When Jesus was led from Gethsemane to Jerusalem, John and Peter followed afar off. When He was brought into the high priest's palace, John, who knew the high priest, also entered it. But Peter stood outside. Then John went out and spoke to her that kept the door and brought Peter in. When the maid that kept the door saw Peter, she said: "Aren't you also one of this man's disciples?" But Peter passed her and went into the inner court, where the servants had made a fire of coals for themselves, for it was cold. And after standing there awhile, he sat down among them and warmed himself. He wanted to see what would happen to Jesus. Then the maid that kept the door followed him, and seeing him in the light of the fire, she looked sharply at him and said: "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." And turning to the servants, she said: "This man was also with Him." But Peter denied before them all and said: "Woman I am not; I don't know Him, and I don't know what you are saying." And he went into the passageway. And the cock crowed for the first time.- Meanwhile the things we heard yesterday transpired with Jesus. Peter saw it. He returned to the fire. And the first maid that kept the door also came back and said to them that were there: "This also is one of them." And another maid said: "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." And one of the servants said to Peter: "You are also one of them." Then Peter denied for the second time with an oath, and said: "Man, I am not! I do not know the man."- After a while, about an hour later, while the Lord was detained before Annas, those who stood by came to Peter and said to him: "Surely, you also are one of them for your speech betrays you." They meant his Galilean dialect. And one of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of that Malchus whose ear Peter had cut off, said to him: "Didn't I see you in the garden with Him?" Then Peter began to curse and swear, saying: "I don't know this man of whom you speak." And the cock crowed for the second time. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter called to mind the word of the Lord: "Before the cock crows twice, you shall deny Me thrice." And he went out and wept bitterly. Since our dear Lord gave His life for our salvation and sacrificed Himself for us, we, who believe in Him, must offer the sacrifice of praise which consists in confessing His name freely, gladly, and fearlessly. Surely that is most certainly true.- Have you ever in any way denied your Saviour before the unbelievers and the wicked? But when Jesus most graciously turned to you, did you, like Peter, repent?