God Can Help Us Be Faithful (Mark 14:66-72)

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway, and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:66-72

Peter's Three Denials

This second movement of the events of the cross takes us back to Peter. Jesus had shown Peter a prophecy from Zechariah that indicated Peter would scatter from him that very night (14:27). Peter didn't like it and told Jesus he would die before denying him. But Jesus told him he'd deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice (14:30). This episode shows us the fulfillment of that prediction. First, Peter denied he knew Jesus when a servant girl accused him of being on Jesus' team (66-68). Second, Peter again denied that he knew Jesus when that same girl told bystanders that Peter was one of the disciples (69-70). Third, when those bystanders said Peter had to have been a Jesus-follower because he was Galilean, Peter put a curse on himself if he was a follower of Jesus. He swore he did not know him: "I do not know this man of whom you speak" (70-71).

Peter's Sorrow

When the rooster crowed a second time, Peter remembered what Jesus had said (72). Another gospel tells us that Jesus looked out at Peter in the courtyard (Luke 22:61). Peter couldn't take it. He broke down and wept.

Obstacle: Security

On that night, Peter did something shameful, something he never thought himself capable of doing. But, like most of us, he came face to face with his failure and limitations that night. What made Peter act this way? There were many factors and temptations, but at its core, Peter's sin was connected to the worship of security. On that night, with danger looming, it was unsafe for him to confess his allegiance to Jesus, so he denied knowing him. This is the same temptation we experience today. We know standing with Jesus will get us the ire of many. And sometimes, we fear the lack of security and safety that might come with being on Team Jesus. Some have even gone so far as to rewrite or downplay the Bible Jesus endorsed in an attempt to become more acceptable to the onlooking crowd. But the original readers would have seen in Peter a story of redemption. He was, after all, the source material for Mark's gospel, and he became a force in the early church. He boldly preached to crowds, wrote Holy Scripture, and died a martyr's death. And many in the church Mark wrote for were struggling through persecution and pressured to deny Christ. Because of this, the early church would have read in Mark's account an encouragement that God can help us be faithful. And we can learn the same: God can help us live faithfully to Christ.

Three Sets of Three

Now, this fiasco in Peter's life came in three sets of three. First, three times in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter fell asleep when he should have been praying. Then, Peter denied Jesus three times. And finally, after the resurrection, on the beach of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Peter told him he did, and each time, Jesus told Peter to take care of God's flock (John 21:15-19). It was a threefold way for Jesus to restore Peter, the man who had denied him three times.

Christ Makes a Way of Return if We Fail

This is the way of Christ. He makes a way for his fallen and broken people to return to him. He worked hard to restore Peter. He even directed the angel at the empty tomb to tell the women to ask Peter to meet him in Galilee (Mark 16:7). He singled Peter out for restoration. And remember, a major part of Peter's restoration was the gift of the Holy Spirit. Under the Spirit's guidance, he became a changed man. Now humble, but with the power of God in his body, Peter was able to stand for Jesus for the rest of his life. He did not deny Jesus all his days. Perhaps Peter's testimony resonates with you today. Is it restoration you need? Jesus wants to bring you back. Repent. Confess. Mourn. And let him draw you home. Is it power you need? Stop trying to get the job done without the Spirit's help. Our energy alone cannot produce the righteousness of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Matthew 12:20 (ESV) — 20 ...a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench…

This is Jesus. He does not want to break or snuff out the weak believer who is struggling along. Instead, he wants to restore you and empower you. Turn to him, daily, for his new grace and mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). God can help you be faithful.