|
|
|
July 2006 No. 247 Peter's Denial * Apologia
The denial of Jesus Christ by Peter is
recorded in all four gospels and is a major event in the story of the gospel as
well as in the story of Peter’s life. The events of this story greatly shaped
the apostle’s life and added tremendous strength to his faith. Peter, who
denies three times in one night and then appears to be turning from the ministry
back to his craft of fishing in John 21, is transformed by the confrontation of
Christ later in John 21, and he becomes the deliverer of the first gospel sermon
in Acts 2. It is easy to identify with Peter’s plight as we examine the text
in Matthew, but with a fuller study of all four passages, questions arise about
the character of Peter in this story. John’s account, John 18:15-18,25-27,
follows a similar pattern with progressive denials. And like Matthew, John gives
no interjections of any time frame or any other reason why Peter would have
paused to consider his responses. It seems as if Peter were caught in the midst
of a teasing mob that instantly probed and prodded him with ever-loudening
jeers. We can almost feel his heart racing and sense panic setting in. The
negative peer pressure quickly takes its toll, and Peter resorts to swearing and
shouting to prove he is really part of the crowd—the crowd that does not stand
with Christ. Prove it he does. A light reading of these two passages might
lead us to think that Peter was hoodwinked into the denial. Two facts are
evident in Mark and Luke that illustrate otherwise. Mark 14:68 gives the first denial by Peter.
It states that after this he “went out into the porch; and the cock crew.”
The mention of this fact changes the above view that Peter simply caved in to
the pressure of a rowdy crowd. With evidence of the cock’s crow in Peter’s
ear, we have to consider that the words of Christ’s warning to him (as
recorded by all four authors prior to the unfolding of this story) about the
denial must have flooded his mind. Was he keeping a running score in his mind
– “now I’ve denied him once”? The fact that there was time to think at
all and to consider the warning of Christ shows us how frail human strength is
in comparison to the cunning craftiness of our adversary. No doubt Peter was
shocked by his own actions and likely vowed to himself that he would not fall
again. But his strength would fail. The final account of this event not
discussed as of yet is found in Luke 22:54-62. Another detail is present in this
passage that adds more color to the story. The dimension of time is revealed.
There is “a little while” (vs. 58) between the first and second
denials, and then “the space of one hour” (vs. 59) between the second
and third denials. Combining the information of the accounts yields the
following timeline: Peter was without in the Palace when he was first accused of
being a companion of Christ; he went to the Porch and heard the first cock crow;
a “little while” elapsed; the second denial occurred; about one hour of time
elapsed; the third denial took place, followed immediately by the final cock
crow; Peter weeps bitterly. The image of Peter being swept away in a panicked
frenzy disappears with this time line. Likely Peter was amazed by his first
denial and attempted to avoid the second by his own strength. He denies again.
After one hour to contemplate his inability to stand for Christ independently,
he falls terribly in the third denial and realizes immediately the full sorrow
of his sin. John
21 contains the story of the Risen Savior confronting Peter about his denial.
Repeating his question three times - to number Peter’s transgressions, Jesus
nurtures Peter and gives him His strength. It is by this strength, - not
Peter’s, but the Lord’s — that Peter speaks boldly to the people gathered
together at Pentecost in Acts 2. It is Peter, who denied Jesus three times, who
delivers the first gospel sermon. CHAD PRINCE Oxford,
AL
Q:
WERE THE APOSTLES OF JESUS BAPTIZED? With the exception of Paul (Acts 9:18,
22:16), there is no record in Scripture that any of the other twelve disciples
or the seventy were baptized. But in view of the multitude of passages
supporting the purpose of baptism and recording instances of others being
baptized, it would be contrary to principle that these were not also baptized. “To Fulfil All Righteousness” At John’s doubt about his own worthiness
to baptize Jesus, Jesus Himself “Answering said unto him, Suffer it to be
so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered
Him” (Mat. 3:15). It is to be noted that even though He had
no sin, Jesus set the example of fulfilling all righteousness by being baptized.
The example surely followed by those who would be His disciples. John’s
Baptism was Widely Received “John did baptize in the wilderness, and
preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out
unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of
him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:4-5) “And John also was baptizing in Aenon
near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were
baptized”
(John 3:23). We are left unadvised as to the number or
names of those thus baptized, but the implication is that there were multitudes.
Although it is not stated, the disciples certainly could have been in this
number. Jesus
Himself Baptized Others “After this came Jesus and His disciples
into the land of Judea; and there He tarried with them, and baptized”
(Mark 3:22). It is reasonable that if Jesus Himself was
baptized and was baptizing others, that His own disciples would surely have also
been baptized. Otherwise they would have been disobedient to Jesus’ teaching. Jesus’
Own Disciples Actually Performed the Baptisms “When therefore the Lord knew how the
Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
(though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,) He left Judea, and
departed again into Galilee”
(John 4:1-3). Again, it would be unreasonable to conclude
that the disciples had not submitted to the very action which they were
assisting others in doing. Distinction
Made Between Those Baptized and Those Not “…Among those that are born of women
there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in
the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and
the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the
Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not
baptized of Him”
(Luke 7:28-30). Note the contrast: Those who responded to
John’s baptism were baptized.Those who rejected the counsel of God were
not baptized. Who would suppose the disciples rejected
the counsel of God? The
Disciples were Commissioned to Baptize In Matthew 29:19-20 Jesus commissioned His
disciples saying, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them…” Consistency would have demanded that the
disciples practice what they were exhorting others to do; otherwise their
practice and effect would have been contrary to the very principle they were
teaching. Although the Scriptures do not specifically
state that the apostles or the seventy were baptized, it is reasonable to
conclude that they were. To conclude otherwise would be to find them at fault in
not doing what they were requiring of others. Paul wrote, “Happy is he that
condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth” (Rom. 14:22). Harry
Cobb Wedowee,
AL Could you explain the command that Paul
gives when he says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” (Col.
3:1)? How do we obey this command?
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES 1.
How
many camels did Abraham’s servant take in his search for Isaac’s wife? 2.
When
Paul was at Troas, a man in a dream asked him to come to what country to help
them? 3.
What
would the Psalmist be if God could wash him? 4.
What
common fate do man and beast have, according to Ecclesiastes? 5.
What
did Job take to scrape himself with when he was afflicted with boils?
ANSWERS NEXT MONTH . . . and
remember last month’s questions? 1.
Which
king was considered worse than any other king of Israel?
KING AHAB (1 King 16:33) 2.
Which
creation day did God create the stars?
FOURTH (Gen. 1:14-18) 3.
What
did the angel of the Lord do with the offering given by Gideon?
CONSUMED IT WITH FIRE (Jud. 6:21) 4.
James
3 says one who offends not in word may be called what?
A PERFECT MAN (Jas. 3:2) 5.
What
did Moses do without, during the 40 days he spent on Mount Sinai?
HE ATE NO BREAD AND DRANK NO WATER (Deut. 9:9) GOSPEL MEETINGS
The Harvester 141 County Road 474 Woodland, AL 36280 Phone: (256) 449-9221 Email:
raymcmanus@hotmail.com Web Page: www.churches-of-christ.org |
