Our Text …

25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. 26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? 27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. 28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.       29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

The Text again contrasts Peter and Jesus! One weak as water, the Other Strong and Resolute!

Peter denied our Lord standing by a warm fire. The three Hebrew young men stood true when confronted with such a fire! (Daniel 3) The Apostle Paul had a “fire” experience as well. (Acts 28) A snake was associated with Paul’s fire, but he shook it off and continued serving the Lord! A snake came out of Peter’s fire … and bit him! A wound he may have never fully overcome.

John’s Gospel does NOT tell us a couple of things about Peter’s denial … things the Synoptics add.

One, Jesus’ look …

Luke 22:59-61 …  And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned (strepho), and looked upon (emblepo) Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Secondly, Peter’s tears …

Matthew 26:75 … And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept (kla’io) bitterly (pikros).

John, one writer notes, just leaves us with the “echo” of the rooster resounding in our ears!

This too … I wonder what the Roman Catholics do with Peter’s blunder (blunders, really) here? They (wrongly) believe him to be their first (infallible) Pope!

The Jewish leadership wanted Jesus killed on a cruel Cross instead of merely stoned (the Jewish method of execution) because of the extra contempt associated with being hung to death, nailed, on a tree! They are trying to prevent any resurgence of this Jesus Person! (That plan didn’t work!) These Jews well know Deuteronomy 21:23 … He that is hanged is accursed of God.

Listen to Peter brag, shortly before he denied …

Mark 14:29-31 …  But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

Here’s a better idea yet … watch the class.

—Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Three times in this short Unit of Scripture Jesus deliberately used the pronoun “ego,” indicating great emphasis on His Person! I will mark them for you with bold, slanted type …

“19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I (EGO)spake openly to the world;  I (EGO) ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I (EGO) said. 22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.”

These three emphatic pronouns (unnecessary to the meaning of the Passage or to the rules of grammar, just placed here by our Saviour for emphasis) are spoken by Jesus perhaps to match the three “I AM” Statements He made as He was being arrested! An Incident located back in John 18:4-8.

Or perhaps to match the three times Peter will deny Him (one past, two to go as of our Text today), possibly to imply that Peter fails … but Jesus’ Person, Deity, Character, Essence will NEVER fail!

Now that I have mentioned Jesus’ “I AM” (using “EGO” with a predicate) Proclamations, let me list them for you …

John 6:35 … I am Bread of Life (I am the Bread Which came down from Heaven! Verse 41) (I am the Living Bread! Verse 51)

John 8:12 … I am the Light of the world! (Again in 9:5)

John 10:7 … I am the Door! (of the sheep) (Again in verse 9)

John 10:11 … I am the Good Shepherd! (Repeated in verse 14)

John 11:25 … I am the Resurrection and the Life!

John 14:6 … I am the Way, The Truth, The Life!

John 15:1 … I am the True Vine!  (Repeated in verse 5 with “ye are the branches!”)

Wow!

I really am enjoying the Gospel of John. A Gospel that magnifies Jesus in a unique manner!

Watch the whole class if possible …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Text …

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. 17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not. 18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. 19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

“Simon Peter” … John used both his names in our Passage. A sad few verses where Peter denies the Lord!

When we first meet this man in John’s Gospel he is known as Simon. Andrew his brother is bringing him to Jesus! “He first findeth his own brother SIMON, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” John 1:4, Simon his natural name, his birth name.

But very soon Jesus changes his name! “And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called CEPHAS, which is by interpretation, A stone.” John 1:42, where the Aramaic (Hebrew) name Cephas is (in meaning) identical to the Greek name “PETER.”

Simon, his old name. Peter, his “new” name!

This scenario is a “parable” or an “illustration” of a truth evident in each Christian’s life. He or she has “two natures.” One is the old nature (our flesh which is still with us) … the other is the “new man” (Paul calls it) … we are spiritually “born again,” with a “new nature” indeed! We all have a Simon side and a Peter side!

