One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it. John 18:26-27
Peter’s worst week now hits rook bottom. Remember Peter is a believer, a follower of the Messiah. These sins are done after he has committed to follow the Lord. He knows fully who Christ is and denies him anyway. Peter decides to put his own will ahead of the Lord’s
and God allows him to follow the path he choses. Peter finds
out his heart is really as sinful as the Lord said.
One of the high priest’s servants The test that Peter has failed so far continues but it grows in its intensity. Now Peter is accused not
by a young maid but by one of the servants 0f the high Priest – one with experience and maturity and more important, access to authority. He can take Peter right to th High Priest!
A relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off There is another fact about Peter’s accuser that reinforces his credibility, He is from the family (the term can be used broadly to include extended family members, not just immediate family) of the man Peter attacked. He might have observed Peter’s attack or he might have talked with Malchus about his attack. Either way, he knew what he was talking about.
Challenged him This man commands Peter to admit his guilt. Isn’t it interesting that when we will not repent of our sin to the Lord, Satan and the world system demands that we do so.
“Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” The man is an eye- witness. He saw Peter with the Lord – his role as one of the Lord’s followers is not in dispute.
Again Peter denied it Peter has reached his limit. Walking in the flesh takes its toll. John uses the Greek word “again” to emphasize Peter’s repeated action. For the third time the same Greek word is used to express Peter’s rejection of the Lord. His words disown his ties to the Lord. When we read Matthews 26:72 we learn that Peter denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!’ ” Strong’s Concordance says “In the New Testament context, it often conveys the idea of invoking a curse upon oneself or others, typically in a moment of intense emotion or denial… In the Greco-Roman world, curses and oaths were taken very seriously, often invoking the gods as witnesses to one’s words. The act of cursing someone or something was not merely a verbal expression but was believed to have real spiritual and social consequences. In Jewish culture, falsely swearing by God’s name was to be cut off from the community and the blessings of God, a severe form of excommunication.” Peter makes an oath not only before these insignificant people but before before Almighty God that he has nothing (and wants nothing) to do with Jesus. Do you see why later Peter will think he has committed a sin which cuts him off from the Lord permanently?
What Can We Learn? Matthew 26 says that Peter began to curse and swear. He is not referring to “cussing” as we know it – this is worse. He is taking an oath that he is not a Jesus follower. Do the Lord’s word now ring in his ears? “Whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Probably not yet for he is acting fully in the flesh but he will quickly remember them.
Before we leave this passage we need to remember that each of us is capable of this same sin. The greatest follower of Christ who yields to his flesh will end up denying the Lord who died for him. We ignore the command ”Take heed lest you fall” at our own risk.