John 18:15-18 – “Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, ‘You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’”
People who read the Bible are invariably surprised at the crazy cast of characters they discover. Among the most beloved is Peter. He is passionate, which is not always a good thing.
Before becoming a disciple of Jesus, Peter was a business leader with a fishing company that was likely large, as he had crews working in two large lakes. The Bible is clear that he had a Christian wife (1 Corinthians 9:5) and a mother-in-law (Mark 1:30). He met Jesus when his brother Andrew brought him to meet the Lord. He became one of the inner-circle of three lead disciples present at times in Jesus’ ministry when others were absent.
Around the middle of John’s Gospel, Jesus and Peter had a pointed conversation (John 13:36-38). Peter boldly declared that he was the most dependable ministry team member that Jesus had. Jesus foretold that Peter would deny Jesus three times and then hear a rooster crow as it would be early morning.
As Jesus is being interrogated inside by powerful religious men, Peter is being interrogated outside by a powerless servant girl. Jesus declares Himself to be God. Peter denies that he knows Jesus.
Perhaps what each man did contributed to their actions under pressure. In the previous chapter (John 17), we read that Jesus prayed all night. In other gospels, we also learn that while Jesus prayed, Peter and the disciples slept. Jesus woke them up a few times and asked them to pray, but they did not. It just goes to show that sometimes prayer is how we prepare for what is coming next in life. Sometimes we end up losing the battle before it even begins by failing to pray so that God can prepare us for the war that awaits
Is there anything in your life that you need to focus your time and energy to praying about?