COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 161
Mark 14:66 “ And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this Man of whom ye speak. 72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”
(Mark 14:66-72; Matt 26:69-75; Luke 22:56-62)
PETER DENIES THAT HE KNOWS JESUS
INTRODUCTION
This is one of the heart-rending sections of Scripture in which much is revealed. We are provided the details of what was involved in Satan sifting Peter, and of the strategies and devices that he employs. We see the quickness of the world to recognize those who have been with Jesus. The weakness of the flesh is also revealed. It involves infinitely more than a proneness to sleep. The possibility of the unity of the wicked, and the total lack of sympathy among them for the godly is confirmed. There is also a picture of the jeopardy of the night, and of sitting among those who are of the night, even if it is for convenience sake, or while beholding how they conduct themselves toward Jesus. There are certain liabilities associated with being among the ungodly, especially when it is not necessary, or the responsibilities of life do not require such associations. It becomes evident in this text that a man – even a select disciple of Jesus – can overestimate his strength. We also see that repentance involves an association of the Word of the Lord with the sin that has been committed. There is also the matter of godly sorrow, and its relationship to repentance. The gentleness of Jesus is revealed, as well as the aggressiveness of the devil. There is a sense in which this evening is a microcosm of the conflict between the religious world and Jesus, and the unbelievers and those who follow Jesus. The nature of both worlds is more clearly seen here, when it was night.
THE FIRST DENIAL
“ Mark 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.”
REMEMBER WHAT IS HAPPENING TO PETER! It is essential that we remember what is actually happening to Peter at this time. Prior to this, when the disciples and Jesus were together, Jesus told Peter, “behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). Immediately after that Jesus told him, “Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest Me” (Luke 22:34). Mark tells is Jesus said “before the cock crow twice” (Mk 14:30). Therefore, we are being exposed to a brief period of time during which Satan is throwing everything he has at Peter.
THOU WAST ALSO WITH JESUS. Now “one of the maids of the high priest” confronts Peter. Already we have learned that the high priest had a palace, many servants, and even an armed militia. It probably was difficult for some to even associate the high priest with God, intercessions for men, and the service of God. One of Caiaphas’ maids notices Peter “warming himself.” Luke tells us that she studied Peter, for she “earnestly looked at him,” or “looked closely at him” NIV (Lk 22:56). I do not doubt that, apart from his features, Peter even looked out of place in that setting. He will find that, although obtaining warmth is commendable, it is not wise to do it at the wrong fire. All three of the Gospels say that this woman charged Peter with being “with” Jesus. She was not referring to a particular occasion when Peter was “with” Jesus, such as in the Temple, one of the synagogues, or even in the garden. She was rather identifying him as one of Jesus’ disciples, whom we know, were appointed to be “with Him” (Mk 3:14). This was no doubt accented by the fact that he entered the palace when Jesus was brought in. Perhaps this very woman was the one who had admitted him at the instruction of John. In other words, she sees Peter as not being with the servants of the high priest, or the soldiers, or any of the others who were present for the trial of Jesus.
HE DENIED BEFORE THEM ALL. Mark says Peter “denied,” or “denied it.” NKJV That is, he denied that he was with Jesus, or was one of His disciples. Matthew tells us that Peter denied Jesus “before them all” (Matt 26:70). That is, Peter addressed the woman and those to whom she had made her statement. This response constituted a denial that he knew Jesus, for that is what Jesus said he would deny (Lk 22:34).
I KNOW NOT NEITHER UNDERSTAND. Peter affirms that he does not know what the woman is talking about. “I know not what thou sayest,” or “I do not know what you are talking about” NASB (Matt 26:70). Luke records Peter’s words with the prophecy of Jesus in mind, “Woman, I know Him not” (Lk 22:57).
HE DENIED HIM. Luke says that Peter actually denied Jesus Himself: “And he denied Him, saying . . . ” (Luke 22:57). Both Matthew and Mark state that Peter simply said he did not know what the woman was talking about. However, Luke interprets what was actually done when Peter said those words. By saying this, he was denying Jesus – that is, he was stating that he had no affiliation with Jesus at all.
WHAT IS A DENIAL? Precisely what does it mean to “deny” Christ? It is surely a serious offence, for Jesus said, “But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven” (Matt 10:33). Denying Jesus is refusing to acknowledge any association with Jesus. The word itself means, to disregard the interests of, acting entirely unlike the person, and deserting the cause of one. THAYER Here Peter denials verbally, but denial can also be done in one’s works – that is conducting one’s life unlike Jesus: i.e. “But in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Tit 1:16). Therefore, when a person speaks or acts in contradiction of Jesus’ words and manners, that person has denied Christ. Moral failures within the church constitute a denial of Jesus in works. When people modify their behavior to remove any suspicion that they belong to Jesus, they have, in fact denied Him. The only reason Jesus will not deny Peter is because He had prayed for him that his faith fail not. In other words, Peter will recover.
