Grace and Truth: John 18:15-27: My Heart Breaks for Peter; Jesus speaks up for Himself

Peter was confident he would not deny Jesus, but Jesus knew he would.

 

Verse 17: “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

Verses 25-27: 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.”

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?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

 

Matthew tells us of Peter’s terrible regret.

 

Matthew 26: 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

 

Peter was confident, opinionated, and forceful in the way he spoke to Jesus. But he also recognized his errors and repented with heartfelt humility and sorrow.

 

Jesus spoke up for himself when questioned by the high priest.

 

John 18:19-23: Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

“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. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

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.

“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

 

Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek, and called us to be meek. Later, Jesus would not defend himself before Pilate, and he allowed himself to be beaten and put to death. But here, he took an opportunity to speak up for himself and point out the wrong they did to him.

 

More than once, the apostle Paul stood up for himself when he was treated wrongly.

 

Father, give me the wisdom to know when it’s right for me to oppose someone who wrongs me, and when it’s best to keep silent.