Are they times in your life when your deepest fear is to meet familiar faces? Have you ever publicly accused someone of something they had done? How will you feel if you recognize someone who claims he is not who he is? All the above scenarios are possible situations we encounter daily. First, when you find yourself in an awkward or unpleasant situation, the first thing that comes to mind is, "I hope no one I know finds me here". It is also possible to catch someone doing something and right in your face, they will deny it outright. Lastly, if you meet your friend or an acquaintance in an awkward situation, sometimes, they will even deny knowing you or deny their identity. The main reason for all the above-mentioned scenarios is fear. Fear can cause people to make irrational decisions and then regret later. This post will consider some unnamed servant girls who saw a familiar face but their recognition led to a denial of identity. This incident is recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 26: 69ff; Mark 14:66ff; Luke 22:56ff and John 18:17ff).
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. (Matthew 26:69)
To begin, this event happened on the night Jesus was arrested. Right before His captors in the Garden of Gethsemane all the disciples deserted Him and fled (Matthew 26:56b). Jesus was arrested and taken to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled (the Sanhedrin, see Matthew 26:57). Following the temple police who arrested Jesus was Simon Peter and another disciple (John). The other disciple was known to the high priest, so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in (see John 18:15-16). The servant girls in the courtyard recognized Peter. Remember, Peter's master was on trial which could possibly lead to death. Thus identifying with Jesus could possibly lead to further implications. Peter had promised Jesus that no matter what, he (Peter) will stand with Jesus. Now before these servant girls, Peter's fear was made manifest. Matthew 26:69 states this: "Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee”.
Peter was taken aback. Considering the environment and the possibility of being implicated together with his master, Peter replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about” (Matthew 26:70). Imagine the shock on the face of the servant girl who made the statement. Peter denied his master right before this servant girl and the rest of the people. Peter relocated to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 26:71). Another recognition by another servant girl but Peter denied it again and this time with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:72). In fact, another group of people recognized Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then Peter began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:73-75).
The servant girls did not lie. Peter lied! The servant girls identified the right person but the person denied his identity. In our day to day activities, we encounter a type of "servant girl" who constantly reminds us of our identity. This could be a colleague who will jokingly ask you, "I thought you are a Christian. Why are you doing this and that?" Your identity in Christ should not be hidden for fear of being called antisocial or for fear of being ridiculed for your faith. Anytime we hide our identity in Christ to engage in other vices or practices that go contrary to our faith, we have denied Christ. Sometimes, it might seem difficult to navigate a situation where confessing your faith might lead to ostracization. But, how long will we stand to deny our LORD before "servant girls".
Before you accuse Peter, look back and consider the different ways we have denied our LORD with our actions and words. Remember, there are servant girls everywhere… They are watching our every move and if we don't repent, they will stand before our LORD and accuse us before Him. If Jesus Christ cannot be identified with you in your secret place, then have no part in Him.
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