Peter was ready to fight to the death for Jesus. I think he relished the thought of swinging his sword to protect his Rabbi, and then watching Jesus pull some miraculous save-his-disciples stunt.
After all, Peter was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and would soon be crowned as king. Jesus's path to the throne was just a matter of fine print. Peter knew how it would end, with Jesus ruling. He was prepared for whatever it took to crown Jesus king.
But he was not prepared for the pressure coming his way. It was not pressure to shrink from battle, not pressure to speak heresy. His test came from the least threatening person he had ever seen. A servant girl noticed him in the courtyard, as Jesus's trial began. She simply asked if he was with Jesus. Peter's Galilean accent had given him away. Apparently Jesus also sounded like he was not from Jerusalem.
Peter, unfortunately, caved under the pressure. He denied being associated with Jesus, not once, but three times. This confrontation with the Jewish authorities was going all wrong, Peter thought, and he could not bring himself to be associated with his friend who was blowing his opportunity to rise to power.
Peter didn't get it, and so he turned his back on Jesus.
I wonder how often I don't get it, and turn my back on Jesus.
