Peter's Denial(s)

Saturday, October 3, 2009, 11:25 AM

The episode of Peter's threefold denial needs to be examined in detail, before we can draw some conclusions.

First of all, in what it consists, (#) according to the Gospels (see Peter's Denial of Jesus, @ journal33.org), bearing in mind that John does not present them exactly in the same order, and other details, like the fire by which Peter was warming himself, or when and how many times "the rooster crowed" differ:

1. A denial when a female servant of the high priest spots Simon Peter, saying that he had been with Jesus. According to Mark (but not in all manuscripts), "the rooster crowed". Only Luke and John mention a fire by which Peter was warming himself among other people: according to Luke Peter was "sitting"; according to John, he was "standing". (Mat 26:69-70; Mar 14:66-68; Luk 22:54-57; Joh 18:15-18)

2. A denial when Simon Peter had gone out to the gateway, away from the firelight, but the same servant girl (Mark) or another servant girl (Matthew) or a man (Luke and also John, for whom, though, this is the third denial) told the bystanders he was a follower of Jesus. According to John, "the rooster crowed". (Mat 26:71-72; Mar 14:69-70; Luk 22:58; Joh 18:26-27)

3. A denial came when Peter's Galilean accent was taken as proof that he was indeed a disciple of Jesus. According to Matthew, Mark and Luke, "the rooster crowed". For John, though, this is the second denial, and he does not mention the Galilean accent. (Matt 26:73-75; Mar 14:70-72; Luke 22:59-62; John 18:25)

Second, can Peter's denials be put on a par with Judas' betrayal? No, for at least two reasons:

1. Peter's lies cannot be judged according to the commandment "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor", because this commandment is not simply about "saying a lie", but whether this lie damages the neighbor. Now, while Peter's repeated denials were certainly lies, they could no more damage Jesus, because the damage was already done by Judas' betrayal.

2. Peter, unlike Judas, who, by his suicide showed that he had lost all hope in Jesus' forgiveness, not only immediately repented and "wept bitterly", but, after the Resurrection, was explicitly forgiven by Jesus.

Third, it is fundamental that, in three critical episodes, of which the second and the third are connected with Peter's Denials, Jesus attributed to Peter a special, unique commission, that of shepherd of his entire "flock".

a. near the end of the "Galilean Ministry", when Peter confesses Jesus as "the Messiah, the Son of the Living God":

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:13-20)

b. During the last Supper, in the imminence of Jesus' Passion and Death:

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, [plural] that he might sift [you] like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you [singular] that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter [he] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus [he] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34)

c. On the last encounter of the Resurrected Jesus with his Apostles, by the Sea of Tiberias:

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:15-19)

There is no question that, in spite of Peter's many faults, Jesus wanted Simon Peter, whose Aramaic nickname was Kepha, rock, as the "rock" upon which he would build his Church; as the one, who better than any others, because he was aware of his weaknesses, would "strengthen the brothers" in their moments of weakness; as the one who, with his firm hand, would "feed his sheep".

NOTE
(#) Here are the links to the accounts of Peters Denials in the four Gospels:
Matthew 26:69-75
Mark 14:66-72
Luke 22:54-62
John 18:15-18, 25-27

As can be seen, unlike all the synoptics, which provide a seamless occount of the threefold denial, in John's Gospel, between the two accounts of Peter's Denials (Peter Denies Jesus, Peter Denies Jesus Again), we find The High Priest Questions Jesus (John 18:19-24)