why did peter denied Jesus? this article gives you the detailed reason why peter denies Jesus in the bible.
In the Bible Peter denied Jesus was the moment where the word he had given to his disciple was fulfilled: “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times”, doing it out of fear that he would have before everything that lived for him.
Through this fact that the Bible reflects in the four gospels, it is shown how Peter denies Jesus because of his human weakness, and could not sustain the promise made to Jesus.
Peter denied Jesus
In the Bible, you can get a variety of moments where man shows his weakness.
And it shows the weakness that Peter had at the moment where Jesus was judged, for after that great failure he became one of the apostles most used by God.
It is because this is the text below where Peter denies Jesus:
(Mark 14:66-72)
“While Peter was downstairs in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servants came; and when she saw Peter who was getting hot, looking at him, he said: You were also with Jesus the Nazarene. But he denied saying: I do not know him, nor do I know what you say. And she went out to the entrance, and he crowed the rooster. And the maid, seeing him again, began to say to those who were there: This is theirs. But he denied it again. And soon after, those who were there said again to Peter: Truly you are one of them; because you are Galilean, and your way of speaking is similar to theirs. Then he began to curse, and to swear: I do not know this man of whom you speak.
And the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him:
Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times. And thinking about it, he wept”
Peter got a close look at Jesus as he was condemned
At the time the mob appears in the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, Peter was there and acted violently.
At that moment Peter unsheathed his sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers, to which Jesus healed the soldier’s ear so that God’s plan would be executed.
After this Peter followed the mob to that place where they took Jesus to be tried and tortured.
At that time he failed to comply with what Jesus said, since he ordered his disciples not to be close to him, something that Peter did not do.
“Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus replied: Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow me later. Peter said to him: Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Jesus replied: Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I tell you, the rooster will not crow unless you have denied me three times” (John 13:36-37).
Peter Disobeyed
It is for this reason that Peter should not be in that courtyard where the high priest was playing Jesus.
Peter was disobeying an order given by the Lord, who understood that it would be a very difficult situation for all his disciples.
Jesus gave that order because they would not be prepared to act in the correct way in this moment that he would live.
Thus, by not obeying the Lord’s order, Peter put his life in danger, since this situation would lead him to deny his relationship with the Lord.
Peter was afraid
Peter was seen and discovered by the people who were in that place, who would affirm the relationship between Jesus and him.
That is why Peter was hiding in the middle of the group of people who hated and tortured Jesus.
These situations produced in him a great fear, bringing with it that his humanity would manifest itself, to the point of denying any kind of relationship with Jesus.
Likewise, Peter denies Jesus so as not to be judged by the people around him and thus not be caught.
Peter’s resemblance to Jesus was inescapable, for he had adopted many of the things that set Jesus apart from the rest of the people.
When Peter denied Jesus
When Peter denies Jesus, the word of God is fulfilled, which speaks about the attitude that believers in Jesus should have.
It refers to believers being those lights or lights that illuminate in the midst of darkness.
Therefore it was evident that Peter was a disciple of Jesus, because of his appearance which distilled the presence of God.
be the light
“You are world’s light; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do you light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16).
Peter is recognized as a disciple of Jesus
It can be thought that when Peter was in that place to see the process that Jesus was going through, he never thought that he could be recognized by a woman in that place.
That is why, realizing that he was one of his disciples, he followed him throughout the courtyard of the high priest, to tell all the people who were in that place.
“And the maid, seeing him again, began to say to those who were there: This is theirs” (Mark 14:69)
A woman accuses Peter
When that woman realizes that Peter was one of his disciples, he gets scared, and in the face of all the accusations that came from all sides, fear reached his heart.
In this way, he had to break that pact of loyalty that he had made with Jesus, to the point of denying it in front of everyone.
It must have been a very hard moment for Peter to accept in front of Jesus’ detractors that he was not a follower of that holy man who was being tortured.
Peter did not want to be condemned
If Peter told the truth, it implied paying a high price, which would be death, a situation that demonstrates human weakness.
