Peter declared that he was willing to follow Christ to prison and to death and ultimately he did, but at this point he was not ready. Simon’s self-confidence prevented him from understanding his frailty. His protestation of fidelity makes sad reading in the light of subsequent events. When we profess fealty we should do so in faith, aware of our feeble power to fulfil such vows. Instead we sing ‘though none go with me, still I will follow’. We do not sing it glibly in the same way as there was no shallowness in Simon’s boast. I have no doubt that he was as sincere then as we are now when we proclaim such loyalty.

Jesus said, ‘…this very night before the cock crows, you will disown me three times (Mt.26:34). This was no speculation which second guessed Peter’s probable cowardice in the face on imminent danger to his liberty and life. Rather Jesus was able to foretell the exact moment when Peter’s denial would occur. It was not a vague prediction whereby the cock crowing was a general term for the dawn of a new day. In other words Jesus was not saying that in roughly twelve hours or so you will have denied me three times. Christ’s reference to the cock crowing is a detail that becomes embedded in Peter’s mind so that when he hears it his memory is triggered and the full realisation of his failure dawns upon him. How often the Word of God comes to mind bringing conviction of sin, sorrow and repentance.

Devastated but not destroyed

Peter is overwhelmed with grief but although he is devastated he is not destroyed. We cannot point the finger at Peter and think that we are without sin. John says, ‘if we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves’ (1 Jn.1:8). However, he goes on to say, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 Jn.1:9).

In verse 58 we read that Peter ‘followed afar off.’ No doubt he wanted to see what the outcome might be, but this was no idle curiosity on his part. It was love that drew him after Jesus. Peter was in a pressurised situation when he denied Jesus. Sadly we do not always do the right thing when we are under pressure.

Peter followed at a distance and in doing this he had become an observer rather than a disciple. There are those who follow Christ at a distance, not wanting to be too closely associated with Him, yet retaining a certain curiosity. Peter was trying to preserve his freedom while at the same time maintain a loose association, by proximity, with Jesus. Peter thought he was an unobserved observer but he was wrong because he was an integral part of the narrative. There are some today who think of themselves in this way and want to be on the periphery of things. They want a loose association because they do not want to endanger their ‘liberty’ or share the stigma of rejection and ridicule of those who condemn the unique and universal claims of Jesus. But in reality we are never on the periphery of things. The question is not whether we would be in the narrative but rather what part we will play.