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The Third Denial

Text: John 18: 26 -27

THE THIRD DENIAL

A big task force went to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. One of those was there at the courtyard and he saw Peter.

“One of servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with Him?’ Peter then denied again;
and immediately a rooster crowed.” 

John 18:26-27

1. The incident of cutting the ear of a servant of the high priest

a. This incident was recorded in all of the Gospels.

b. Jesus healed the ear immediately.

c. He commanded Peter not to use his sword.

d. Everyone’s life could be endangered if the disciples had resorted to violence.

e. Only John noted that the servant’s name was called “Malchus” (John 18:10).

2. Malchus had a relative who was part of the task force

a. This relative also served as a servant of the high priest.

b. The incident of the cutting of the ear of a relative would not be easily forgotten.

c. He remembered seeing Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane.

d. Thus, he raised this awkward question to Peter.

3. A series of questions

a. The questions may have come one after another.

b. Once Peter starts denying, it would be very hard to reverse what he had said.

c. Thus, Peter went on to deny that he was a disciple of Jesus.

i. It was a shameful thing to deny Jesus.

ii. But fear prevailed over faith at this point of time.

AND IMMEDIATELY A ROOSTER CROWED

Jesus had accurately predicted that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.

1. At the third denial of Peter, the rooster crowed.

2. The self-confidence of Peter was shattered.

3. His strong words about not denying Jesus had come to nothing (John 13:37).

4. Once again, Jesus was proven right. He knew the heart of Peter. He had meant well. But he was still very weak.

经文：约翰福音 18：26-27

第三次不认耶稣

一大组人前往客西马尼公园逮捕耶稣。当中有一位在院子里，而他见到了彼得。

“有大祭司的一个仆人，是彼得削掉耳朵那人的亲属，说：‘我不是看见你同他在园子里吗？’彼得又不承认。立时鸡就叫了。”

《约翰福音 18：26-27》

1. 削掉大察司的仆人的耳朵的这件事

a. 每一本福音都记载了这件事

b. 耶稣马上把耳朵医治好

c. 祂命令彼得收刀入鞘，不准用刀

d. 门徒们若动粗，大家的性命都会受到危害

e. 只有约翰记载仆人的名叫做“马勒古”《约翰福音 18：10》

2. 马勒古的亲戚是逮捕耶稣的人中一位成员

a. 这亲戚也一样是大察司的仆人

b. 削掉亲戚的耳朵是难以忘记的一件事

c. 他记得在客西马尼公园见到彼得

d. 他于是问了彼得这道尴尬的问题

3. 一系列的问题

a. 问题有可能是接二连三的

b. 彼得一旦开始不认，想要反转他所说的就会很难了

c. 于是，彼得继续不认他是耶稣的门徒

i. 不认耶稣是件可耻的事

ii. 不过惧怕在这时刻胜过信心

立时鸡就叫了

耶稣正确的预言彼得会在鸡叫之前，三次不认耶稣。

1. 彼得第三次不认耶稣时，鸡立时就叫了

2. 彼得的自信完全被毁了

3. 他坚持不会不认耶稣的坚决落空了《约翰福音 13：37》

4. 耶稣再一次被证明是正确的。祂知道彼得的内心。他出自一番好意。不过他仍然非常软弱。