Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
John 18:25-27
Introduction
Despite being told of his imminent betrayal, Peter still broke off from following the Lord and into the company of those who were there to kill Him. It feels almost illogical that Peter, knowing Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 16:16), would still break away from Him in this hour. That is especially the case given Jesus’ prophecy that Peter would deny Him three times before a rooster crows.
It is hard to imagine the continuity of all this. If you were told you would do something evil or terrible, wouldn’t you do whatever you could to prevent that from happening? What if you simply did not believe you would do the evil or terrible thing, though? What if your underlying assumption was one of singular perseverance? That might lead to recklessness of a certain kind.
The company you keep
The first Psalm praises the one whose life is marked by abstinence from a life joined with wicked people. The apostle Paul expounds on this in 1 Corinthians 15, quoting a Greek comedy of all things, stating, “bad company corrupts good morals.” This is a universally acknowledged truth that we conform ourselves to the expectations of those around us.
And here, Peter chooses to join with the officers and servants rather than with John and the Lord. Here, Peter conforms himself to their expectations. They asked him if he was “one of His disciples,” and he repeatedly denies it. The expectation is set among those he keeps company with to oppose Jesus, and so he does.
Have you ever found yourself pushed over the edge into a situation you otherwise would not enter due to the company you are with? Growing up, we often called this “peer pressure.” But this is not some new phenomenon. It is a very real thing in the human experience that goes back to the very beginning when Adam took the fruit from his wife. And it is powerful enough to drive us into something we know we absolutely should never do.
Prophecy and free will
But this all leads to a question: did Peter have a choice? Could he have defied Jesus’ prophecy and not denied Him? Would that even have properly honored the Lord, given His prediction concerning Peter’s fidelity?
This is the special role God’s providence plays in the unfolding of history. Each and every decision is something the Lord has preordained and it is something freely chosen by the people involved. Peter truly feared those around him and conformed his behavior to their expectations. And God truly ordained him to deny Christ three times before the rooster crowed.
For Peter, this denial was for the sake of saving face before a group of relative strangers. But for God, this denial was to emphasize the gracious and merciful sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Despite being betrayed, rejected, and denied by His closest of friends, He laid down His life for their sakes and for yours. By the power of the Spirit, Peter persevered and repented. So have you, all by God’s plan.
This mystery plays itself out repeatedly through scripture and history otherwise. All things are woven together by the will of the creator, and at the same time they are executed by free and willing beings. Peter was not coerced into denying His savior, nor was he made to repent. These were both executed by his free will, all under the providential and perfect plan of God to redeem His people and make them perfect for His purposes.
Your mistakes in life are not by mistake. Your failings are a testimony to God’s mercy and grace, and your repentance is to His glory and praise.
May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.
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