We now come to Peter's denial. Peter's earlier protestations of his commitment and implied bravery prove to be completely hollow. There are few of us who are in any position to condemn Peter. Our human nature is far weaker than we imagine, and more sin and error prone than we admit. The converse is that if we live in dependence upon God then we are able to overcome far more and achieve far more than ever imagine. Whenever God tells or calls us to do something we often take it as "You do this", when the truth is that God is saying "You do this together with me". Often we need to be brought face to face with our failings in order to move into the strength that is open to us.
A servant girl came to him and she said she had seen him with Jesus. Peter denied this. One can imagine how easy it is to do this. In the atmosphere of the occasion we make an instant reaction, and it is often a wrong one.
The servant girl was convinced that she was right, but Peter again denied this. Even to the extent of calling down curses upon himself. Then the rooster crowed a second time and Peter realised how badly he had failed.
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