In the Judgment Hall
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eyes of the company instantly fastened upon him. He pretended not
to understand her, but she was persistent, and said to those around
her that this man was with Jesus. Peter, feeling compelled to answer,
said angrily, “Woman, I know him not.” This was the first denial, and
immediately the cock crew. O Peter! So soon ashamed of thy Master!
So soon to cowardly deny thy Lord! The Saviour is dishonored and
deserted in his humiliation by one of his most zealous disciples.
In the first place Peter had not designed that his real character
should be known; and, in assuming an air of indifference, he placed
himself on the enemy’s ground, and became an easy subject to Satan’s
temptation. He appeared to be disinterested in the trial of his Master,
while in reality his heart was wrung with sorrow as he heard the cruel
taunts and saw the mockery and abuse he was suffering. In addition to
this he was surprised and angry that Jesus should humiliate himself
and his followers by passively submitting to such treatment. Under
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these conflicting emotions, it was difficult to preserve his character of
indifference. His appearance was unnatural, as he endeavored to join
with the persecutors of Jesus in their untimely jests, in order to cover
his true feelings.
He was acting a lie, and while trying to talk unconcernedly he
could not restrain expressions of indignation at the abuse heaped upon
his Master. Accordingly attention was called to him the second time,
and he was again charged with being a follower of Jesus. He now
denied the accusation with an oath. The cock crew the second time;
but Peter heard it not, for he was now thoroughly intent upon carrying
out the character which he had assumed. One of the servants of the
high priest, being a near kinsman to the man whose ear the disciple
had cut off, asked him, “Did not I see thee in the garden with him?”
“Surely thou art one of them; for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech
agreeth thereto.”
At this, Peter flew into a rage, and to fully deceive his questioners,
and to justify his assumed character, he denied his Master with cursing
and swearing. And immediately the cock crew the third time. Peter
heard it then; and while the degrading oaths were fresh upon his lips,
and the shrill crowing of the cock was yet ringing in his ears, the
Saviour turned his face from the frowning judges, and looked full upon
his poor disciple. At the same time Peter’s eyes were involuntarily