Peter’s Denial

Sermon on Matthew 26:31-35; 26:69-75

Introduction
Our passage today is a continuation of the event that took place during the Last Supper. After identifying Judas as the one who would betray him, Jesus went on to institute the breaking of bread and drinking of wine as the new sacrament which symbolizes the New Passover for Christians. Today, we continue to practice this sacrament, commonly known as Holy Communion. Following which, Jesus predicted also that Peter would deny and disown him three times before the rooster crows (“before the roaster crows twice" in Mark's account). This prediction has been recorded in all four canonical gospels (Matt 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:33-34 and John 13:36-38). Besides predicting about Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial, Jesus also predicted that all of his twelve disciples “will fall away because of [Jesus] this night.” What does “falling away” mean?

“You will all fall away because of me this night” (v. 31a)
To “fall away” is to lack the courage to acknowledge Jesus in times of persecution. Jesus predicted that all his disciples will “fall away” when they are questioned about their relationship with him. Their loyalty to the Master will be put to great test. All of them will fail this test of courage and loyalty. However, this does not mean that they will cease to be Jesus’ disciples even after they have failed the test of courage. To “fall away” is not the same as “giving up your faith” or “disbelieving in Jesus”. It is simply the lack of courage to stand firm in their belief about who Jesus is during times of persecution. Their failure was also prophesized by Zechariah (Zech. 12:10; cf. Matt 24:30 and Zech. 11) which we will discuss next.

‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (v. 31b)
Here, “for it is written” refers to a quotation from Zech. 13:7b,

Zech. 13:7 - The Shepherd Struck
7"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who stands next to me,"
declares the LORD of hosts.
"Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
I will turn my hand against the little ones.

Note that it is the LORD of hosts who gives the command to strike the shepherd. Prophet Zechariah wrote the book after the Fall of Jerusalem in 586/7 BCE. During this period, the Jews were in Exile and many were taken to Babylon where the prophets have instructed them to build their homes, suggesting that their return will not be soon. The book of Zechariah is not a historical book but rather a theological and a pastoral one. It was written to give hope for the Jews in Exile to remind them that God is at work even though their present circumstance seems to be in dire straits. If there is something the Jews believe strongly in is their belief that nothing happens without Yahweh’s approval and control.

The shepherd is identified as Yahweh’s companion, who is side by side with him as his equal. The scattering of the sheep in Zechariah’s context speaks of the dispersion of Jews. In our passage today, it refers to the scattering of Jesus’ disciples. Here, Jesus identifies himself as “the shepherd” in Zech. 13:7. He is the shepherd that will be struck by Yahweh. In the present context, “to be struck” refers to Jesus’ death on the cross. His sheep, his disciples, will be scattered because of Jesus’ crucifixion. This verse actually conveys an important theological truth. This quotation demonstrates that even when God’s actions are carried out by others (“O sword”), they are a result of his sovereign activity. Simply put, God is in control, despite of all the terrible things that are now happening. Satan has no absolute power over us, over the affairs of this world, over Jesus and his falling disciples, if God did not allow it.

From the surface, it seems as if Jesus’ ministry is taking a turn for the worst. The leader will soon be put to death on the cross. One of his disciples will soon betray him for thirty pieces of silver (Matt 26:24, cf. Zech 11:12). Another will soon deny him three times before the rooster crows. All his followers will soon be scattered. From the outside, Jesus was a failure. His ministry was a failure. All three years seem like a waste of time. It seems like the dark side has won. From the surface interpretation of the verse in Zechariah, it seems odd for Yahweh to strike his very own shepherd, not to mention that God will turn his hand against the little ones. I hear someone shouting, “child abuse”, “animal cruelty”, “violation of the shepherd’s act”!

I would like to encourage you to think deeper and to challenge our theological process. Even though, historically, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, and Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate, theologically speaking, God is ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus. “[God] gave His one and only Son…” [pause] But Jesus is not a puppet of God; he also willingly allows himself to be crucified on the cross for our sake. One commentator puts it rather succinctly, “To say that God strikes the shepherd is to affirm that the death of Jesus is paradoxically the divine will.” It is God’s will for Jesus to die for our sins. That is His salvation plan for the world. God is in charge. If the story had end here, it would seem like God is a cruel and heartless God. But there is part two to God’s salvation plan. After Judas’ betrayal, after Peter’s denial, after Jesus’ death on the cross, there is resurrection . There will be victory over death. Death is not the end, but only the beginning.

“But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” (v. 32)
Here Jesus reveals to his disciples that their scattering and falling away will not be their epilogue. There is much more to come. Jesus encourages them that even though his death is imminent, it will only be temporary. Jesus will be raised up by God, given a new life, in a new and glorious resurrected body. The shepherd will be raised up by the same God who had struck him down. Like a shepherd before his sheep, Jesus will lead his followers to Galilee. Galilee is the place where the Great Commission was given to the remaining eleven disciples (Matt. 28:16-20, cf. Matt. 28:7 )

Matt. 28:16–20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Just as the shepherd is restored, Jesus gives the promise to the other disciples that they will also be restored in fellowship with him. They will soon become the courageous foundation of the church, for their strengthening comes through failure. There will be a revival and re-building of Jesus’ ministry through the church. Peter, together with the other disciples, will be the leader entrusted by Jesus to build the new body of Christ on earth - the church.

