Peter's denial of Jesus is found in all four Gospels, and unfolds in the hours of Jesus’ greatest need. Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, transitions from a declaration of unwavering loyalty to a sequence of denials that he ever knew Jesus. While this decision highlights Peter’s weaknesses—fear being central to his actions— it also sets the stage for his later redemption and reaffirmation of faith.
Discover the facts about this Holy Week event, why it is an important part of the Easter story, and what lessons we can learn from Peter's mistake.
Peter Denies Jesus: Table of Contents
Following the Last Supper with His disciples, John 17 displays a quiet moment of spiritual intimacy between Jesus and His Heavenly Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prays for His disciples, asking that they be one, kept by God, protected from evil, sanctified by the Word, and present with Jesus where He is going. This prayer can be considered the finishing touch on an evening of increasingly shocking and comforting statements made by Jesus to His closest followers, preparing for the horrific events of what is now known as Good Friday.
Though they had followed Him for a significant amount of time, and though the Gospels record Jesus’ earlier mentions of His coming sacrifice, the disciples seem unsure about exactly which events will unfold or how they will unfold. As late as John 16, some say Jesus is now “speaking plainly and not using figurative speech”—to which Jesus questions if they now truly believe (John 16:29-30).
Perhaps they wondered why Jesus seemed to be preparing them for His departure. It was, after all, the Passover. Though the parallel between the sacrificial lamb (Exodus 12) and the Lamb of God would occur to them days later, the disciples likely thought they would celebrate the holy festival with their rabbi before continuing ministry with Him. But then Jesus makes a startling statement: He says they will be scattered and leave him alone (John 16:32).
When Did Peter Deny Jesus?
The story of Peter’s denial appears in all four canonical gospels, though accounts of the details vary. During the Last Supper, Jesus surprisingly states that on that very evening, one of the twelve will betray Him (John 13:21)—and though most of the disciples seem distressed about the thought of abandoning Jesus, it is Peter’s response that is given the most weight. Peter insists that he could never betray his Lord, but Jesus replies that before the rooster crows the following morning, Peter will deny Him three times (John 13:38).
As they leave the upper room where they’ve just celebrated the Last Supper, Jesus and the disciples go out to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. Roman guards subsequently arrest Jesus in the garden for crimes against Caesar.
John 18:17 tells us that when Jesus is arrested and taken to the high priest Caiaphas, Peter is shut out of the courtyard, away from the proceedings. The servant girl at the courtyard door asks if Peter is one of Jesus’ disciples, and Peter denies this. As Jesus is being questioned, Peter is later asked in John 18:25-27 by two different individuals if he is a follower of Christ, one asking, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter denies both queries, leading to the third denial and the rooster’s crowing as prophesied by Jesus.
Why Did Peter Deny Jesus?
According to author and former religion professor Eric D. Huntsman, “... we ought to be particularly careful about how we judge the actions and especially the motivations of historical figures about whose circumstances we know so little. Nevertheless, there is a long tradition of using Peter’s failing that night first as a criticism of the Apostle himself and then as a model of how believers should not act.”
It’s commonly held that Peter denied Jesus out of abject fear. Like the other disciples, he had heard Jesus’ explanation of His coming death and yet reacted as one using trauma coping mechanisms. No Jew was ignorant of Rome’s calculated violence toward detractors, and extreme shock could have caused Peter (and any of his peers) to respond self-protectively.
Much is also made of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus—though the other disciples fled the scene, it is Peter and Judas whose actions are highlighted. Here the gospel writers offer helpful contrast: Judas intentionally, willfully, and premeditatedly gave Jesus up to be arrested (Matthew 26:14-16). As for the other ten disciples, it is unclear whether they were questioned or otherwise held to account by strangers the way Peter was. From how the Gospels describe it, they fled and hid together, which meant they had at least comfort in numbers. One could argue that while Peter denied Jesus, he also placed himself in a position physically close to Jesus’ trial to be near Him in some way. Though it may be a matter of semantics, Peter didn’t deny Jesus; he denied knowing Jesus to three strangers. His later repentance would show that he never wanted to abandon Jesus.
Perhaps Peter was angry that this was the plan. He didn’t want Jesus to suffer but to ride out in glory; similar hypotheses have been made about Judas. Neither man seemed to be on the same page as Jesus and didn’t want to face the reality of Jesus not doing what they hoped He would do.
Most importantly, the denial fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy. Had it not happened, Jesus’ claim to be God’s Son could have been questioned.
What Happened After Peter Denied Jesus?
“... At that moment a rooster began to crow” (John 18:27). Thus begins the acceleration of Jesus’ suffering. He is led away from high priest Caiaphas to Roman governor Pilate for further questioning (John 18:28-38); sentenced to death (John 18:39-40); is tortured and taunted (John 19:1-9); and ultimately crucified (John 19:17-18) and buried (John 19:38-42).
What Can We Learn from Peter Denying Jesus?
Jesus knows far more than we do about how we will think, speak, and act. Despite Peter’s protestations, Jesus reveals that Peter will deny Him. Before this exchange, Jesus washes Peter’s feet and the other disciples’ feet, demonstrating servant leadership. After the exchange, Peter is still included in the final moments before Jesus’ arrest. In other words, Jesus anticipates Peter’s actions, yet He does not cast him out of the group. Rather, Peter receives the same instruction and encouragement as his peers.
Jesus always stands ready to forgive and restore. After the resurrection, Jesus appears multiple times to the disciples and others. On one occasion, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him (some would say one for each time he denied knowing Jesus). When Peter affirms he loves Jesus, Jesus gives him the charge to care for the believers after Jesus ascends to His Father. Peter’s response (John 21:15) indicates that he knew Jesus understood his denial was impulsive—a reflection of his poor understanding of Christ’s upcoming resurrection.
Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, and He loved him anyway. Similarly, He understands that the pressures of this life wear on us and can cause us to waver in our resolve. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us...” (1 John 1:9). Jesus allowed his “faithlessness” for a time for the greater faith that would come after the resurrection. As 2 Timothy 2:13 says, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”
Through Jesus, redemption is available. In the opening pages of the Book of Acts, following Jesus’ ascension, who rallies the other disciples? Who speaks for the group, to a gathering of soon-to-be-converts, about repentance and faith? Peter (Acts 1:15-26, 2:14-42). The disciple became a rock of the early church, as Jesus foretold—embarking on missionary journeys, penning two epistles, and more. A moment (or two) of weakness could not negate what Jesus wanted to accomplish through the life of Peter.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Marjan_Apostolovic
Anna Oelerich is a Chicago-area church youth director, freelance writer, and graduate of Taylor University. She received her B.S. in Professional Writing in 2018, but has loved words—reading, storytelling, list-making, and even handwriting—for as long as she can remember. Previously, she served as the marketing and communications coordinator for a community foundation, where she shared powerful stories of generosity, and encouraged others to give. When writing an article, or developing programming for her students, Anna enjoys highlighting the historical and cultural contexts of familiar Bible passages so others feel they are living the stories for themselves.
