John 18:15, commentary and pictures

After His arrest the two who followed Jesus bound and at a distance were Peter and John, following Him from the garden to Annas and then to Caiaphas on the way to Pilate and Herod. The other disciple was John, who was known to the high priest and went in with Jesus into the palace and judgment hall while Peter stood outside at the door, until John spoke to the woman keeping the door in Peter's favor and brought him inside where he was recognized and questioned. John stayed openly as a follower of Jesus without disguise or false character, keeping to a retired corner as near Jesus as possible apart from those mocking Him and therefore arousing no suspicion, while Peter mingled with His enemies by the fire as one of the crowd and put himself in the way of temptation that led to his denial. To hide one's identity and faith from fear of ridicule and suffering is itself a denial of the Lord, and so Peter, bold in open combat while trusting in himself, became cowardly under scorn and from fear for his safety denied three times, even with cursing and swearing, giving Jesus His sharpest pain. Jesus' sorrowful look melted Peter's heart to bitter repentance and conversion to become a humble, sympathizing and bold witness who could strengthen others, while the priest had admitted John hoping that seeing his Leader humiliated would turn him against Jesus and make him scorn Him as the Son of God.

Entering the High Priest's Palace

After fleeing in the garden the two who followed Jesus at a distance as He was led away bound after arrest were Peter and John. They followed Him first to Annas for questioning and then to Caiaphas, within the longer course from Annas to Caiaphas to Pilate to Herod and back to Pilate. The other disciple named with Peter was John. Being known to the high priest, John went in with Jesus into the palace, the judgment hall, while Peter at first stood outside at the door without.

John then went out to the woman keeping the door and spoke to her in Peter's favor, obtaining permission and bringing Peter inside into the hall where he was recognized and questioned. The priest knew John as a well-known disciple of Jesus and for that reason admitted him into the hall where Jesus was being questioned. He allowed this hoping that watching his Leader humiliated and questioned would bring John under the same spirit as Jesus' enemies, turn him against Jesus, and make him scorn the idea that one subjected to such indignities could be the Son of God.

What they entered to witness was the beginning of the account before Caiaphas, where Jesus endured accusations, questioning, and mockery in a secret mock trial. Peter and John witnessed much of it. It was kept secret despite the pretense of legal proceedings so the people would not learn what was happening and testify to Jesus' mighty works, lest such testimony turn public indignation against the Sanhedrin, condemn its actions, and secure Jesus' release and renewed honor among the people.

Open Loyalty and Denial

John went in openly as a follower of Jesus, braving danger out of devotion to his Master, without disguising his allegiance, pretending to be someone else, or assuming a false character. He did not join the crowd insulting Jesus or mingle with the rough company mocking Him, but sought a retired, secluded corner secure from observation of the mob yet as near to Jesus as possible, where he could hear and see all that transpired at the trial of his Lord. Because he assumed no false character and did not conceal his discipleship, he laid himself open to no suspicion and was not questioned. Peter, by contrast, hid his identity and tried to pass as one of the crowd and of Jesus' captors, mingling with Jesus' enemies and standing by the fire, thereby putting himself in the way of temptation. Their presence together there, John having secured Peter's entrance, set the scene for Peter's denial.

Disguising one's faith from fear of ridicule, scorn, suffering or reproach, and hiding identity to avoid questioning, is itself a denial of the Lord. Peter's course shows that one ready to be brave in open combat and trusting in himself can become cowardly and afraid when mocked or scorned. Associating with people who tempt believers to compromise can lead them to say or do what they otherwise would not, and those who urge such compromise may later despise the believer for yielding.

Peter had followed to see what would happen to Jesus, but when accused of being His disciple he feared for his own safety and denied knowing Him three times, the last time with cursing and swearing. The sharpest pain to Jesus amid accusations, questioning and mockery came when He heard His beloved disciple deny Him in this way. Jesus' sorrowful, reproving look then brought Peter's words back to mind and melted his heart, leading him to bitter repentance and conversion anew.

Afterward Peter was converted anew and became humble, able to sympathize with the weak, warn the presumptuous, and strengthen his fellow disciples and believers, turning back into a bold witness for Christ, in contrast to John's steady watching with Him in the judgment hall. This ordeal of betrayal, condemnation, humiliation and rejection by the crowd was one for which Jesus had prepared His faithful disciples by letting fickle followers turn away while He was still with them. Remembering that earlier defection, they could recognize that others might abandon Him and would not be surprised or have their faith shaken by the world's changing favor.