Peter

Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house.

But Peter followed at a distance.

Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”

And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.

Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Luke 22:54-62

For the disciples, the night of Jesus' trial was a disaster. All their dreams had fallen to pieces. Their fellowship was broken, their Lord was arrested, and they scattered.

Peter's version of the story hit me hard tonight. Peter was full of energy and verve and bravado and plans -- plans to be at the right hand of the victorious Messiah, brandishing a sword and seeing that what was wrong was made right.

Then in a couple of hours everything changed.

Bravado and plans changed to denial and shame.

It is hard to imagine the heartbreak contained in the sentences, "Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter," "Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord," and "So Peter went out and wept bitterly."

* * *

How did the Peter of that night become the Peter we meet in Acts 2, or the Peter who wrote 1 Peter and 2 Peter?

Re-reading Peter's story tonight made me think differently about a passage from his letters that we seem to hear a lot:

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:13-17

Something happened between "Woman, I do not know Him," and "always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you . . . with gentleness and respect."

* * *

Let's not take this Easter week lightly.