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No Wonder Peter Wept Bitterly
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I’ve been reading through the book of Matthew this week, and something struck a cord with me that I thought I would share.
Ok, if you are familiar with the story of Jesus’ last days, his arrest in the garden, and how he predicted Peter’s denial, you’ll also know that part of the story ends with Peter realizing his error and “weeping bitterly”. In every translation I’ve looked at online, the word “bitterly” is used in Matthew 26:75.
Now, I’ve always taken this pretty much at face value - Jesus was right, Hot-head Peter was wrong, and now Peter is just really sad that he betrayed his Master who is about to die. Chalk one more boo boo up for act-first-think-later Peter.
Right? I mean, Peter does have a reputation for brassiness.
But oh!! Was that the true cause for such bitter weeping? Could Peter have had more on his mind?
I was reading Matthew 10 last night, and the story of Peter’s plight struck out at me so strongly that I reread the chapter 5 or 6 times just to be sure I was understanding correctly.
Ok, in Matthew Chapter 10, Jesus has just picked out his 12 apostles. He proceeds with charging them with special rights to spread his message throughout the land.
Now, if you would, put yourself in Peter’s place. Pretend you are Peter. Here you are, just joined in the closest fellowship circle that the human Jesus had on this earth - his 12 apostles. It is “you” he trusts, and you want more than anything to please your Lord.
Now pretend that you, as Peter, are standing there, listening to this charge that Jesus is giving you. He’s looking you strait in the eye as his humble, quiet voice is delivering this first apostolic message.
Here’s what you hear Jesus say. He’s speaking of the unbelievers that the apostles will encounter….
“So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:26-32, NIV)
That is the first apostolic charge that Peter was given. “Do not be afraid” and “If you disown me before men, I will disown you before the Father”. The entire time Peter worked side by side in the ministry with Jesus, this is the heart racing charge that must have reverberated through his concious thoughts daily.
Now, flash forward if you will, to the garden. Listen to the last remarks Jesus had made to Peter before they set out to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane….
…Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
” ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”….. (Matthew 26:31-35, NIV)
Oh Peter, Peter, Peter. Can’t you just hear that first charge ringing in Peter’s ears? “Do not be afraid…Do not disown Jesus”. How very much he must have wanted to obey Jesus’ commands!
Can you just imagine though the heartache that Jesus felt inside himself, knowing full well what lie ahead for Peter, his rock? Peter was one of Jesus’ closest companions! He partook in some of the most intimate moments with our Lord on earth and would witness his transfiguration on the mountain.
Peter wanted so much to do what was right.
Now travel a few moments further in time. Jesus had arrived in the garden where he knew his arrest would take place, and asked for his disciples to stay awake and in prayers. Then Jesus went off alone to pray for strength in the coming hours. When he returns from private prayer, he finds Peter and the disciples asleep. Listen to his words here….
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41, NIV).
The KJV utters the oft repeated line “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” here. Notice how this line is specifically directed at Peter.
Jesus didn’t simply “predict” Peter’s denial once. It is brilliantly forshadowed throughout Matthew. Jesus charged the 12 apostles to “not be afraid” when they first joined with him. He warned them that if they deny them in front of men, he will deny them to the Father. He warned Peter twice about what was in his future (Matt. 26:31-35). Then he urged Peter to pray in the garden, so that he could avoid temptation. Jesus knew Peter’s heart. He knew his human frailty. He knew that although deep down, Peter wanted very much to obey Jesus (his “spirit was willing”) - but his flesh (body) was not strong enough to overcome human frailties. In Peter’s weaked and tired state (it’s stated in Matt. 26 that the disciples eyes were heavy and they were sleepy), the urging to obey flesh over spirit was all that much stronger. Jesus rightly knew that only prayer and connection with the Father would get them through those tough moments ahead.
Jesus warned Peter. Not just once, as we sometimes think, but many times!
By the end of Matthew chapter 26, Peter has thrice denied knowing Jesus. When the rooster crows, and dawn breaks, it also “dawns” on Peter what has happened.
Now, put yourself in Peter’s shoes again. Can you imagine the horror that you would be feeling at that moment?
Remember the charge Jesus set before the apostles when they first came together -
“But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
Peter had disowned his closest companion, the Christ (Remember, Peter was the one who first confessed that he was the Messiah!), and threatened his very relationship with the Almighty Yahweh.
Poor Peter.
No wonder Peter wept bitterly.
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