This may be best authenticated in Scripture by Paul’s amazing 7th chapter in the Book of Romans.

“15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:15-24, clearly an upward “pull” and a “downward” pull!

The solution to this dilemma … Romans chapter 8, the Holy Spirit of God! He helps me overcome the tendencies of the old nature and also helps me build the desires and inclinations of the new nature!

Wow!

How did I forget to say this in the video class?

One more thought …

Peter stood by the fires of the world and got into trouble. Paul counsels the younger Preacher Timothy to … “stir up” the gift of God that was in him! This verb means “KEEP THE FIRE ALIVE!” That’s the right fire to stand near, the fire of Holy Spirit fervor!

Watch the class today …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Old Dr. M. R. DeHaan (a Bible teacher of yesteryear, long in Heaven now) used to say that when this Andrew’s brother is called “Simon” it’s an indication that he had been living under the influence of his old nature. And when the Lord calls Him Peter, his new nature was operating well! BUT WHEN HE WAS “SIMON PETER,” both the good and the bad were evident! Something to think about!

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Read it please …

10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? 12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. 14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Class yesterday (it’s usually the next calendar day before I post the “I forgot to say” Article) discussed the wicked, apostate High Priest of Jesus’ Day! His lineage did much damage to the Cause of Christ. “Annas” means “humble” but he was not!

By why are names such as these, Annas and Caiaphas and Malchus, in this short Paragraph? I believe they add a touch of historicity to the Passage. God’s Word is accurate, infallible even, in every area it addresses, including local events. So, the Holy Spirit at times lets us verify the Text, if we so desire.

One commentator equated Peter’s sin of denial with Judas’ sin of betrayal. Personally, I disagree. Peter repented, but not Judas.

The “Caiaphas” Prophecy, mentioned in verse 14, was clearly meant as EVIL against Jesus. But God turned it into GOOD! That “Good” being our very salvation!

Recall Genesis 50:20 please. Jospeh is speaking to his brothers … “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

Wow!

Peter, the essential sword we need as we pursue our Ministries is “the Sword of the Spirit!” Read Ephesians 6:17, Paul’s classic “whole armour of God” Passage.

Peter denied. But Jesus faithfully gave (before Pilate) a “good confession!” Notice 1 Timothy 6:13, an old Preacher to a young one … “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.”

Adam was “driven out” of the Garden of Eden, due to his sin, Genesis 3:24. Jesus was willingly “led out” of the Garden of Gethsemane, to obtain our eternal salvation!

I am particularly enjoying these John Lessons. And as always, you are invited to watch the whole video …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Text …

“1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.”

Jesus is being arrested! One of the preludes to the Cross of Calvary, this Apprehension. One Preacher said: “In the Gospels (particularly John) the Cross is not an accident, it is the Goal!”

Here 600+ men fall backwards at the mention of the Name “I AM!” Compare that fact with Psalm 27:2 … “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”

And Psalm 35:4 … “Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.”

The Greek verb “to betray” is “paradidomi.” It grammatically mean’s “to hand over.” Judas handed Jesus over to the Pharisees! They handed Jesus over to the High Priest. He handed Jesus over to Pilate. Pilates handed Jesus over to Herod. Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate. Pilate handed Jesus over to the scourgers. They handed Jesus over to the executioners. But in reality, Jesus handed Himself over to Death, even the Death of the Cross! (“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:17-18)

And truthfully, even John 3:16 has God the Father handing Jesus over to the whole wide world to come and die and thereby save its lost inhabitants. Yes, the verb “gave” in John 3:16 is that Greek verb “paradidomi!”

These two words … “I AM” … and one writer (commentator) broke out into song … “ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME!”

Remember that in the Gospel of John Jesus knows everything! He is omniscient! “Proof Texts” indicating such knowledge include … John 1:48, 2:24-25, and 5:6. Add then john 6:61, 7:28-29 and 8:14!

Oh, what a Saviour!

If you’d like, go to our YouTube channel and watch the class now.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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