How could this happen? I wonder how often there are things in our relationship with God about which we could say: how could this happen? Peter is challenged by a servant-girl. She noticed him warming himself beside the fire in the courtyard. Recognising him, she challenges Peter: you were with him, that man from Nazareth. But Peter immediately denies any connection. He does not want to risk getting caught up in what is happening to Jesus, though neither does he want to completely disappear as then he won’t know what has happened.
Certain that she recognised him, the girl is unconvinced by Peter’s denial and begins to point him out to some of the other folk standing around as one of the companions of the man who has just been arrested. Peter again denies any connection to Jesus. Then, he is also challenged by one of the bystanders who emphasises his accusation by commenting on Peter’s Galilean accent. I wonder what are the things that give us away, and whether they do so in a good or a bad way.
Peter remains adamant. I do not know him! Then follows one of those extremely poignant moments. The cock crows for the second time, and Peter remembers how Jesus had predicted his triple denial before the cock’s second crowing. No wonder he broke down and wept. I wonder what makes us weep.
Tom Wright (Mark for Everyone) helps us understand just a little of the significance of what is happening. He comments – “the detailed description of Peter’s failure highlights the solitariness of Jesus. Betrayed by one associate, forsaken by ten more, and now publicly and bitterly renounced by his closest friend; he stands alone, defenceless … what Jesus has to do now, he has to do all by himself. No one else can give their life as a ransom for many.”
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