Come to the table and taste of the Glory
And savor the sorrow, He's dying tomorrow
The hand that is breaking the bread
Soon will be broken
And here at the table
Sit those who have loved Him
One is a traitor and one will deny
Though He's lived His life for them all
And for all be crucified (Come to the Table, Michael Card)(1)
Once Judas, the traitor, made his terrible decision, Jesus could turn His attention to the other disciples. One disciple. in particular, would receive the Messiah’s full and loving attention. That disciple was Simon, whom Jesus named Rock (in Aramaic, Cephas, in Greek, Petros, and for us, Peter). Turning to the seating chart again, as we did last week, notice where Peter was likely sitting. Given the custom of reclining to eat the Passover, Peter would be leaning on his left elbow. In John 13:24, Peter asked the beloved disciple to ask Jesus who would betray Him. That makes best sense if Peter was where this chart places him.
That place was considered the servant’s place. Was Jesus demoting or insulting Peter by placing him there? Consider Luke’s telling in 22:27, “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves” (NIV). The Messiah turns social pecking orders upside down and placed the man to whom Jesus conferred leadership to be in the servant’s place.
But this servant-leader’s faith would be severely tested:
Luke 22: 31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (NIV).
With shades of Job, Jesus warned Peter of what would come his way, and then what he would be called to do. However, Peter would have none of that!
“Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33 NIV)
In his own mind, Peter was assured and self-confident. However, Jesus knew the rest of the story.
“I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:34 NIV)
When all of that unfolded, Peter did just what Jesus predicted:
…60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62 NIV)
Did Peter suffer an unexpected moment of cowardice? I argue that he did not. A coward doesn’t start wildly swinging his sword against impossible odds. Peter may have been supremely foolish, but he was no coward. I believe that what he was, was supremely confused and disillusioned. In his mind, Peter’s world and the last three years of his life were collapsing around him. Jesus, the Messiah, wasn’t going to fight! Instead, He was peacefully surrendering! How could that be? Peter denied Jesus out of confusion and despair. Jesus’ look at that moment, crushed Peter. Bitter tears were his only response.
When we are at the Table we should wish to be at the servant’s seat and joyfully give service, for that’s the true seat of honor. However, we should not be self-confident. Certain that we, by our own power, would never deny Jesus, might find ourselves doing just that. Rather, we should pray that the power of the Holy Spirit fills us with His power. In 1834, James Montgomery had Peter in mind, when he wrote this verse:
In the hour of trial,
Jesus, plead for me,
Lest by base denial
I depart from Thee.
When Thou seest me waver,
With a look recall,
Nor, for fear or favor,
Suffer me to fall. (2)
In 2025, that’s my prayer.
Tim Kelley
(1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY0s6n0u9Vs
(2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcoE4NpxvaU