The apostle John wrote how a, “band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spoke unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter”, and in chapter eighteen and verse seventeen of his book John shared how “a damsel” questioned “Peter” where we read:
Then said the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Are not you also one of this man's disciples?
He said, I am not.
The verse reads, “Then said the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Are not you also one of this man's disciples?” John began with the words, “Then said the damsel” which means “then uttered, declared and proclaimed the young girl, maid-servant or young female slave” “that kept the door unto Peter” or “who was the porter, gate warden or watcher toward Peter whose name means a little rock or stone and was Jesus' disciple ”, “are you also one of this man's disciples?” which means “are you, Peter, even so and indeed a certain one of this man's, Jesus', students, pupils and attendants”. John shared how the “young servant girl” who was the “porter” to the “entry door” to the courtyard asked “Peter” whether he was “one” of Jesus' “disciples”.
The verse continues, “He said, I am not.” John added the words, “He said” or “He, Peter, uttered, declared, proclaimed and responded”, “I am not” which means “I, Peter, do not exist as one of Jesus' disciples”. John shared how Peter responded to the “young servant girl” by saying he was not one of Jesus' “disciples”.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how a “young girl” was the accuser of “Peter”. She identified him as one of Jesus' disciples, and she asked him about it. Peter previously told Jesus “Though I should die with you, yet will I not deny you” (See Matthew 26:35), but when he was questioned by this little “girl”, he denied knowing Jesus. In other words, “Peter” lied and denied. Preservation of himself was “Peter's” motivation, and although he thought he would never “deny” Jesus, Jesus knew the truth. God knows the true heart within every person, and still, He loves them. He gave His only begotten Son Jesus to die for the sins of all mankind, and even when a person thinks themselves to be greater than they really are, He knows and cares for their eternal life. Those who are wise will understand the “denial” of Peter, and turn their lives to the only one who is able to forgive every person from their over evaluation of themselves.
Next time we see John shares how, “the high priest” began to question Jesus, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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