Matthew 26:69 says, Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  Peter, who had followed the crowd into the palace, now sat outside.  He may have boldly claimed that even if everyone else deserted Jesus, he never would, but he was separating himself more from Jesus.  We cannot stand firm in our faith if we do not know who Jesus really is.  At this point Peter saw Jesus as a powerless individual under the control of the crowd, because he still did not understand Who Jesus really was and always will be.  A damsel, or young girl, said that Peter was with Jesus, and he couldn't even stand up to her.  Under his own ability, Peter was helpless to even stand up to a young girl.  That is the extent of our power today to stand for Christ without knowing Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seventy says, But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.  When given his chance to stand with Jesus, Peter lied.  No matter what bold predictions we may make about following Christ, if we are confronted with a hostile situation and claim not to know Him, then our faith is a lie and our actions if not our words prove it.  Peter had moved physically farther away from Jesus, and now he denied even knowing Him.  Verse seventy-one states, And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.  Peter moved a little farther away, and once again was accused by a damsel of being with Jesus.  Though Peter did not betray Jesus for money, he betrayed Him out of fear.  Spiritually, it does not matter if we attempt to discredit Jesus or if we simply deny knowing Him.  Even if we profess that Jesus might indeed be the Savior of others, those who put their faith in Him, but not for us, we are just as lost as those who actively work against Him.  Verse seventy-two declares, And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.  Peter became a little more firm in his denial of knowing Jesus.  I believe that the farther we get from Christ, the more firm we become in our denial of Him.  Verse seventy-three says,  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.  Peter was accused for the third  time of knowing Jesus.  Peter was told that the way he spoke betrayed him.  It is not enough to just sound like a follower of Christ through, if we do not know Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Peter did not yet.  Verse seventy-four states, Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.  Peter went from simply denying knowing Jesus to denying knowing Him with an oath to denying knowing Him with cursing and swearing.  I believe that the farther we get from Christ the more sinful our behavior will become toward Him.  Verse seventy-five says, And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.  The cock immediately crowed, and Peter remembered Jesus' words, and he went out and wept bitterly.  If we have been fighting against acknowledging Jesus and then finally accept the truth of His words, we like Peter should be broken hearted for denying Him so long.  Peter realized that his bold words and actions before he was confronted with possible danger to himself for following Jesus did not matter.  Like Peter, we must accept the truth of God's word, then repent and follow Christ.  Though it doesn't say so at this point, we know that Peter did become a great witness for Jesus once he knew Who Jesus really was.  We cannot allow past failures, before or after we accept Christ, to keep us from boldly witnessing for Him.