)

The Fire—Rejection (18:15–27)

Jesus had told Peter that he would deny Him three times (Matt. 26:34; John 13:38), but he would be restored to fellowship and service (Luke 22:32). Peter should have been running away, but he followed the crowd (John 18:8; Matt. 26:30–32). Had he gone his own way, he would never have denied the Lord. We admire his love and courage, but we cannot agree with what he did, for he yielded to temptation. This is what Jesus said to him in the garden (Matt. 26:41).

We do not know who the other disciple was that went with Peter into the high priest's courtyard. Most likely it was John, though it is hard to see how a fisherman would be known to the high priest and his family. Could this 'other disciple' have been Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea? They would certainly be able to get into this home.

You see Peter and see how he is falling slowly into the place of temptation and sin, and what he does is just like what is said in Psalm 1:1. First, Peter was “walking in the counsel of the ungodly” when he followed Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. Peter should have listened to the advice of Jesus and got out of there quickly! Then Peter stood by the fire with the enemy (John 18:16, 18), and soon he was sitting with the enemy (Luke 22:55). It was now too late, and shortly he would deny his Lord three times.

Then said a servant, "Art not thou also one of this Man's disciples? It is apparent that she expected a negative answer, and that’s what she got! Peter denied Christ by denying that he was of the band of disciples.

Peter stayed by the fire, so it was not surprising that he was approached again. (Jesus had been sweating in the garden as He prayed that same night!) Another maid asked the same question, again hoping for a negative answer. The pronoun "they" in John 18:25 suggests that others in the circle around the fire took up the question and hurled it at Peter one after another.

The third question was from a relative of Malchus! I believe this individual expected an affirmative answer: "Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?" This man at least had seen Peter pretty clearly, for perhaps he had been standing with Malchus when Jesus was seized. Some of the bystanders took up the discussion (Matt. 26:73; Mark 14:70) so that Peter may have been surrounded by challengers.

At this point Peter's resistance collapsed completely. He began to "curse and swear" (Matt. 26:74). This does not mean that Peter let loose a volley of blasphemies but that he placed himself under a curse in order to emphasize his statement. He was on trial, and he placed himself under oath to convince his accusers that he was telling the truth.

It was then that the cock began to crow (John 18:27) just as Jesus had predicted (Matt. 26:34). There were four "watches": evening (6-9 p.m.), midnight (9-12), cockcrowing (12 midnight to 3 a.m.), and morning (3-6 a.m.) (see Mark 13:35). And when the cock crew, Peter remembered the words which the Lord said unto him, and he went out and wept bitterly.

Although bound and harassed by the authorities, the crowing of the cock assured Peter that Jesus was totally in control of the situation. Jesus proved His sovereignty by commanding one bird. God gave man dominion over the fish, the fowl, and the beasts (Genesis 1:26). Peter had seen Jesus exercise authority over the fish (Matt. 17:24-27; Luke 5:1-11) and the animals (Matt. 21:1-11), but now he was aware of His authority over the birds.

But the cockcrowing was also a call to repentance. “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). Luke tells us that Jesus turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61), and this look of love broke Peter’s heart. Peter had experienced the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 5:1) and by his denials had added to those sufferings.

Remember, the crowing of the cock was the announcement of a new day dawning! “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). It is profitable to contrast Peter and Judas. Peter lamented his sins and repented; Judas acknowledged his sins but never really repented. Judas had remorse, not repentance. The moment Judas had left the Upper Room, “it was night” (John 13:30). But when Peter went out to weep bitterly, it was the dawning of a new day. It is the difference between godly sorrow that leads to true repentance and the sorrow of the world (regret and remorse) that leads to death (2 Cor. 7:9–10). We will discover that Jesus restored Peter (John 21) and used him with great power and blessing.

We find both grace and guilt in the garden that night. Peter had sinned against God’s will. Judas was guilty of the vilest treachery. The mob was guilty of rejecting the Son of God, treating Him as if He were the lowest sort of criminal.

But Jesus was gracious! Like King David He crossed the Kidron, knowing Judas was betraying Him. He entered the garden of Gethsemane and submitted to the will of the Father. He healed Malchus’s ear, and He shielded His disciples. He gave Himself into the hands of sinners that He might suffer and die for us.
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We must ask ourselves the question, "What is in our hand today—the cup or the sword?"