When Peter Finally Saw Himself Clearly, He Wept
Daily Scripture
Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75
FYI–
The Final Week series has focused on how Matthew’s gospel told the events of the final week. As we turn to Holy (or Maundy) Thursday, however, John and to a lesser extent Luke added such important material to our understanding of that day that we cannot totally omit them from the GPS readings.
31 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Tonight you will all fall away because of me. This is because it is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will go off in all directions. [Zechariah 13:7] 32 But after I’m raised up, I’ll go before you to Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “I assure you that, before the rooster crows tonight, you will deny me three times.”
35 Peter said, “Even if I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” All the disciples said the same thing.
69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant woman came and said to him, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 But he denied it in front of all of them, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
71 When he went over to the gate, another woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”
72 With a solemn pledge, he denied it again, saying, “I don’t know the man.”
73 A short time later those standing there came and said to Peter, “You must be one of them. The way you talk gives you away.”
74 Then he cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment the rooster crowed. 75 Peter remembered Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Jesus warned all of his disciples they would “fall away” from him. Peter responded with quite a show of bravado, basically distancing himself from the other disciples. Luke offered a clue as to why Peter tried to boost his own standing (Luke 22:24). Yet all four gospels tell the story of Peter denying Jesus. Pastor Hamilton wrote, “Why did all four Gospel writers feel comfortable telling the story? I believe it was because Peter had told it again and again across the Roman Empire.” *
- Peter brashly said, “Even if I must die… I won’t deny you.” The rooster’s crow focused him on Jesus’ warning, he saw how little he knew about himself, and “went out and cried uncontrollably.” After that failure, how did Peter avoid getting stuck in harmful guilt, shame and self-hatred, and find the healing, cleansing power of God-given sorrow over his failure (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10)? We all need that. How can you live out the difference between those two types of sorrow when you fail?
- John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, encouraged people to regularly ask (and answer) a set of self-examination questions. The very first one was, “Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am?” How do you see that at work in the responses of Jesus’ disciples, especially Peter? When do you find the same tug at work in your own life?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you know me better than I know myself. Guide me today and every day, shaping and nudging me to become more fully the person you call me to be. Amen.
GPS Insights
Adam Hamilton
Adam Hamilton, of course, serves as Senior Pastor of Resurrection, A United Methodist Church. For today's Insights blog, we are pleased to share chapter 19 from his book Journey to the Cross: Reflecting on 24 Hours That Changed the World (pp. 69-71). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
As Jesus went on trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter stood in the courtyard of the high priest. He was surrounded by people who were willing to testify against Jesus in the trial and who had aided in his arrest. Three times Peter was confronted and asked whether he was a follower of Jesus. Three times he denied it.
Have you ever faced a moment when you were afraid to be identified as a follower of Jesus? It is likely, if you have, that the stakes were much lower for you than they were for Peter. Perhaps you were unwilling to say your mealtime blessing because you were eating with others whom you feared might think less of you. Perhaps you joined in a conversation or activity in order to fit in rather than standing up and being counted as a Christ-follower. In a split second you, like Peter, may have decided to hide your identity as a Christian.
There are at least three things to note in the story of Peter’s denial: First, Peter could have left the courtyard after the servant girl accused him of being a follower of Jesus. While it is true that he denied Jesus, he did not leave the courtyard. Why? Because he still loved Jesus. Second, we should note the way Peter’s denial affected him: He was deeply grieved by what he had done, and he wept bitterly. Third, this story is told in all four Gospels despite the fact that it would have been deeply embarrassing to Peter, the prince of the apostles. Why did all four Gospel writers feel comfortable telling the story? I believe it was because Peter had told it again and again across the Roman Empire. Telling the story could have been his way of saying, “I denied knowing the Lord, but after his resurrection he took me back and restored me; and by his grace I am what I am today!”
This is a story of fear and denial. But it is also a story of grace and restoration. If the Lord could restore Peter, surely he can do it for us, despite the many ways we have denied him by our words and actions.
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Adam Hamilton, 24 Hours That Changed the World: 40 Days of Reflection. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2009, p. 87.
