Now we see Peter's predicted denial coming to pass. Peter was in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him. She said she had seen him with Jesus. Peter denied it. It is particularly poignant that it was a servant girl to whom he denied Jesus. There was no immediate threat, he was not being accused by a soldier or some official. Of course, the whole situation was shot through with danger. Even so, his earlier words of commitment proved to be hollow. I think most of us know that there are times when we are no better. Jesus knew Peter better than Peter did, and He could accept the truth. Moreover, He knew that He was going to change Peter by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a few weeks later this same Peter would be standing up before thousands in Jerusalem declaring the Lordship of Jesus. We need the risen Christ, and we need the Holy Spirit if we are going to be and do what we are supposed to be and do.
Peter went out of the gateway and then denied Jesus again to another servant girl. After that several people said he was one of the disciples, Peter's Galilean accent giving him away. Yet again Peter denied it, this time all the more vehemently, throwing in a few curses and swearing for good measure.
Then the rooster crowed. At this point Peter realised what he had done, realised how right Jesus was about him, realised how weak and fickle he was. So he wept bitterly.
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