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Friday, March 25, 2005
As we continue our look at the events of Holy Week and piece together the Easter story timeline, we need to take a break in the story. See, yesterday we looked at the trials and in order to maintain some continuity we left out a crucial part in the story. If this were a movie, this would be called a flashback.
So, get comfy, get your Bible and read through Luke 22: 54--62. Ask the "5 w's and an 'h'" questions.
WHAT time was it?
WHERE were they?
WHO was involved?
Well, from this section, we learn that it was AFTER the arrest of Christ, which we learned earlier this week must've taken place before 2AM or so. We also learn that Christ is in the home of the high priest, so it's during the trial phase we studied in depth yesterday. Peter's in the story, two young women and a man are involved. As is a rooster. As is Jesus, too.
In verse 55, we learn that there is a fire in the courtyard and a servant girl noticed Peter and commented that he was with Jesus.
Peter says he doesn't know Jesus in verse 57.
In verse 58 Peter is identified again. Peter denies it again in 58 as well.
An hour or so later, Peter is identified again. When he says he doesn't know what the man is talking about (the third denial) he hears a rooster crow.
Verse 61 is haunting: "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter..." Peter was within eyesight of Christ during the trial--and if you believe that "before the cock crows" was a Roman term for the end of the third watch at 3AM--then you can know that Jesus was in Caiaphas' house enduring all sorts of violations of His rights during a sham trial and Peter makes eye contact. Can you imagine? The crow of the rooster still ringing in Peter's ears; the eye contact with His Lord; the echoes of Christ's words, "Before a cock crows today, you will deny me three times."
It makes me think verse 62 is a classic understatment: "And Peter went out and wept bitterly."
What light do the correlating verses throw in there? Matthew 26: 58 verifies that Peter was there during the first trial. Verses 69--75 also give us some insights. Peter was identified with the Galilean (likely due to their dialects). We also learn that the crowd heard the accusations. We're tuned into the vehemence with which Peter makes the denials...and the verification of Peter's weeping.
If we look at John 18: 15--19, we learn that Peter was actually was able to get inside the door of the home of the high priest. In the courtyard, we learn a crucial detail that comes up later in John (the type of fire in the court is referred to as a "charcoal fire"...which, in the later scene on the beach after the Resurrection when Jesus forgives Peter 3 times, He built a charcoal fire, when one of sticks or drift would be more common on a beach)...we learn that it was a chilly night. We also learn that Peter was the one who cut off the arresting person's ear (no mention is made of the healing, right? Interesting...) in vv. 25-27.
Mark 14:66--72 is also consistent in it's account, but doesn't really give us much new information...maybe a bit about a porch and Peter cursed and swore, too.
But what gets me about the story is how much I identify with Peter. One minute I can be telling Christ how much I'm willing to die for Him, and then a short while later, I'm literally betraying Him in some form or fashion. I often wonder what it will be like to look into the eyes of Christ, and I wonder what it would be like to look into them right after a denial of some type...
Weeping bitterly might be an understatement. Say what you want about Peter during this point in his life, but at least he was remorseful, and understood the gravity of what he did to Him. Soemtimes I don't think I do.
What does this story bring up in you today, this Good Friday?
Brent 3:35 AM
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