14:66-72 – Here we have the
conclusion of the story of Peter’s denial, begun in vv.26-31. To Peter’s
credit, he apparently has not fled outright, but rather has stuck close by to
see what would happen. This story finds him “below in the courtyard,” just
outside of where the Temple guards were beating Jesus. A servant-girl notices
him there and recognizes him as one of Jesus followers. She says so out loud,
not once but twice, and twice Peter denies it. Then the onlookers voice their
agreement with the girl, and Peter angrily curses, swears, and denies all
knowledge of Jesus. These are his three denials, and they happen in quick
succession. Now, Peter ought to have told the truth, and associated himself
with Jesus even if that meant suffering and death. But, at the same time, his
reaction is entirely understandable. Who hasn’t felt the fear of being publicly
shamed? Who hasn’t told a little lie here or there to avoid such shame? And how
much more incentive would one have to lie if the result of the truth would be
not only shame, but great physical pain! The wonderful thing about Peter is
that he is authentically human—we can see so much of ourselves, our own
failings in him. Yes, he ought to have handled this better. But, at the same
time, so too should we have handled the thousand tacit denials of Christ that
we work into the fabric of our everyday lives when we choose to live according
to our own sins and fears rather than according to the painful call to follow
Christ in his suffering. The cock crows for the second time, and Peter hears it
and knows what has happened. Now he has exactly the right reaction: “He broke
down and wept.” The one appropriate response to the brokenness of our sin is
sorrow. Some of the ancient saints used to call this “the baptism of tears,”
and saw it as an essential element of true repentance. The fact is, we are
sinful people who do not always choose the right way, and that should cause us
great sorrow. But it is a sorrow with an ending, because Christ is at work in
us to make us holy, and we are already accepted and beloved by God, as Christ
demonstrates so poignantly to Peter when they meet again after his resurrection
(see John 21:15-17).