During the time of the Last Supper, Jesus knew that a few of his disciples would forsake him in his greatest time of need. He knew one of them — Judas — would turn him over to the soldiers who would them crucify him. But he also told of a disciple who would deny knowing Jesus at all. That disciple was Peter.
“Tonight, before the rooster crows twice, you will three times disown me,” Jesus told him, though Peter was adamant that he would not.
That night in a courtyard, a woman approached Peter and asked if he were with Jesus, one of his disciples, and Peter said he was not. Later, a man spoke with him and asked the same thing, and Peter denied it a second time. Finally, several people said he must be one of the disciples, as he was from Galilee and talked like the others, and Peter grew angry. He cursed, swore, and said he was not a disciple of Jesus.
Immediately upon the third denial, a rooster crowed, and Peter was filled with shame for what he had just done. Jesus had seen what he would do, and sure enough, Peter had done it. Peter broke down and wept.
Some scholars argue that Peter knew what the fate of Jesus would be, and he knew someone had to remain to spread the word of God and keep faith alive — and that if he admitted he knew Jesus, he could be crucified as well. Though it is very easy to claim one would die for their beliefs, when push comes to shove, most people would do what Peter did and try to find a way out of something they fear.
Others claim that Peter’s denials were God’s way of showing him not to be arrogant or boastful. Peter had previously said he loved Jesus more than the other disciples did, and he would go further than they to make certain the word of God was spread. But despite his boasts, Peter was the one who denied him, and that punched a hole in his arrogant bubble.