Peter's Third Denial: Repentance, and God's Forgiving Grace

We are continuing our meditations on the side story in the Gospels about what God was doing in Peter's life after Christ's arrest. Yesterday, we examined the first two denials of Christ by Peter, but now comes the third denial:

⁵⁹About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." ⁶⁰Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹The 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." ⁶²And he went outside and wept bitterly (Luke 22:59-62).

How painful it was for Peter to hear the cock crow and remember Jesus' prophetic words that, before the cock crows, he would deny his Lord three times. In God's sovereignty, the very same moment when they led Jesus out of the house of High Priest Annas to the residence of Caiaphas was when Peter and Jesus heard the cock crow. As soon as the words of his third denial left Peter's lips, the Lord looked at him, and their eyes met.

There was no accusation in Jesus' eyes, only sadness for Peter. The Greek word translated as "looked" (v. 61) is emblepo. This word describes a fixed look, almost a stare. This look from Jesus broke Peter's heart; he remembered all his protestations that he could stand in the hour of trial, but instead, he failed miserably. He went outside the courtyard and wept bitterly. The verb "wept" describes a sad, mournful cry like those grieving the death of a loved one. He was brokenhearted over his failure.

Why is Peter's failure recorded in such detail? Why would the Holy Spirit inspire each Gospel writer to emphasize Peter’s denial so much?

This testimony by Luke is not so much about Peter's failure as it is about his brokenness and repentance. How quickly he repented. We may never deny the Lord with our lips as Peter did, but we have probably rejected Him through our actions at some point. This passage is recorded to demonstrate God's mercy and complete forgiveness. God often allows us to experience pain because it serves as an excellent teacher. Usually, when our suffering causes us to hit rock bottom and we are broken of our pride and self-sufficiency, we reach a place where we look to the Savior.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

Peter was broken in his stubborn and prideful will. The place of our brokenness is where God can step in to save and heal us. Walking the Christ Road means that, like Peter, you will face all kinds of trials and tests along the way. One of the trials I faced while walking with Christ was trying to bring my family back to their home country, the USA (I am from England). After nineteen years of church planting in England, my American wife wanted to see more of her family. Marijuana convictions before my conversion to Christ prevented me from residency in the USA. God used this situation as a refining tool to push me to persevere with my visa problem. I had to wait 19 years for God's timing. The Lord used this entire experience to break me and to deepen my trust and dependence on Him.

God’s school of training is more than Bible college and more than head knowledge. His training often involves brokenness and a contrite heart. Over the last forty-eight years, I have followed Jesus and learned that God uses our life experiences as lessons to teach and prepare us for eternity. He molds and shapes our character through everyday situations. Some situations can be very challenging, such as the death of a family member, a financial need, or an impatient child. The list is endless. The Lord will bring about situations in our lives that lead us to a place where our self-reliance and strong will are broken, and we surrender completely to Him, crying out, "Not my will, but yours be done." May you gain a more profound knowledge of God in whatever trial you are facing. Keith Thomas

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The video teaching on The Three Time Denial of Peter the Apostle is one of 64 YouTube videos. Here’s the link to it: https://youtu.be/J0HeOB6D6_w. The written study #61 in Luke is found at the following link: Peter, the Broken Disciple