Why did Peter deny Jesus thrice even after Jesus foretelling it?

[Shri Anil asked: The prominent disciple of Jesus, Peter told that “I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Subsequently, when Jesus was arrested by the soldiers, after an initial brief protest by cutting the ear of a soldier, Peter ran away. Further at three places he rejected Jesus saying he never knew Him, when some of the people questioned him about his association with Jesus, though, he later repented about this and came back. I have learnt from Your knowledge that the Human Incarnation alone guides the devotees by giving right knowledge. He never forces it on the devotee. The devotee has to walk in the direction given by the Satguru by their own effort, guided by the knowledge learnt  from the Satguru. Even though Peter was with Jesus for so long and had learnt knowledge and seen many miracles performed by Jesus, the knowledge digested so far by the Peter, vaporised in just a moment, when such a severe test was conducted. Swami, why did a great devotee like Peter stumble even when Jesus had already foretold about his future slip to him very clearly? The answer to this will be helpful for all of us in our spiritual effort.]

Swami replied: Theoretical spiritual knowledge and theoretical devotion are necessary to generate practical knowledge and practical devotion. But the practical side is very difficult compared to the theoretical side. Only a few blessed souls stand in the practical field, whereas, almost all stand only in the theoretical side. The practical side requires real love for God, without the aspiration for any fruit in return. The tests of God Datta are always on the practical side of devotion and not on the theoretical side. He never asks any devotee in His test to recite the tenth verse of the tenth chapter in the Gītā. He tests the devotee in the devotee’s practical love for Him by competing with the devotee’s strongest worldly bond.

Keywords:

| Shri Datta Swami | Why did Peter deny Jesus thrice even after Jesus foretelling it? |