We continue at this traumatic time of human history John 18:15-27
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,
16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”
24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”
27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think Peter’s denials are important to the overall narrative? What impact did this have on him?
- In verse 16, who do you think is the “other disciple”? Do you think the servant girl questioned him?
- A relative of the man who Peter had cut off the ear questioned him. We know that Jesus placed the ear back on the man. Why do you think this relative was not converted to follow Jesus after seeing Jesus heal his relative?
- I visited Caiaphas’s house unearthed in Jerusalem and heard a rooster crow. Chills ran down my spine thinking what happened there 2,000 years ago. What would you feel if you were in my shoes?
Rick's thoughts:
1. Why do you think Peter’s denials are important to the overall narrative? What impact did this have on him?
Matthew 26:69-75 describes the scene and Peter wept afterwards. Peter traveled with Jesus for more than 3 years and was one of the inner three. This scene is significant because it shows that no matter how close we are to Jesus, we have the weakness to deny him, either in words or actions. We must always be on guard to repel temptation.
2. In verse 16, who do you think is the “other disciple”? Do you think the servant girl questioned him?
This was one of the other Apostles, maybe John. We know that he refers to himself as the “disciple Jesus loved”—always in the 3rd person. The servant girl knew him. Some think that James and John (sons of Zebedee) had a thriving fishing fleet and were connected to the privileged in Jerusalem. We don’t really know, but it opens up the possibilities to the relationships between the disciples and how Jesus chose different types of people to follow him.
3. A relative of the man who Peter had cut off the ear questioned him. We know that Jesus placed the ear back on the man. Why do you think this relative was not converted to follow Jesus after seeing Jesus heal his relative?
We all are tempted to deny Jesus regardless of what he has done for us, or our families. The enemy (Satan) will always try to block our connection to God.