Each of the gospels include Peter’s big denial on the night Jesus was arrested, but only the gospel of Matthew includes a number of ways Peter tried to hide his identity.
After being let into the courtyard, Peter is one of only two disciples even remotely close to Jesus, and though the other disciple is not named, most scholars believe it was John, the author of the gospel that bears his name.
However, while Peter followed Jesus to the place of His trial, it is likely only out of curiosity to learn what will happen, and perhaps a touch of pride to say that he was one of the ones who stuck with Jesus to the very end. But this decision actually opens the door for Peter’s discovery and his denials.
Something that has always intrigued me about this event relates to the denials themselves. In Matthew, we read that Peter makes an oath about not knowing Jesus, lies about it, and swears and curses as an additional way to separate himself from the Man on trial:
“When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ And again he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the man.’ A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.’ Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!’ And immediately a rooster crowed.” (v. 71-74)
But Matthew also includes an interesting phrase that is hinted at in other gospels, but not framed in the same way: “A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.’” (v. 73)
This leads me to the big truth that simply spending time with Jesus will change us. We might not notice it, but others will see the difference. After three years of spending time with Jesus, Jesus had rubbed off onto Peter, and it was noticeable. Even the way Peter talked gave him away. So Peter tries to revert back to his “sailor days” and curses and swears to even try to break that connection – that is until the rooster crowed and Peter woke up to what had just happened.
Peter could not mask the mannerisms that he had picked up from being with Jesus, and the way he talked, the way he walked, and his attitude had become more like Jesus and less like the world. Even though Peter tried to mask it by swearing, cursing, and making oaths to the contrary, Jesus’ character had clearly rubbed off onto Him.
And Jesus’ character will rub off onto us too, and the longer we walk with Him, the more visible it will be!
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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