Peter's moment of truth

koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

23 July 2010

I have heard many sermons about this incident in my lifetime. It is a drama in a drama. Mark tells us how Jesus was brought to the highpriest (14:53). The court-scene to follow and the lying testimonies one after the other, the beating of Jesus and the mocking is part of one event. Another drama was also unfolding. On the one side we have a winding down of the final stages of the life of Christ by accusers, and within meters away of all this, Peter sat down below in the courtyard at the fire to warm himself. From that angle he could see well, hear well. Peter lived a double life all his life. He said to Christ "I will never forsake you" he lied. He said that he can walk on the water. He couldn't. He said Christ know that he loved Him. He lied. And this night, in the court, for the first time in Peter's life, he was telling the truth.

"I do not know this Man Whom you are talking about".

"I do not know this Man".

Peter is right. He may have been wrong always, but at this point in his life, he was telling the truth. He did not know Christ. He did not know Him.

It is here that Peter for the first time in his life learned what it means when truth hurts. For this truth, that he does not know Christ after attending His theological training school for three and a half years, actually meant that he could not graduate. He had an F. And this truth he confirmed three times before the cock could crow two times.

A young girl working for the High Priest came down to Peter and said that he was one of those who were with Christ. Peter denied it. The girl came a second time and told the bystanders that Peter was one of those with Christ. Peter denied. A third time the bystanders now told Peter that he is a Galilean and was one of Christ's disciples.

"I do not know this Man Whom you are talking about".

You look at me? I do not know Him. Period.

When the words left Peter's mouth the third time, he remembered the words of Christ telling him that he is going to forsake and deny Christ three times.

The crowing cock was the alarm clock, saying: Time up. You did it. You did what you promised to never do. You compromised by exchanging Christ for you own safety.

In the Focus of Andrews University for the month of July 2010 there is a pastor who preached that one should never compromise for the sake of one's dreams. For your desire to achieve something or attain something, never compromise your Sabbath hours, your biblical lifestyle, your faith, your convictions. Stand like Daniel, not like Peter. Stand like Daniel's friends.

Mark brings us the added result: truth can hurt. When Peter faced his own wrongdoings and realized it, it was like a knife in his heart. Mark said that he left quickly and wept. Peter was a broken man. He wept like he never wept in his life. But, through the tears, healing came to his soul for the Spirit of God was there to comfort him. His conscience bothered him so much but the Spirit of God convicts a person of sin but also of righteousness and forgiveness. Peter experienced the conviction of sin. He experienced Christ in his life and made a decision to never repeat this day.

Peter walked away from that scene another man. It was the moment of conversion for Peter. He became born again, born also by the Spirit of God. He made a covenant in his life to walk with God all the way.

Dear God

All the way with Jesus

we want to walk.

If we have denied you in our lifes

we wish to affirm you with our faith

Amen