April 12 -- John 18:19-27
“One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, ‘Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?’ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.” –John 18:26-27 (NIV)

While Peter was warming himself by the fire in the high priest’s courtyard, Annas questioned Jesus about His teachings. Jesus said He had done nothing in secret; there were plenty of witnesses to His teachings. According to Jewish law, a trial should be held openly with witnesses, and Jesus was indirectly pointing out that these secret proceedings were illegal.
A true trial could occur only at regular meeting places of the Sanhedrin—not the high priest’s home. In addition, a trial could not occur at night or on the eve of Sabbath or a feast day, and sentencing had to occur the day after the trial. Everything the leaders were doing was against the law.
One of the officials slapped and reprimanded Jesus, who again pointed out the injustice. If He had said or taught something wrong, His accusers needed testimony to that effect. Annas then sent Jesus to his son-in-law, Caiaphas, who was the current high priest.
Meanwhile, Peter was still by the fire with some of the high priest’s servants and officials, who asked him if he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter denied it but was immediately called out by a relative of Malchus, the servant whose ear Peter had cut off. This man was with the arresting party; he witnessed Peter cut off Malchus’s ear. In spite of this, Peter again denied his association with Jesus—for the third time. After that, he heard a rooster crow.
Jesus had told Peter that before the rooster crowed, Peter would deny Him three times (John 13:38). John does not tell us how Peter felt, but both Mathew and Mark tell us that Peter then “went outside and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75; see Mark 14:72).
Like Peter, all of us will fail in our faith at some point. We’re human. And while that is cause for us to mourn, God knows our weakness. It was no surprise to Jesus that Peter would fail in this way. So, today, instead of dwelling on the failures that you asked forgiveness for yesterday, spend some time dwelling on the goodness of God in the face of your weakness. Thank Him for His patience and lovingkindness toward you and worship Him!
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