Mark 14:68-72 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what you say. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.… A great study in human nature is here presented. I. THE ORIGIN OF PETER'S FALL. Do not overlook — 1. The quarrel in Peter's heart with Christ's methods. Christ's plan was to conquer by suffering; Peter's to conquer by resisting. This inward divergence produced the outward separation. Beware of quarrelling with God's dealings, or methods, or demands; the most common of all sources of backsliding. 2. Peter's pride helped his fall. II. THE PROCESS OF PETER'S FALL. 1. Following Christ "afar off" (Luke 22:54) — half-heartedly, not close, not to testify to the Sanhedrin for Him, but simply to see the end (Matthew 26:58). Close to Christ in the path of duty you are kept warm; sluggish and distant, the heart chills and grows feeble. 2. He entered into temptation. 3. A subtle snare is laid for him. If the three challenges had taken place in a reversed order, probably Peter would not have fallen by them. Had the men come first, his manhood might have risen to meet the challenge. But a housemaid does not put him on his mettle. Thrown off his guard, he tells his first lie, and it has afterwards to be backed up by more falsehoods and deadlier denials, putting a gulf between himself and Christ which, but for Christ's grace, would have been eternal. III. THE COMMONNESS OF SIMILAR TRANSGRESSION. Not a question of who is guilty, but who is guiltless of this fault. All hiding of the face from Christ, all secrecy of fear, which leads people to assume we have nothing to do with Christ, all leaving Him unowned and undefended, is a sin identical in nature with Peter's. Each should ask, "Lord, is it I?" (R. Glover.) Parallel Verses KJV: But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. |
    |