Who Denied Jesus Three Times?
- Emma Danzey Contributing Writer
- Published Jan 30, 2022
Maybe you have never heard of this Bible testimony before, or it has been a while since you studied who denied Jesus? Perhaps you know this person really well. Today we are going to do a refresher course on the three times that Jesus was denied by his own disciple and how Jesus redeemed those decisions and still does for believers today. Who denied Jesus three times?
Have you ever personally felt rejected by a loved one? There are few things that hurt worse than being blindsided and denied. Jesus experienced all the humanity we do as people here on earth, and unfortunately, that included denial by one of his closest friends. Peter, James, and John were often described as being at events where other disciples were not mentioned in the Bible. There appeared to be a close brotherhood that these men and Jesus shared. They were with him at the transfiguration (Matthew 17), when Jesus brought Jairus’s daughter back from the dead (Luke 8:49–56), and in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). However, even all of those intimate moments were not enough for Peter to stand up for being one of Jesus’ friends and followers once He was arrested. Peter was given the opportunity three times to identify with Jesus at the time of His crucifixion, but Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.
Who Was Peter in the Bible?
To understand why it was such a big deal that Peter was the one to deny Jesus, it is important to look back at his track record. Peter accepted Jesus and followed Him when Jesus called him at the Sea of Galilee. Peter (originally called Simon) was a fisherman with his brother Andrew (Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11, John 1:35-42). Peter questioned what Jesus was asking them to do with their nets, but then after seeing Jesus provided a boatload of fish in his net, he immediately responded in Luke 5:8, “When Simon Peter saw it, he got down at the feet of Jesus. He said, “Go away from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man.” Peter had an instant humility and dedication in Luke 5:11 to follow Jesus immediately “When they came to land with their boats, they left everything and followed Jesus.”
Peter was all in for Jesus. He was a bold disciple who was outspoken about his opinions. In fact of all the disciples to deny Jesus, Peter would not be the obvious guess. Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Peter was called to start the church. Peter was the only disciple brave enough to get out of the boat on the Sea of Galilee and walk to Jesus on the water. (Matthew 14:22-33) Peter cut off the ear of a guard at the garden of Gethsemane who was coming to arrest Jesus (John 18:10).
We see an overly confident Peter in Luke 22:33-34, “But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
What Were Peter’s Denials?
Luke 22:55-62 breaks down each one of Peter’s denials of Jesus once Jesus had been arrested.
Denial 1: A Servant Girl
First, I find it interesting that the very first person who Peter denied Jesus to was a servant girl. This girl probably would be the least threatening to him, but even though she was a young woman in a service position, Peter was still afraid of her. Maybe he knew how much girls like to talk? Whatever the reason, he was ashamed to be recognized as a follower of Christ.
Luke 22:55-57 says, “And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with him.' But he denied it. 'Woman, I don’t know him,' he said.”
Denial 2: Someone Else and Denial 3: Another
The last two people are described as men but no other descriptions. One occurs and then an hour later, the other inquires. The third person must have asked Peter nearby to Jesus because Jesus sees Peter.
Luke 22:58-60, “A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.”
The Eyes of Jesus were on Peter
After this moment, Peter heard the sound of the rooster crow, and the words of Jesus replayed in his head as Jesus Himself looked Peter in the eyes. I imagine this look from Jesus was not one of hate, but one of great disappointment and sadness, and even mercy.
Luke 22:61-62 says, “The 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.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
This led to Peter weeping bitterly. Think about it, the last time Peter saw Jesus before Jesus died was in the midst of his denial. Maybe you have had a final goodbye that did not end the way in which you had hoped. It might even haunt you to this day that things ended the way that they did. Peter felt this too. I imagine the three days until Jesus was resurrected were torture for Peter. He probably replayed the image of Jesus’ face with the sound of the rooster crowing in the background over and over.
When Mary Magdalene and the women tell the men about Jesus coming back to life, the disciples stayed put in disbelief, but Peter ran to the tomb with John. (Luke 24:10-12), John 20:1-9) I can picture Peter running with anticipation to reconcile with Jesus. Yes, he wanted to behold His risen Savior, but I believe he ran after the opportunity to plead forgiveness and see Him again.
Jesus Reappears and Redeems Peter’s Wrongs
In John 21, we see Jesus appear to Peter. It is a beautiful picture of Jesus coming back to a similar situation as to when He first appeared to Peter. This time on the Sea of Tiberias. Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, and John were fishing overnight and caught nothing. From the shore Jesus called out “Children, do you have any fish?” Yet again, Jesus tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. Suddenly, their boat is filled just like the first encounter Peter ever have with Jesus. In verse 7-8 we see impulsive Peter again, jumping into the sea and swimming to shore to go be with Jesus.
Jesus made breakfast for them and asked them to bring some of the fish that they caught. In this instance we see that God provides for His followers to have fish and they obeyed and caught fish, then He invites them to bring their contribution to be part of his meal. Jesus invites His followers into His work.
1st Recommissioning of Peter:
John 21:15 says, “When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You. Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
2nd Recommissioning of Peter:
John 21:16 says, “Jesus asked a second time, 'Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered, ‘You know I love You.’ Jesus told him, ‘Shepherd My sheep.’”
3rd Recommissioning of Peter:
John 21:17 says, “Jesus asked a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ ‘Lord, You know all things,' he replied. ‘You know I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’”
Jesus declares His love for Peter and gives the example of a Shepherd and sheep. Peter had heard about Jesus teaching that He was the Good Shepherd. He heard that Jesus was the Bread of Life and the Living Water. This was a moment of rededication to Christ for Peter. Jesus gave Peter the freedom to be recommissioned even after Peter rejected and decided Jesus and likely disqualified himself in his own mind from being used because of his sin against Jesus. We even see Jesus prophesy about the future martyrdom of Peter. Where Peter had been afraid to be associated with Jesus who was being crucified, he would one day stand up for Jesus and go through a similar death on His Savior’s behalf. This was not the end for Peter, but the turning point for His full dedication to Jesus, not out for a place of guilt, but out of love.
John 21:18-19 says, “Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, ‘Follow Me.’”
Clarence L. Haynes from Crosswalk shares that historical records reveal how Peter died in AD 64 in Rome during the reign of Nero. “By the time Peter died in AD 64 many of the other apostles, possibly all of them, except for John had been martyred.”
Through the life of Peter, we see the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus. We see an invitation to follow Jesus even in our imperfections. We see a longing heart to obey Christ and show others to Him. Even though Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus gave Peter the opportunity to affirm his love three times and reminded Peter of the original calling that he received in Galilee again at Tiberias. The message we learn is “follow Me.”
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