Peter claims he doesn't know Jesus

Peter, the enthusiast, failed the test. Although he was the disciple that couldn’t help but follow along after Jesus on the way to a late night trial, before long he realized that he was in serious trouble, lost his nerve and denied his Savior. One could argue by way of explanation that it is the extrovert who is most likely to err in that way, but the truth  remains,  Peter failed at the critical moment.
       The account of Peter’s denial is found near the close of each gospel and probably known by the majority of those of you reading this column. That being said, I would like to think about the way the accusations of the maids as well as Peter’s denials expand and grow more intense. It is a vivid picture of the subtlety of sin. 
       Jesus had been taken inside for examination and Peter was sitting with soldiers around a fire in the courtyard. After studying him carefully, a maid went over to where he was sitting and announced, “You were there with that Galilean!”
       Peter was shocked by the sudden accusation and responded, “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about?” But it left him quite uneasy, so he got up from the fireside and went out to the front courtyard.
       Whether the maids had gotten together or not, we do not know, but in any case, a second maid came to Peter and said to the men standing around, “This man belongs to the Jesus bunch!” By now Peter realizes that he is in real danger so he adds an oath to his denial and claims he hasn’t the faintest idea who this Jesus is.
       Time passes and about an hour later another maid who had been standing there joins in. Her accusation would impress the group because not only was she a servant of the high priest, but she was related to the man whose ear Peter slashed off in the garden. She stepped forward and very firmly announced, “There’s no doubt about it, you are one of those Galileans; Your accent gives you away!”
       There was nothing that Peter could do but keep his lie going, so with teeth clenched he claimed in slow and deliberate words, “May God punish me if what I now say is false: I know nothing of this man you’re talking about!” Even before he could finish the sentence, the cock crowed. Just then Jesus passed through the courtyard and looked Peter straight in the eye. That he said nothing made it even worse. Peter went outside and wept. I doubt whether history could produce a moment of regret greater than this.
       From what we know from scripture and tradition about the following years, it is clear that after this tragic denial Peter turned out to be the “rock” Jesus once said he was. Sources tell us that when he was put to death by Roman authorities he requested to be crucified upside down so as not to bring shame on his master, the Lord Jesus Christ.