"Impetuous Pete" scenes abound in the Bible, but they weren't always about what Peter did. Sometime they were about what Peter said.  When we read them, we are often left shaking our heads going, "Peter, Peter, Peter."

With all the foot-in-mouth disease Peter seemed to be dying from, still many times, Jesus poured His grace upon him. Peter was one of the three who observed the raising of Jarius's daughter, witnessed the transfiguration, and were called to pray in Gethsemane (a task he and James and John failed at). 

This singling out may have led to a somewhat cocky attitude from the already rough-and-tumbly Galilean. And with all the failings of this man, there is still one scene we can scarcely forget, and it took place in the Upper Room. Jesus told the disciples "this very night you will all fall away."

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." (Excerpt, Matthew 26: 31-35)

The other disciples agreed with Peter, but only Peter was destined to deny.  That denial came after his disobedience to what Jesus suggested just after His arrest. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go," Jesus said to the soldiers in John 18:8. In other words, take a clue, guys. Leave and leave now!

But Peter followed Jesus to the house of the high priest, hanging out in the courtyard, warming himself by a fire. Within about a two hour period, as Jesus was being interrogated, Peter denied being one of His disciples not once, not twice, but as Jesus said, three times.