I was studying in the Word about "Watching" and found something interesting that is worth sharing. I want to look at the account of Peter's denial, but first let me start by laying some foundations. Looking at the account of creation, we see God's establishment of the first day and how the day was comprised:
"Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." Genesis 1:3-5 NKJV
We see in this passage that the day started in the evening. This is how the Hebrews and the Jews recognized the day. This is a different mindset and approach to the day. The first watch, in the evening, lays the groundwork for the upcoming day, before bedtime. We are all to watch over ourselves, our families, and our "gardens" - our sphere of influence where we labor for and in the kingdom.
Next, looking at the account of the fall (Gen 3), one could say that by Adam not watching, he was deceived and fell. "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field..." (Gen 3:1) - our enemy comes to deceive us and lead us into sin - to distract us from tending to our "garden" or place of dominion. 1 Peter 4:8 exhorts us to be self controlled and alert (watchful) because the adversary is like a roaring lion looking for something to devour. Peter then urges us after being alert (watchful), to resist him. We see here in Genesis that Adam did not resist, rather entertained the serpent's proposition and ultimately fell. He essentially fell asleep spiritually on the watch.
Now we zoom forward to the second Adam - Jesus - as he watched in another garden:
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”Matthew 26:36-50 NKJV
Jesus was watching over his calling and ultimate purpose (His garden/dominion). It is interesting to note that as He watched, he checked on the disciples, only to find them sleeping 3 times. Now remember this number 3 - it is important in what comes next. Jesus was victorious here in what was to come - He understood the need to "watch and pray" and stayed awake, and ultimately prevailed in the greatest victory. But Peter did not stay awake and watch, we see Jesus found him sleeping three times.
As we see in the following passage, the denial by Peter accounts him denying Christ 3 times:
Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. (Matt 26:69-75 NKJV)
Peter denied Christ the same number of times that he fell asleep on the watch with Jesus. Would Peter have denied Jesus those 3 times had he not fallen asleep on the watch? I think we can learn from Peter's denial, and learn from what Peter said in 1 Peter 4 and watch over ourselves, our calling, the Lord, and the wiles of the enemy.
"Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." Genesis 1:3-5 NKJV
We see in this passage that the day started in the evening. This is how the Hebrews and the Jews recognized the day. This is a different mindset and approach to the day. The first watch, in the evening, lays the groundwork for the upcoming day, before bedtime. We are all to watch over ourselves, our families, and our "gardens" - our sphere of influence where we labor for and in the kingdom.
Next, looking at the account of the fall (Gen 3), one could say that by Adam not watching, he was deceived and fell. "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field..." (Gen 3:1) - our enemy comes to deceive us and lead us into sin - to distract us from tending to our "garden" or place of dominion. 1 Peter 4:8 exhorts us to be self controlled and alert (watchful) because the adversary is like a roaring lion looking for something to devour. Peter then urges us after being alert (watchful), to resist him. We see here in Genesis that Adam did not resist, rather entertained the serpent's proposition and ultimately fell. He essentially fell asleep spiritually on the watch.
Now we zoom forward to the second Adam - Jesus - as he watched in another garden:
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”Matthew 26:36-50 NKJV
Jesus was watching over his calling and ultimate purpose (His garden/dominion). It is interesting to note that as He watched, he checked on the disciples, only to find them sleeping 3 times. Now remember this number 3 - it is important in what comes next. Jesus was victorious here in what was to come - He understood the need to "watch and pray" and stayed awake, and ultimately prevailed in the greatest victory. But Peter did not stay awake and watch, we see Jesus found him sleeping three times.
As we see in the following passage, the denial by Peter accounts him denying Christ 3 times:
Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. (Matt 26:69-75 NKJV)
Peter denied Christ the same number of times that he fell asleep on the watch with Jesus. Would Peter have denied Jesus those 3 times had he not fallen asleep on the watch? I think we can learn from Peter's denial, and learn from what Peter said in 1 Peter 4 and watch over ourselves, our calling, the Lord, and the wiles of the enemy.
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