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for even thy speech[1] doth discover thee!” But Peter swore[2] that he knew not the man! [3] Then the cock crew a second time.
And the Lord, turning[4], looked[5] at Peter. That look pierced his heart. Remembering the words of his Divine Master: “Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice”, he went out[6], and wept[7] bitterly.
During that fearful night, Jesus was guarded in the court by the soldiery[8], who amused themselves by inflicting upon Him all manner of insults; they spat upon Him[9], blindfolded Him, and struck Him[10] in the Face. Early in the morning[11],
- ↑ Thy speech. The accent of the Galileans was broader than that of the inhabitants of Judaea. Among the men-servants standing by was a cousin of Malchus, whose ear Peter had cut off, and this man said that he had seen him in the garden.
- ↑ Swore. “He began to curse and to swear." Now that the servants actually recognised him, and as by this time his Master had been sentenced to death by the Sanhedrin, Peter’s fear increased, and he not only denied being our Lord’s follower, but denied that he even knew Him. He even confirmed his lie by an oath!
- ↑ The man. Thus did he style his Lord and Master, of Whom he had once confessed: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God !" Now he made out that Jesus was an absolute stranger to him!
- ↑ Turning. Our Blessed Lord was at that moment being led away from the council-chamber. It was not the unjust sentence of the Sanhedrin, or the brutal treatment of the attendants which caused Him then His bitterest pain — but the denial given by His chosen apostle!
- ↑ Looked. With a glance which, while full of sorrow and compassion, was one of light and grace. This one telling look from the eyes of his suffering Saviour pierced the very heart of Peter, who, in spite of what he had done, loved his Lord most dearly. He at once saw the greatness of his sin, and an unspeakable sorrow filled his heart.
- ↑ Went out. Unobserved, for all eyes were now fixed on Jesus.
- ↑ Wept. There he stood outside, in the darkness of the night. His heart was weighed down by the bitterest grief, and the tears gushed irresistibly from his eyes. Truly it must have been a moving sight!
- ↑ The soldiery. Having been condemned to death on the charge of blasphemy, our Blessed Lord was given over to these ruffians to treat Him as they liked.
- ↑ Spat upon Him. As a sign of utmost contempt. The face is the noblest part of a man; and therefore any insult directed against it, especially spitting, has been, in all ages, regarded as the very extreme of indignity. And yet our Lord suffered this indignity, not once, but repeatedly!
- ↑ Struck Him. Saying: “Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee?” or, in other words: “Surely, if Thou art the Messias, as Thou sayest Thou art, Thou must know, without seeing, who is striking Thee!” They wished to imply that Jesus was a deceiver, and did not know who it was that struck Him. Jesus made no reply to their questionings, which was interpreted by His tormentors to mean that He was unable to reply, and they met His silence by a fresh shower of insults, ridicule and ill-treatment; and blaspheming, many other things they said against Him.
- ↑ In the morning. On Friday morning.
