He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:71-72 NIV
Did you ever have one of those days when felt like you were walking out of step with Jesus, when you knew that you just weren’t on the same page as God? If there was ever a day like that in Peter’s life, it had to be this day; this was his darkest hour, and it ended with weeping. When Jesus was preparing him for what was to come, Peter was denying it emphatically. When Jesus was praying, Peter was sleeping. And when Jesus was being spit on and beaten, Peter was warming himself by the fire.
Let’s back up and take a closer look at some of the events shared in this chapter and glean what we can learn from Peter’s bad day and maybe we can avoid some of his mistakes.
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. Mark 14:30-31 NIV
Peter was so sure he wouldn’t fall away! His pride wouldn’t allow him to even consider the thought that he could deny Jesus. What if he had set aside his pride long enough to really listen to what Jesus was trying to tell him? Could things have turned out differently if, instead of denying it, he had asked Jesus how he could avoid it?
Consider Paul’s advice in Romans 12.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:2 NIV
This advice would have served Peter well. If he had taken Jesus warning seriously, perhaps he could have prayed for strength to stand strong. Later that evening, Jesus even gave Peter the time and opportunity to seek God in prayer!
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. Mark 14:34-35 NIV
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping. Mark 14:37-40a NIV
Jesus urged Peter to watch and pray so he wouldn’t fall into temptation. What if Peter had spent his time in the garden praying instead of sleeping? We all know that the spirit and the flesh wage battle for control. We have to make a conscious effort to be controlled by the Spirit rather than our flesh!
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:16-17 NIV
The only way to keep our flesh from running the show is to have strong spiritual disciplines. I imagine Peter looked back on his time in the garden with nothing but regret! If he had only spent the time seeking God, instead of sleeping, he would have had so much more strength to stand strong when the time came! If we want to be spiritually strong, we must be people of prayer! Jesus understood that better than anyone. He poured his heart out to the Father in that garden, and he received the strength he needed!
Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. Mark 14:65-68 NIV
While Jesus was being beaten, Peter was warming himself by the fire! He was thinking of his own comfort and his own safety. Had he admitted being a follower of Jesus, he may have been accused right along with Jesus. Imagine that, Peter may have found himself standing beside Jesus as he faced the angry council. Just hours before he was so sure that he would die with him, but when the pressure was on, he found out that he wasn’t as strong as he thought he was.
So what can we learn from Peter’s mistakes?
- Don’t let pride lull you into thinking you don’t need strong spiritual disciplines. You’re not strong enough to be successful without them.
- Don’t be sleeping when you should be praying. Prayer is the exercise that build’s spiritual strength.
- Don’t get distracted by comfort or pleasure.
- Don’t ever deny your Lord because you are afraid of negative consequences. It’s better to stand beside him and take the pressure than to stand alone and live in fear.