The Lord Jesus was sitting with His disciples, just prior to being betrayed and crucified.  At this point, Judas had already left this company to arrange the details on how we would betray the Lord.  The Lord then spoke to Peter (Simon) and said, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” (Luke 22:31-34). 

The Lord Jesus, who knows all things, forewarned Peter about Satan’s plans.  Satan is the evil one and one of his works is to try the faith of believers…to place temptations and trials in their way to defeat them.  So, Satan desired to have Peter in his hands, that he might tempt him to sin.  Of course, Peter insisted he would go into prison and even death for the Lord.  The Lord Jesus promptly told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the sun came up.  Undoubtedly, Peter loved the Lord and could not conceive that he would ever deny Him.  The Lord knew Peter’s heart much more than Peter knew his own heart.

Judas betrayed the Lord because he did not believe that Jesus was truly the Messiah.  Peter certainly believed on the Lord Jesus for he said of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 16:16, “…Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Peter believed in the Lord, he trusted the Lord (Matthew 14:22-29), and he loved the Lord…yet he denied Him.  Let’s read of that incident in Matthew 26:69-74, “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.”

The Lord Jesus had been arrested and was being brought before His accusers.  Peter still followed Him, but now he followed the Lord from a distance.  What a tragic event to see this faithful disciple deny his savior in front of those who did not believe on Him.  The reason for Peter’s denial is rather obvious…he was afraid.  Peter did love the Lord, but he focused on his own love and strength.  When the Lord told him of his upcoming denial, instead of heeding the Lord’s words and asking for strength, Peter determined that he was strong enough to stand against the world and profess his love for Him.  His strength left him and Peter became afraid of what the world might do to him.  Proverbs 29:25 tells us, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”  Peter’s fear caused him to fall into the snare of the devil…and he denied he ever knew the Lord.

Let’s not stop there.  It’s important to know that after the Lord rose from the dead, He had a private conversation with Peter.  We have the announcement from the Lord’s disciples in Luke 24:34, “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”  Most assume this private conversation with Peter was to help him reconcile himself to the Lord.  Later, there was a public reconciliation and restoration in John 21:15-19.

Even after his failures, Peter went on to become the Apostle to the Jews (Galatians 2:7).  As we saw at the outset, even before Peter denied the Lord, He had prayed for his restoration.  Indeed, he was restored to the Lord and became a valuable and faithful servant of the Lord.  (CC)  (732.4)