"15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a cock crowed."
John 18:15-27
This is a long passage, but the purpose in looking at it in one reading is to note something that John seems intent on underlining for us. He sets the account of Peter's denial in the story of the trial of Jesus, and this teaches the very important lesson that man's sin is exposed in the Scripture in the context of the Saviour's atoning and substitutionary-work - i.e. , human failure and despair are set in the light of God's love and power to redeem. That is the first lesson John teaches us in the story of Peter's denial. The second is this: how are we to explain the extraordinary contradiction that is Peter, a man who at one point is bold with the sword, and at the next is making cowardly denial of his Lord? We often hold up Peter and make him the butt of criticism, saying some very hard things about him - this is right and necessary in learning spiritually, for the Scriptures are given us for this very thing. All the same, what we say about Peter's failing should not blind us to the fact that he was a big man in every way, a notable, impressive character, bold and venturesome, and not at all of the cringing, miserable type. And the fact that it was such an one that fell so shamefully not only argues a depth of weakness in his heart of which he was entirely unaware, bearing witness to a contradiction in human nature that is very great and radical indeed, but also reminds us that this was the crisis hour of history building up to its aweful climax. Dark malignities were abroad that night, and cosmic currents were flowing with sinister flood-tides. It was in their dark vortex that Peter was caught and involved. Small wonder that he was swirled about like a cork in a raging stream. Not that this excuses his fall, but it serves at least to explain how such a disastrous fate overtook him. Christ has seen it coming and knew that Peter, being the man he was, would never stand. Only a spiritual giant could have done so, one who was utterly crucified to self, and therefore having access to spiritual power and grace.