The Last Supper has concluded during which Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s coming denial were revealed. Jesus has offered some final words to the disciples (Luke 22:35-38). From there the scene shifts to the Garden of Gethsemane and the “Agony in the Garden.” Suddenly the forces of the religious leaders burse onto the scene.
The arrest of Jesus leads into three successive and connected scenes: Peter’s denial (vv. 54-62), the mocking of Jesus (vv. 63-65), and the trial before the religious authorities (vv. 66-71). What is interesting is that in the midst of the Passion narrative of Jesus, there is the scene in all four gospels that concentrate on Peter and his response. Luke’s account is unique in the following respects: sequence – in that the denials occur in the courtyard before the mocking and interrogation; structure – Luke does not connect the denial as a caused by the trial; and detail – such as the servant girl sitting at the fireside where there is light to clearly recognize Peter – and most vividly, it is Luke that reports Jesus looked Peter “dead in the eye,” bring the full gravitas of the denials to Peter.
Culpepper (p.439) notes that failure comes in many forms – but that we can never fail God without also failing ourselves. Conversely, in some sense when we fail ourselves we always fail God. The call to faith, as Peter learns, can at times call us to reverse our natural impulse to self-preservation, security, etc., and to stretch to a high calling of faithfulness and commitment to others. Failure can also be calculated as was Judas’ or can be spontaneous as was Peter’s. What is the difference in their failures? Where Judas contemplated his commitments and intentions, Peter did not. Even as faithful as Peter’s intention, the failure to reflect and contemplate upon those commitments and intention was a failure that eroded the very intention. In Luke’s hands, Peter’s failure becomes a lesson in discipleship.
54 After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. 56 When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with him.” 57 But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A short while later someone else saw him and said, “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” 59 About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, 61 and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 He went out and began to weep bitterly. 63 The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they reviled him in saying many other things against him. (Luke 22:45-65)
The scene shifts. Those arresting Jesus bring him to the house of the high priest (22:54-65). Here he will be interrogated and beaten throughout the night (22:63-65). These scenes are not unknown in our own day.
Peter had followed Jesus to the courtyard of the High Priest’s house and mingled with the crowd around a fire built to cheat the cold night air (22:54-62). But Peter’s attempt to merge with the crowd fails; a maid recognizes him in the light of the fire: “This man too was with him.” Peter vigorously denies that he even knows Jesus. But a little later the danger comes again as another person recognizes him, then “an hour later,” another who catches Peter’s Galilean accent. Each time Peter, the leader of the twelve, denies that he ever heard of Jesus.
In the Luke’s gospel, Peter’s denials are not intertwined with that of the trial. While the Markan intertwining has more of a dramatic effect, the impact of Peter’s actions are no less impacting: Peter’s assertions of loyalty at the Last Supper (22:33) and his cowardice or fear in the courtyard stand in stark contrast. Jesus’ prophecy is coming true. What is unique to Luke’s gospel is Jesus’ assurance that Peter would be reconciled and returned to heal his brothers (22:32).
The first readers of this gospel, Peter was known as the fearless leader and missionary of the Church. This scene must have been shocking especially given the unique elements. The scene is captured in that Peter and Jesus are within sight of each other: the warming fire and the knot of soldiers torturing Jesus are in the same courtyard. As the cock crows–the very signal that Jesus had foretold to Peter (22:34), Jesus turns and looks at his disciple. That gaze penetrates Peter’s heart; he remembers Jesus’ words, words warning of failure – and hopefully the promise of forgiveness – as he leaves the courtyard weeping in remorse.
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