I know not this man of whom ye speak

Peter denied the Lord Jesus in ‘the palace of the high priest’, v. 54. Several factors contributed to his denial. He was physically and emotionally exhausted. The fatigue felt by the disciples was seen in Gethsemane when they repeatedly fell asleep. Peter had also been overly confident in his devotion to the Lord, vehemently declaring, ‘If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise’, v. 31. Such boasting is extremely dangerous, because ‘pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall’, Prov. 16. 18. Although Peter had swung out with his sword ‘and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear’, Mark 14. 47, he did not stay, but fled, and then followed ‘afar off’, v. 54. If Christians, who are expected to ‘follow [Christ’s] steps’, 1Pet. 2. 21,follow Him at a great distance they also will be left vulnerable to attack. Staying close to Christ ensures that Christians are safe. Peter’s distance also caused him to company with the ungodly, for ‘he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire’, Mark 14. 54. When Christians settle down with unbelievers they too are in grave danger. Better it is to live a separate life; truly, ‘Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful’, Ps. 1. 1. Satan also played a part in Peter’s denial, Luke 22. 31.

At Peter’s third denial ‘the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter’, Luke 22. 61. That look reminded Peter of Christ’s words and caused him to weep bitterly, Mark 14. 72. The look also showed that Peter’s denial augmented Christ’s suffering in the palace of the high priest. It was here that the Lord Jesus was thoroughly outnumbered by Israel’s leaders, v. 53. Alone, far from the heat of the fire, He would have felt the night cold. Many lied about Him, v. 56. Frustrated by the Lord’s dignified silence the high priest compelled Him to answer the question ‘Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed’, v. 61; see Matt. 26. 63. The law of Moses required that He answer, Lev. 5. 1, and this He did. Using the words of Daniel’s prophecy He confirmed that in the future He will return in the clouds of heaven with unlimited power, Mark 14. 62.