Session 12

In the last session we discussed the unjust trial of Jesus before the Jews. In this Chapter we have seen the scene of Peter, a disciple of Jesus, disowns his master while being tried. Dr. Nagy, what happened in this story?
A couple of days before the trial and crucifixion the Lord Jesus tried to prepare His disciples for what was going to come, so that they would not be surprised. He gave them a couple of details about it when He said, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night." (Mark 14: 27) Peter, upon hearing those words, said that he would never disown Him even if all were made to stumble. Jesus wanted to teach him a lesson. He told him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times", and these words took place literally.
You already mentioned that the Lord Jesus wanted to teach Peter a lesson what was this lesson? 
To tell you the truth it was more than one lesson. First, is to let him understand that he is not better than the other disciples to set himself a part and to imagine that if everyone else disowns Jesus he will not. The second lesson is to refer to what was written, "I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered."(Mark 14:27) This was a prophecy that came in the Torah about the followers of the Messiah in the time of crucifixion. As if the Lord is saying to Peter, when I tell you it is written in the word of God that all of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, do not think that you will do something different so submit to the word. In addition, if Jesus, the true and faithful one, is saying you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, you are rejecting His words.
Why did the Lord allow that Peter would disown Him and not stop at the warning Phase? 
I agree that Peter was a devout disciple, and he said this because he loved the Master and because he was concerned about Him but zeal is not enough. It is important to submit to the word of God and to believe it. The Lord allowed Peter to go through this test practically for many reasons some pertain to Peter and some to teach us some valuable lessons today.
What were the reasons pertaining to Peter himself? 
It was obvious that Peter was so sure of himself and did not believe what Jesus said. He did not believe that he could deny Jesus before the servants. This is why the Lord allowed him to go through the test practically; to learn how weak he is and that he is not that different from the other disciples. In fact he did worse because the other disciples fled, but he was the one to disown the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Practically speaking no one needs to go through the same situation today, so how can we benefit individually from this story? 
The Lord Jesus is not going again to the cross and no one might have to go through the same situation, but there are some very important lessons to infer from this story. First, this scene reveals a lot about the identity of the Lord Jesus. Was He a normal person waiting for His death sentence to be executed? Or He was the one who has all knowledge to the point that He foretold His disciples what was already going to take place, that they as disciples were going to be scattered and that Peter was going to disown Him?
Dr. Nagy I would like to comment here. The Lord Jesus knew as anyone else that the disciples were going to flee, and that someone was going to deny Him before the servants. He knew the immensity of the situation they were going to face and you already told us that it was written in the Torah. I do not really see why we should take it as knowing and foretelling miraculously the future? 
There is a difference between guessing the future throughout reading the circumstances surrounding or even standing on what was written and between mentioning specific details concerning time and people. As you already mentioned that it was easy to know that the disciples would run out of fear in case the Lord gets arrested especially if this was a prophecy written in the Old Testament or the Torah. But there was no clear statement in the Torah about a person whose name is Peter who was going to deny Jesus in a specific time boundary (before the rooster crows twice). These minute details no body knows except God Himself who knows all things. There was no factor that could tell that these events foretold by the Lord Jesus were going to take place on the contrary all the circumstances were flowing in the opposite sense. Peter was confirming to Christ that he would never disown Him. In fact he said that he was ready to die with Him, but the Lord Jesus let the disciple learn the lesson.
What other lessons could we learn from this story? 
Another lesson is that we have to believe the Lord Jesus even though all the circumstances were contradicting to His words. As we already mentioned in previous series, the Lord Jesus gave a specific description of what was going to happen for the disciples and it all took place literally in due time in the way and with the people that the Lord Jesus already spoke about. There is no place for believing part of what He says and for rejecting another part, believe it all or reject it all.
Dr. Nagy, can you please elaborate your last statement? What are some examples of words that we should believe?
Take for example the words on the cross the Lord Jesus, blessed be His name, said that He was going to be crucified, delivered to the Jews and die. And that the disciples were going to scatter and Peter was going to disown Him, and before that he said that Judas was going to deliver Him to the Jews. More other details all happened literally before the people. How can we then claim that it was not Jesus who was crucified but another one similar to him? Or when the Lord Jesus says that He was going to die to redeem us as a sacrifice on behalf of human sin, we reject His words denying the work of redemption and sacrifice? That is why men tend to disbelieve that Jesus was crucified. Jesus says, concerning the cross, that He is the way, the truth and the life, which is the eternal life and no other one, is. Some might say it is impossible to have one way to heaven, but we either believe all what Jesus said or we disbelieve and forget about it all.
Before I go on with the rest of the points, I must say I find it very hard to believe what Peter did?
You can easily believe that Peter did this. Even the disciples, who said as Peter, did and claimed that they were not going to leave Jesus, did. Today, as well as the disciples and all of God's creation, we disown the Lord Jesus throughout our actions and words. Who does not believe that the Lord Jesus is God coming in the flesh even if he calls himself a Christian, he disowns the Lord Jesus through his deeds that do not conform to the Lord's teachings. In Fact, whoever does not believe that Jesus is the only way for salvation and refuses to come to Him for the forgiveness of his sins, would be denying Him as well.
What could be the last lesson to learn from this incident? 
Truly I think the most important lesson to learn is to not rely on the human soul integrity for every human being make mistakes. But there is always a way for repentance as Jesus forgave Peter. He is willing to forgive every sinner who is blaspheming against Him, blessed be His name, the only thing is for Peter to leave doubt and unbelief and turn back to the Almighty to restore him and show mercy toward him.

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