That's not what I meant, and I think you know it. I responded to your expressed standard of rationality. That's not what this is about. This is about faith, not rationality. What is rational to us is within such a subset of interests and consequences so narrow that we cannot know or understand the full implications of what we do. That's but one reason we have to trust Adonai and do what He says to do, whether we like it or not. In that sense, we would be irrational to behave rationally.
His denial of Christ...which Christ knew he would do...led him to become a great champion for His Savior and the Church.
Knew he would do or ordered them to do? That account in Matthew can be read both ways. For example, it would be entirely consistent that Peter (Kefa) would have wept bitterly when the cock crew because he so regretted having to go through with it as ordered, because he knew what portended and couldn't die with Him. They all had to know that Y'shua was committed to fulfulling the prophets through his death:
That wasn't the first time He'd explained His intentions. They knew He had plans for them after He was gone. He'd explained it too, more than once. After seeing Him conquer death in others, do you think it rational that they doubted Him?
We must fight that to the death.
Death by martyrdom can be the ultimate statement of commitment or an act of complete futility compared to fighting. It's hard to say which course is ultimately more effective in any individual instance, so I leave it to prayer to deal with that when or if the time comes.
Perhaps Peter was order or directed to deny Christ. I have often thought of that myself. But if he was, then the possibility exists that others, through His spirit might also be so convicted...even if it is against what they would want to do. All the more reason not to judge these men and their potential eternal disposition. That's my only point.