ACC ~ John 18 v25 - 27

OVERVIEW:

As Jesus is being led away, Peter remains and chooses to stay by the fire, but he denies Jesus a second time, demonstrating how weak human nature is without God (CHRYSOSTOM, AUGUSTINE). In Peter we see how the prediction of the Great Physician is fulfilled, while the presumption of the sick man is shown for what it is (AUGUSTINE). But the example of Peter in his threefold denial is recorded for our consolation to show how God changed his weakness into power (CYRIL) and how great an evil it is to trust in ourselves instead of committing everything to God (CHRYSOSTOM). All of Peter’s denials were made in the night and in the darkness before the coming of the Sun of righteousness (ORIGEN).

18:25 | Peter’s Second Denial

WEAKNESS OF HUMAN NATURE EXPOSED

CHRYSOSTOM: The once fervid disciple was now lethargic when Jesus was being led away! After such things as had taken place, he does not move but still warms himself. This happened so that you might learn how great the weakness of our nature is if God abandons us. And, being questioned, he denies again. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:309-10**

WHO ARE PETER’S QUESTIONERS?

AUGUSTINE: Here we find that Peter’s second denial occurred, not when he was at the door but as he was standing by the fire. This, however, could not have been the case, so that he must have returned after he had gone out of doors, where Matthew says he was. It was not that he went out, and then another woman sees him on the outside. Rather, another woman saw him as he was getting up to go out, and she made a remark about him. She told those who were near, that is, those who were standing with her at the fire inside the hall, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He heard this outside and returned and swore, “I do not know the man.” … Then John continues, “They said, ‘Are not you also one of his disciples?’” These words were probably said to him when he had come back and was standing at the fire. And this explanation is confirmed by the fact that, besides the other woman mentioned by Matthew and Mark in the second denial, there was another person mentioned by Luke who also questioned him. So John uses the plural. “They said therefore to him.” … When we compare all the Evangelists on this, we come clearly to the conclusion that Peter’s second denial took place not when he was at the door but when he was within, by the fire in the court. It becomes evident, therefore, that Matthew and Mark, who have told us how he went outside, have left the fact of his return unnoticed simply with a view to brevity. … And then follows the third denial. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 3.6.24-25. [1]

[1] CSEL 43:296-98; NPNF 1 6:188**.

18:26-27 | Peter Denies a Third Time

JESUS FULFILLS PROMISES, PETER CANNOT

AUGUSTINE: See how the prediction of the Physician is fulfilled and the presumption of the sick man is brought to the light. For there is no performance of what Peter had asserted, “I will lay down my life for your sake.” Instead, we see a fulfillment of what Jesus had predicted, “You shall deny me three times.” [1] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 113.6. [2]

[1] Jn 13:38.

[2] CCL 36:640; NPNF 1 7:420**.

EXPEDIENT FOR US TO RECORD PETER’S FRAILTY

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: For just as iron, though naturally strong, cannot encounter without injury the harder kinds of stone if it is not strengthened in the forge, so a person’s soul may be buoyed up with unwavering enthusiasm for everything that is good. However, it can never be triumphant in the conflicts that come up unless it is first perfected by the grace of the Spirit of God. Even the disciples, therefore, themselves were frail at first. But when they had received the Spirit of Almighty God, they cast aside their native weakness and by communion with him attained to great boldness. It was expedient that the frailty of the saints should be recorded to the praise and glory of God, who changed their weakness into power, and like a strong tower, raised up their spirits, which were easily daunted even by slight dangers and at times were broken down by the mere apprehension of suffering. And that which happened to a single one, or a few of the saints, may afford us at the same time a lesson and a consolation. For we are taught through this example not to slacken in God’s service by inconsiderately dwelling on our own infirmities. We are, rather, to trust in him who is able to make all of us strong, and we are to boast in God’s miraculous works and favor shown to us who were beyond hope. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12. [1]

[1] LF 48:592**.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CANNOT COMMIT

CHRYSOSTOM: But neither did the garden cause him to remember what had been said there, nor the great affection that Jesus had there shown by those words. Instead, he banished all of these from his mind due to the pressure of anxiety. But why have all the Evangelists written the same thing about him? They did so not to accuse the disciple but because they wanted to teach us how great an evil it is to trust in ourselves instead of committing everything to God. But you have to admire the tender care of his master, who, though a prisoner and bound, took great forethought for his disciple. He raises Peter up when he was down, by his look, and launches him into a sea of tears. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.3. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:310**.

PETER STILL IN DARKNESS

ORIGEN: Consider that when Peter sat outside, separated from Jesus while he was in the court of the high priest, he denied Jesus before everyone. And again a second time he denied him in the same way, not having gone outside the door but wanting to go out, yet still not having gone out. But also the third time, when those who stood by said, “Truly you are one of them” and he began to call a curse on himself and swore, “I do not know the man,” he was still not outside. And notice that all of his denials were made in the night and in the darkness before the coming of the day and the sign of day, that is, the rooster crowing, which wakes up those who are willing from their sleep. And I may say that if Peter had denied after the rooster crowed—when it might be said “the night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us walk honorably as in the day” [1] —Peter would have deserved no excuse. But perhaps when anyone denies Jesus in such a way that the sin of denial may admit of healing, that person too appears to deny him before the rooster crows, since the Sun of righteousness has not yet been born to them, nor have they drawn near to his rising. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 114. [2]

[1] Rom 13:12.

[2] AEG 6:12-13*; GCS 38 2 (11):237-38