To Peter, Who Denied Jesus Three Times,

The Lord Entrusted an Even Greater Mission

“They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law came together. Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire” (Mark 14:53–54).

I wish to meditate on this passage and receive grace from the Lord:

(1) In John 18:12, the group referred to as "they" consists of “the detachment of soldiers with their commander and the Jewish officials.” And the "high priest" to whom they “bound and led” Jesus (v.12) is “Annas,” who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year (John 18:13).

(a) Caiaphas, mentioned here, was the high priest when Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26:57). He was the one who had advised the Jews that “it would be good if one man died for the people” (John 18:14).

(b) According to Mark 14:53, “all the chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law” had already gathered at the high priest’s house. This reveals that the high priest was the central figure behind Jesus’s arrest.
(Commentary from Hokma: “Annas was deposed as high priest by Valerius Gratus in A.D. 15. However, Jews still revered him as high priest, viewing the role as a lifetime office. Though Caiaphas officially held the position, Annas retained significant influence, especially through his family ties and authority as honorary high priest. He played a decisive role in the conspiracy that led to Jesus’s crucifixion.”)

(2) Mark records, “Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire” (Mark 14:54).

Matthew adds that Peter followed “to see how it would all end” (Matthew 26:58).
Luke writes, “Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them” (Luke 22:54b–55).
John explains, “Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in” (John 18:15–16).

(a) According to John 18:15–16, another disciple followed Jesus along with Peter. This disciple was familiar with the high priest and had no trouble passing the gate. He even spoke to the servant girl and helped Peter enter the courtyard.

(b) Why did Peter follow Jesus at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard?
It’s unlikely he intended to rescue Jesus or seek revenge, as he had drawn his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant Malchus in John 18:10. Rescuing Jesus alone would have been impossible.
More likely, he followed out of concern, worried about what would happen to his Master.

(i) Still, there may have been a divine purpose in Peter’s presence, as part of fulfilling Jesus’s words: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times” (John 13:38).
Peter didn’t even try to go inside (John 18:16), possibly because he loved Jesus but feared being recognized as His disciple, which could endanger him.
Moreover, Malchus—the servant whose ear Peter had cut—may have been there. Entering could have been risky (Hokma).

(3) Mark writes that Peter sat with the servants and warmed himself by the fire (Mark 14:54).

John adds, “It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself” (John 18:18).

(a) Luke 22:56–57 says, “A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with Him.’ But Peter denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know Him,’ he said.”
[In Mark 14:68: “But Peter denied it. ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed.”]
This servant girl was the same doorkeeper mentioned in John 18:17.
This marks Peter’s first denial, beginning the fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times” (John 13:38).

(b) Luke 22:58 continues, “A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’ ‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied.”
Matthew 26:71–72 records that another servant girl saw him and said, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But Peter denied it again, this time with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
This was Peter’s second denial.

(c) Matthew 26:73–74 describes Peter’s third denial:
“After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.’ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man!’ Immediately a rooster crowed.”
Mark 14:70–71 also records: “Again, he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’ He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’ Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.”

(i) An especially touching part appears in Luke 22:60–62:
“Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
What deeply moves me is this: “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter…”

• I often imagine this scene. Peter, who had followed Jesus from a distance, denies Him three times just as Jesus foretold. Then the Lord turns and looks at Peter, and their eyes meet.
  If that truly happened, I imagine Peter couldn’t bear the weight of Jesus’s gaze and had to look away.
  This is the same Peter who had boldly declared: “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will” (Mark 14:29).
  But Jesus had replied, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will disown Me three times” (vv. 30–31). And Peter had insisted, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You!”

(d) When I meditate on John 18:18, where Peter stood with the servants warming himself, I can’t help but think of the “charcoal fire” in John 21:9, where the risen Jesus had prepared fish and bread.
There, Jesus asked Peter three times: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” (vv. 15–17)—once for each denial.

• After this threefold restoration, Jesus gave Peter a greater mission:

  • “Feed My lambs” (v.15)

  • “Take care of My sheep” (v.16)

  • “Feed My sheep” (v.17)

(i) In the end, Jesus gave Peter—who had denied Him three times—a greater mission after asking him three times if he loved Him.
And on the day of Pentecost, the Lord filled Peter with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), enabling him to fulfill this mission.
[Note: “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:3).]