Similarly, this situation showed how weak Peter was, as he was not the self-sufficient person as he would believe.
This shows what happens to people who are inclined to feel stronger than others because no one should consider themselves free from the danger of falling.
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands to take heed lest he falls” (1 Cor. 10:12)
Why did Peter deny Jesus?
There are several reasons that led Peter to break fidelity to Jesus and thereby deny Jesus.
And they were the following situations:
1. Peter disobeys
When Peter disobeyed Jesus, he showed excessive confidence in the situations that Jesus himself was avoiding him.
“Then Peter said to him: Even if everyone is scandalized, I am not. And Jesus said to him:
Truly I tell you that you, today, tonight before the rooster has crowed twice, you will deny me three times.
But he with greater insistence said: If it were necessary for me to die with you, I will not deny you. They also all said the same thing” (Mark 14:29-31)
2. Peter did not pray
When Jesus went to pray with the disciples before his arrest, they did not have enough strength to say a prayer before God.
They fell asleep because of what Jesus taught them to be vigilant in prayer so as not to be tempted, and they couldn’t do that.
“Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38).
3. Peter acted incorrectly
When Jesus was arrested, Peter acted incorrectly, as he attacked the soldier with his sword.
That showed his carnality, leaving aside the spiritual because he was avoiding the sacrifice of Jesus that would bring true salvation to the world.
“But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (Mark 14:47).
4. Peter was not in fellowship
When a person is not in communion with God and is separated from the source that feeds him, which is the Heavenly Word, he will not be able to act correctly in the circumstances that arise.
“Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
Peter’s repentance after denying Jesus
When Peter realized that the rooster crowed and he, again, denied Jesus, he remembered the words given by the Lord before that moment occurred.
Precisely at that moment when Peter did so, his eyes met Jesus, who was being taken to Pilate’s court, a situation that broke his heart.
“Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord,
who had said to him, Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times” (Luke 22:61).
Peter’s heart is broken
When Peter realizes that he had failed Jesus, and then seeing him go to Pilate’s court made his heart shudder.
Peter was broken in his arrogance as a man, producing a substantial change in his life.
“And Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62)
heart regret
These tears running from Peter’s eyes were evidence of genuine repentance.
Peter repented from the heart for having sinned before the Lord to such an extent that he felt great shame.
For this reason, he ran away from that place and lived a process where his life was restored until he took him to the great ministry that he would have
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Peter felt unworthy before the risen Jesus
After this event, Jesus was resurrected and appeared several times to Peter on his way.
However, Peter felt discouraged and did not feel worthy to deserve the kingdom of heaven, so he decided to return to his old profession as a fisherman.
Simon Peter said to them: I am going to fish. They told him: Let’s go with you too. Were, and they got into a boat, and that night they caught nothing” (John 21:3).
Peter is humble
In this process that Peter experienced, you can see that his life changed since he did not dare to make any more promises to Jesus.
In such a way she wouldn’t even have any kind of argument to prove her love for him.
Peter was aware of his limitations and knew that all his dependence was on the Lord, achieving a true restoration of his life.
“When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter: Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?
He replied: Yes, Lord; You know that I love you. He said to him: Feed my lambs. He told her the second time:
Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? Peter replied: Yes, Lord; You know that I love you. He said to him: Shepherd my sheep.
He said to him the third time: Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? Peter was sad that I told him the third time:
Do you love me? and she answered him: Lord, you know everything; You know that I love you. Jesus said to him: Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).
Peter had genuine repentance
This event is evidence of what is a true repentance before the Lord, since Jesus himself had forgiven him and placed him, again, in his work.
This demonstrates the love and grace of the Lord, who came to restore and strengthen all those who approach Him in repentance.
Finally, it can be said that Peter denied Jesus fulfilling part of his divine purpose.
And it was shown that the true follower of the Lord is the one who sins, but repents and seeks help from Jesus.
He is the one who will raise him up and restore him completely, to fulfill the purpose for which he is on earth, in the same way, that he did with Peter.
