1 Fulfilling the prerequisites of being a dedicated committed disciple of YESHUA not denying him in the face of danger and death
1.1 A0 Arrogant confidence in own ability, not knowing the power and intelligence of the enemy
Mt 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me, this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. .
Mt 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. .
Mr 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me, this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. .
Mr 14:29 But Peter said unto him, Although, all shall be offended, yet will not I. .
Lu 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: .
Lu 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. .
Lu 22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. .
Joh 13:37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot, I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake., .
1.2 A000 The prophesy
Mt 26:34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That, this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. .
Mr 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. .
Lu 22:34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. .
Joh 13:38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake?, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till, thou hast denied me thrice. .
1.3 A001 The damsel
Mt 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. .
Mr 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: .
Mr 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. .
Lu 22:56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. .
Joh 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. .
1.4 A002 Denial 1
Mt 26:70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. .
Mr 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. .
Lu 22:57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. .
Joh 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. .
1.5 A003 Challence 2
Mt 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. .
Mr 14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. .
Lu 22:58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. .
Joh 18:18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood, with them, and warmed himself..
Joh 18:25 And Simon Peter stood, and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. .
1.6 A004 Denial 2
Mt 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. .
Mr 14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto..
Lu 22:58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. .
Joh 18:25 And Simon Peter stood, and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. .
1.7 A005 Challenge 3
Mt 26:73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth, thee. .
Mr 14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto..
Lu 22:59 And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth, this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. .
Joh 18:26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? .
1.8 A006 Denial 3
Mt 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. .
Mr 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. .
Mr 14:71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. .
Lu 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. .
Joh 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. .
1.9 A007 The cock
Mt 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. .
Mr 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. .
Lu 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. .
Lu 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. .
Joh 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. .
1.10 A008 The bitter tears
Mt 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. .
Mr 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. .
Lu 22:62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. .
Peter,with his foot-in-the-mouth malady, are much like many of us. Looking at a moving scene in a film, an incredible landscape, listening to a moving sermon, reading a passge in scripture that really speaks to us deep within, may motivate us make claims of eternal dedication.
To be broken minutes later when and dversity suddenly opposes us in our merry way. A madman driver of a taxi, a breakdown, roadrage, an insult, pride, lust, any temptation or test - any of thousands of different things that operate within and without us that has some form of unwanted control inside and influence from outside.
The eyes of YESHUA must have been, as we would describe, strong lasers that searched deep and exposed undeniably to all, Peter's failure, his fears and survival instinct that overrode his love and respect for his Master. First the lowest slave, then another servant and then one of the soldiers, all of them were witnesses of his overwhelming disloyalty and cowardice.
Are we true to the Master and His commands? Or are we suddenly flying into rage or giving in to that overwhelming impuls that denies His mastery and control over our lives.
Looking back, I could immediately recognise several times, even long periods, in my life where I denied YESHUA His rightful position. The shame and hurt and remorse to realise that He had to take this mess on Him and suffer indescribable pain suffering and horrorifc loneliness on the cross only to allow me to walk free. this simple record was like a book on our psyche that was suddenly opened and exposing the horrific twistedness of our fallenness.
All the while YHWH, YESHUA and the satan know this. That is why he asked the discipels to be sifted. How many times did I fell through?
Then in contrast YHWH's compassion, like a womb - as described in the OT, wants us to turn. As with Peter, when we fall, and get up, we need not to look down on others that fell, but to come under them and strengthen them and encourage them return to the ONE that can forgive and save them.