Prediction about Peter’s denial (vv. 33-35)
Peter has been described as the most “human” of all the biblical characters. It is precisely his humanness which helps us identify most closely with him. Here, he was portrayed as the bravest and the proudest of Jesus’ disciples. 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” I will never fall away. Are these words of confidence or pure ignorance? We could imagine Jesus saying to Peter, “Dude, you have no idea what you are talking about; you are going to deny me three times before the day breaks!” The crow of the rooster signifies the arrival of the new day. Even that is not enough to set Peter-the-brave aback. With greater confidence, or the lack of it, he proudly proclaim, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same (v. 35). Such an awesome display of loyalty! Imagine the group dynamics! What could go wrong?

Peter has frequently been singled out as the “fall guy” but the rest of the disciples were equally guilty of making such big claims. Peter was merely speaking out loud what the rest was thinking silently in their minds. Maybe it was peer pressure. Maybe they could not really comprehend what they are coming up against. Even though all the disciples made the same remarks, only Peter’s failure was highlighted at the end of this chapter. [pause] Are we not the same? So very often, we hear Christians around the world proclaiming that “Jesus is our Lord”, but yet, deny him in our lifestyle. By the same lips we sing praises to God, we also use them to gossip and say hateful things about each other. It’s so easy to say we love Jesus, but find it difficult to love the person next to us. Would you not have made the same claims as Peter and the rest? [pause] “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!”

Peter’s denial (vv. 65-79)
We now jump to vv. 65-79, where details of Peter’s denial were described at length by Matthew. This event took place after Jesus’ arrest and trial before Caiaphas and the Council. Peter was sitting outside the courtyard, probably still trying to understand what has just happened with Jesus. All within a day, the band of brothers were scattered, everyone was afraid. They feared for their own lives. If Jesus, their teacher, performer of miracles, savior of the world, could not save himself from his arrest, what is going to happen to his followers? Nothing makes sense.

There is only fear and confusion among the disciples. Then suddenly, a servant girl came and said that Peter was in the same gang with Jesus the Galilean. After Peter denied it once, and while he was trying to escape from the entrance, another servant girl came and said the same about Peter, this time identifying Jesus as the man of Nazareth. Again, Peter denied his relationship with the Master. This second time came with an oath! The third time, a group of bystanders accused him again and this time, Peter invoked a curse on himself, and swore, “I do not know this man!” Like a dramatic climax in a movie, the scene cuts to total silence and immediately, the rooster crows. All of a sudden, flashback scenes of the earlier conversations Peter had with Jesus, describing to an uncanny detail of what had just happened. Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crows. Exactly what Jesus had predicted earlier.

Can you feel the pain which Peter is experiencing at this very moment? The regret… the guilt…and, the shame. Matthew only tells us that “he went out and wept bitterly.” But that is more than enough for us to picture what might be going on in Peter’s mind. Jesus is who He says He is. He is the Messiah. He is the Chosen One. He is the Prophet of All Ages. He is the High Priest. He is the Prince of Peace. He is the Servant-King. He came to save the world, not through power and might, but by humility and death on the cross. “Peter, Peter, who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15) It all makes sense now.

There are only two ways to go from here. Judas chose suicide. Matt. 27: 5 tells us, “And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, [Judas Iscariot] departed, and he went and hanged himself.” Peter chose life, a renewed life in Christ. It is not hard for us to imagine that in his bitter cry that day, he would have prayed, “Jesus, my Lord, please forgive me.” Never in the rest of the Bible was Peter’s denial ever mentioned again. Peter was an extremely important figure within the early church community. The book of Acts tells us that Peter gave an open-air sermon during the Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40).

Acts 2:14, 22-24
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words…
22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it….”

The post-denial Peter became a man of courage. Peter was transformed from his failure. Peter’s denial has often been linked to Peter’s three proclamation of love in John 21:15-19. Peter was regarded by the Roman Catholic Church to be its first Pope, the rock by which Jesus builds his church on (Matt 16:18). The second part of Peter’s life was a total transformation. A far cry from the Peter we see in our passage today. This is precisely what makes Peter the most “human” of all biblical characters. He makes the most blaring and embarrassing, self-contradicting proclamations, but in the face of reality and truth, he becomes a changed man. Let’s turn the microscope back on ourselves.

Contemporary Significance and Conclusion
Have we also denied Christ in our lives? Do we “fall away” like the disciples in the past? Maybe if I use another term, it might be easier for us to understand. I think an appropriate modern term we can use to describe “falling away” could be “back-sliding”. In the biblical context, when the disciples fall away, they failed in their courage to stand up for who they are as Christ’s disciples. They failed to acknowledge Christ as Master.

In our modern context, when we “back-slide” in our faith, we are like the disciples who “fell away”. Maybe, we no longer comes to church for whatever reason. Even though, we may have been actively serving in church during our younger days; leading worship, playing an instrument in the worship team, going on mission trips, leading cell groups, attending prayer meetings, etc., yet, now, we feel uncomfortable when friends ask us if we are Christians. Sometimes, we say we are, sometimes, we say we are not. We also deny Christ, like Peter, only in a different way.

I hope that we can be encouraged by Peter’s denial and reformation today. The choice is yours. You could take the road that leads to self-destruction, like Judas, or take the other road to true transformation. Make that choice today.

Let us pray.

1 Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (777). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
2 Four times Jesus predicted his arrest and crucifixion (Matt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; 26:2). In the first three he also predicted his resurrection, while in the fourth, resurrection is only mentioned much later in v. 32.
3 Matt 28:7 “Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
4 The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 28:16–20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.