“So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you” (1 Peter 5:1 NET).
As one of Jesus’ first disciples, Peter gained personal insight into the miraculous aspects of Jesus’ earthly ministry. For instance, Peter was there to see Jesus create dozens of gallons of wine from nothing but water. Peter saw Jesus bring someone back to life on at least two separate occasions. Peter was in attendance when Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and some fish; not once, but twice.
Peter also witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration when “His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them” (Mark 9:3). Yet when it came to Jesus’ great emotional struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter was one of the disciples who fell asleep. And, of course, Peter was among the disciples who deserted Jesus and fled at the time of His arrest and crucifixion.
With these things in mind, Peter’s claim to have been a witness to Christ’s sufferings may be difficult to understand. We can address that issue if we consider Peter’s interaction with Jesus during the final hours of His life. Although Peter distanced Himself from Jesus at the time of His arrest, the Gospel of Luke tells us they had one last exchange during that period.
Following His last meal with His disciples, Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Him three times. It was later during Jesus’ arraignment before the high council of Jewish leaders that Peter sought to warm himself near a fire in the courtyard of the High Priest. There were some who recognized Peter during that time and questioned him about his association with Jesus. Peter responded with a series of vehement denials– and that led to an emotionally wrenching sequence of events…
“At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62 NLT).
We can establish a connection between those events and Peter’s assertion of being an eyewitness to Christ’s sufferings in the following way…
“In that look Peter saw the suffering of the heart of a leader whose follower had failed him in the hour of his bitterest need. Of a truth Peter was a witness of the suffering that comes to Christ when men deny him; and that is why he was so eager that his people might be staunch in loyalty and faithful in service.” (1)
(1) Barclay, William. William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, “Memories Of Jesus (1Pe_5:1-4 continued).”