Q&A: Why deny?
mood: 
contemplative
contemplativeA: He was a sinner. One example of this that is recorded is that he had just sliced off the ear of the high priest where he ended up denying the Lord. Perhaps he saw the healed servant there. Perhaps it was one more example of the ups & downs of his (& our) human nature.
In John 18:10 Peter is recorded as being the disciple who sliced off Malchus' ear.
"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)" (NIV)
(Cross reference: Matt 26:51; Mark 14:47)
(I'm aware of no textual variants on John 18:10).
One online commentary:
18:10 The incident mentioned in this verse again contains details which imply eyewitness testimony. It is mentioned in all three of
the synoptic gospels, but only John records that the disciple involved was Peter, whose impulsive behavior has already been alluded to (13:37). Likewise only John tells us the name of the victim, Malchus, who is described as “the servant of the high priest.” John and Mark (14:47) both use a double diminutive to describe what was cut off,
and this may indicate only part of the right ear (for example, the earlobe).
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2
The right earlobe was to be atoned in the ordination of the high priest according to OT Levitical law.
It is my opinion that the synoptic Gospels did not include Peter's name for 2 reasons:
A. Peter was still alive at the time of their writing.
B. The writers of the synoptics did not want Peter to get in trouble with the Law.
Lesson: put away all violence, both verbal & physical. Do not retaliate. May God enable me to do this in my heart as well as actions & words.
- MJH.
