John 20:1-10 (also Mk. 16:5-8; Lu. 24:1-12)

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,  7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

I think this passage in John contributes the most to our study of Peter, but Mark and Luke will help to fill in the gaps. As we can see in John’s gospel, only Mary Magdelene is mentioned; and she may have been the leading character, but there were actually three women that went to the tomb (Mk. 16:1): Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. And when these three arrived they found the stone of the tomb rolled away. Then, when they entered the tomb, they found it empty, and two angels said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (Lu. 24:5-7).

And Mark’s gospel also tells us that one of the angel’s said to them, “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you’” (Mk. 16:7).

So, the three women ran to tell the disciples what had happened; and apparently, Mary Magdalene outran the other women and told Peter (and also John) what the angels had said.

Well, as you can read in the John text, Peter and John ran to the tomb and discovered that it was empty just as Mary had told them. So, it appears that besides the three women, Peter was the next (and then John) to see that Jesus was resurrected. I have a feeling that God wanted Peter to be the first disciple to discover His resurrection; and according to Luke 24:34, though we don’t have any direct account of it, it seems that he was also the first disciple that Jesus appeared to. First, He appeared to Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20:14-18); next, he appeared to the other two women (Matt. 28:9-10); third, according to the Scripture record, He appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus (Lu. 24:13-33); then, these two Emmaus disciples met with the eleven disciples at Jerusalem, and they all happily declared the news of Jesus resurrection and that he appeared to Simon (Lu. 24:34).

And though we don’t know exactly when Jesus and Peter met together, I’m sure it was a happy reunion, as Peter had much to confess, and when Jesus, I’m sure, assured Peter of His love and forgiveness toward him.

Matthew 26:69-75 (also Mk. 14:66-72; Lu. 22:55-62; Jn. 18:25-27)

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

In this account of Peter’s three denials, it appears that all four gospels generally agree to the details. Peter (and possibly John) was standing (and also sitting) in the courtyard with slaves and officers, warming themselves around a charcoal fire, waiting for what was to be done with Jesus as the high priest was questioning Him (Jn. 18:19-24).

Then suddenly as they were sitting around the fire, a servant-girl, followed by another servant-girl, came and accused Peter of being one of Jesus’ followers. And Peter denied it each time. Then about an hour later a bystander accused him and he again denied it. And it seemed that with each accusation Peter’s denial became stronger, And on the third denial, by the bystander, Peter even began to curse and swear—trying to make his denial more believable.

Then, without warning, after Peter’s third denial a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered what Jesus said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Also, as Peter was remembering what Jesus said, he turned and saw Jesus looking straight at him. At that point Peter began to weep, and he ran out of the courtyard still weeping bitterly.

We hear nothing more about Peter or any of the disciples until after Jesus was resurrected. But I think that at the point of Peter’s weeping, this was the point of his repentance. And from that day to His resurrection, I think it may be assumed that they all were repentant of their betrayal of Jesus, were morning His death, and were very confused.

Matthew 26:57-58 (also Mk. 14:50-55; Lu. 22:54-56; Jn. 18:12-17)

Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

Of the four gospels Luke was somewhat the same as Matthew, but Mark’s and John’s gospel had more to add. Mark included a young man (probably himself) who was taken captive but managed to escape naked when he pulled free of his loose clothing. John’s gospel includes another disciple (also, probably John himself) who was following Jesus with Peter, who helped Peter to enter with him into the courtyard of the high priest.

For some reason Peter was unable to enter the courtyard and stood at the doorway before John helped him come in; for John knew the high priest and he also had some influence with the doorkeeper. Hence I take it that John was more friendly with people, and Peter was not. But we don’t really know why the doorkeeper would not let him in.

Matthew 26:57-58 (also Mk. 14:50-55; Lu. 22:54-56; Jn. 18:12-17)

Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

Of the four gospels Luke was somewhat the same as Matthew, but Mark’s and John’s gospel had more to add. Mark included a young man (probably himself) who was taken captive but managed to escape naked when he pulled free of his loose clothing. John’s gospel includes another disciple (also, probably John himself) who was following Jesus with Peter, who helped Peter to enter with him into the courtyard of the high priest.

For some reason Peter was unable to enter the courtyard and stood at the doorway before John helped him come in; for John knew the high priest and he also had some influence with the doorkeeper. Hence I take it that John was more friendly with people, and Peter was not. But we don’t really know why the doorkeeper would not let him in.

Matthew 26:31-35 (also Mk. 14:27-31; Lu. 22:31-34; Jn. 13:21-24, 36-38)

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.’  32 “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”  33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”  35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

After they partook of the Passover meal, and after Jesus led the ceremony regarding the elements (the bread as His body and the wine as His blood), while they were still at the table, He began revealing to the disciples that they would all fall away from Him. And He backed up His prediction from the Scriptures (in Zechariah 13:7).

It is amazing that Peter and all the others did not believe what Jesus said—even though he quoted from the prophet Zechariah. Apparently, they did not regard the Scriptures as the absolute, true word of God. And it appears that Peter was the most defiant about not denying Him. for he said that even if all the rest of His disciples fall away, he would never fall away. Hence he must have thought of himself as being the strongest in resisting this evil.

But Jesus quickly set Peter straight, telling him that he would definitely deny Him three times that very night. And did Peter change his position? No. He still remained certain in his supposed loyalty. It was amazing how all the disciples’ determination would not be strong enough.

The gospel of Luke (Lu. 22:31-34) has a little different account; bringing Satan into the matter. Jesus said to Peter (note: using the name Simon instead of Peter):

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;  32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”  33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

Notice here that Jesus did not pray that Peter would resist falling away (for it was already prophesied); rather that when he does stumble that his faith would not fail (that is, not fail completely). And he prays also that when he repents and turns back, he would strengthen his brothers. Hence Jesus sees that Peter will be the leader that he was meant to be.

John’s gospel is also different than the others. In John 13:36, when Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, where are You going?” this is no doubt in response to what He said earlier (in verse 33), “Where I am going, you cannot come.” He was maybe referring to His death, but more likely to His ascension after His death and resurrection.

So here, Peter wanted to go with Him and die with Him if it came to that. But when Jesus said (in verse 36) “Where I go, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow Me later,” I think that Jesus was saying that they would eventually die for Him and then also be resurrected and go to heaven—just as He would.

Then, of course, when Peter insisted on his loyalty, Jesus had to give him the bad news: that he would deny Him three times. These words are found in all four gospels; and unfortunately, is what Peter has been most known for.