Bible Reading Challenge: John 18:15-27
In reading my Bible Reading Challenge text this morning I noticed, maybe for the first time, that one of Jesus’ disciples needed to talk with a woman who was guarding the gate to allow Peter to enter the courtyard for Jesus’ first interrogation. The text says, “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in (John 18:15–16).
What I hadn’t noticed was that one of Jesus’ disciples was with Jesus at the interrogation and the folks around them, knew this fact.
The second thing I noticed, maybe for the first time, was that when the woman asked Peter about being one of Jesus’ disciples, she said, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” (John 18:17). What I noticed was that word, also. She knew that the fellow she had just talked to was one of Jesus’ disciples and she was asking if Peter was also one. I had always thought that Peter had snuck into the proceedings and was sort of skulking around the edges. I had thought that he had denied knowing Christ all by himself. I thought he had been isolated, alone, all by himself. Instead, it seems like the context was much more familial than that. He denied Christ with another disciple right there with him; maybe even looking at him as he did it.
The second denial was similar. This time John, the author, says in 18:18 that the servants had made a fire and everyone was warming themselves around it; including Peter. Then the text takes us to the trial where Jesus stands up for himself and God and give him glory. Then in verse 25, John mentions the warm fire again. This time it is accompanied by someone asking Peter if he isn’t also one of Jesus’ disciples. Notice that also word again. They knew Peter wasn’t there by himself and again, the other was probably right there with them (getting warm). In Luke’s description of the events, Jesus is looking right at him when he makes his denials.
Again, I had always thought that Peter was a lone disciple when he denied Christ. But he wasn’t. Whoever the disciple who knew the high priest and was friends with the family, was also there (I think it was John). And everyone present knew that.
Also, John shares that Peter, in his zeal to help Jesus, cut off the ear of one of the High Priest’s servants, whose name was Malchus (18:10). Peter’s third denial came at the accusation of one of Malchus’ relatives who was there when Jesus was arrested. The text doesn’t say that this gent actually saw Peter cut off the ear, but he said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”. But Peter denied it.
In all three of the accusations, the accusers were absolutely right in their observations. In the first, the other disciple talked to the gate guard and got Peter in, “He’s one of my friends, please let him in.” So, the guard knew from the discussion that Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples. At the fire, the accuser knew that Peter was with the other disciple. And the third, the man had seen Peter in the garden. It was like Peter was caught with his hand in the cookie jar—and still denied the whole thing. And he was looking right at his friends and the Lord when he did it.
And then the cock crowed.
I pray that I will be more like that other disciple in my moment of opportunity to deny Jesus. On the other hand, I know that I am way more like Peter than I want to be and am very grateful that Jesus restored Peter to ministry, and he used him even though he had denied him. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. Lord be gracious to me, a sinner.