HE WENT OUT, AND THE COCK CREW. Peter then went out into the porch, or entryway. Only Mark records the first crowing. It was at this point that the cock crowed for the first time. Some version omit this report (NASB, NIV, RSV). However, Jesus had said, “before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice” (Mk 14:30) – and that is in all of the versions. Mark, then, has provided us with what appears to be a technicality. However, it is actually identifying the precision with which this entire incident is being carried out. Note that Peter apparently makes no association with the crowing cock with Jesus’ words.
THE SECOND AND THIRD DENIALS
“ 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.”
Now Peter has moved to another place, and yet he is not safe from the accusers. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled, even though it be a most bitter experience for Peter.
ANOTHER MAID SAW HIM. Mark says “a maid saw him again.” This was not the same maid that saw Peter “again,” but means that he was seen “again,” for the second time. Matthew tells us “another maid saw him” (Matt 26:71). Luke reports that “after a little while another saw him” (Lk 22:58). Remember, we are witnessing Satan sifting a man. He is stalking Peter as a roaring lion, seeking to devour him (1 Pet 5:8). He is throwing everything that he can at Peter, just as he did with Job (Job 1:12-19; 2:7). We know the limitations God placed on Satan when he sifted Job. First, he could not touch Job personally, and second, he could not take his life. In this case, we only know that Jesus prayed Peter’s faith would not fail. And, you may rest assured that God did hear the prayer of His only begotten Son!
THIS IS ONE OF THEM. The first maid said that Peter was with Jesus. The second said he was “one of them” – that is, one of Jesus’ followers. Luke reports that this maid spoke personally to Peter: “Thou art also one of them” (Luke 22:58).Matthew records that she said, “This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matt 26:71). Here the issue was not what Peter believed or taught, but the one with whom he was identified. So far as heaven is concerned, that is still the ultimate issue – and you cannot remain with Jesus without it impacting upon what you say and do. The influence of Jesus cannot be avoided by those who abide with Him. In this case, Peter is not abiding with Jesus, but has become a spectator, interested in seeing what was going to happen – “to see the end,” or “see the outcome” NASB (Matt 26:58)..
In his life, Peter did not merely happen to be where Jesus was, but had chosen to continue with Him, be with Him, and hear and obey His words. That is what it means to be “one of them.” It means to be a follower who has forsaken “all” (Matt 19:27; Lk 14:33), takes up his cross “daily”(Lk 9:23), and follows Jesus (John 12:26). “Them” describes those who hear Christ’s voice (John 10:27), and will not follow a stranger (John 10:5).
HE DENIED IT AGAIN. “He denied it again.” The second time Peter denies he is in any way affiliated with Jesus. Matthew reports, “And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man” (Matt 26:72). Luke says Peter responded, “Man, I am not”(Luke 22:58) – that is, I am not one of them. Once again, we are beholding Satan sifting a follower of Jesus.
YOUR SPEECH BETRAYS YOU. A “little while after,” those who were standing by addressed Peter directly saying that he was surely “one of them,” because he was a Galilean, and his speech gave him away. Matthew says, “for thy speech bewrayeth thee,” or “your accent gives you away” NIV (Matt 26:73). Luke says that “about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean” (Luke 22:59). Peter did not speak in the same manner as the others. It was obvious that he was not from that area, as the Galileans spoke in a more crude fashion. John tells us that one of the men who addressed him was related to Malchus, whose ear Peter had cut off. “One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?” (John 18:26).
HE CURSED AND SWORE, AND DENIED HIM AGAIN. This time Peter is more vehement in his denial. He “began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this Man of whom, ye speak.” One version reads, “call down curses on himself, and he swore to them.” NIV Matthew records the same words (Matt 26:74). This was not cursing and swearing, or profanity, as we use the terms today. It was more like taking an oath before God – i.e. “I swear by the Lord” (2 Sam 19:7). Abraham took an oath before God not to take any gift from the king of Sodom (Gen 14:22-23). David took an oath, calling a curse upon himself if he did not do what he said he would do (2 Sam 3:35). David wrote of the man who could abide in the tabernacle of God as one who “sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not” (Psa 15:4). The princes of the congregation of Israel took a similar oath when they promised to spare the Gibeonites, taking an oath and keeping it lest the wrath of God come upon them (Josh 9:19-21).
Peter was not, as men would say today, cussing. Rather, he was swearing before God, calling down wrath upon himself if what he was saying was not the truth. No doubt by doing this, he thought to remove all doubt from the minds of his accusers. As it is written, “For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife” (Heb 6:16; Ex 22:11). Of course, this only complicated things for Peter, for now he was calling upon the Lord to stand behind what he had said. This was no doubt spoken rashly and without due consideration, for that is the nature of an “idle word.” Nevertheless, it constituted the denial to be even more serious than before.
THE BITTER RESULT OF THE DENIALS
“ 72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”
THE SECOND TIME THE COCK CREW. In confirmation of the word of Jesus, that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed twice, the sound of the crowing cock filled the air for the second time. Matthew says, “immediately the cock crew” (Matt 26:74), as though eager to fulfill the word of the Lord. Luke adds an additional perspective reporting that the cock crew “immediately, while he yet spake” (Luke 22:60). The actual oaths that Peter took are not recorded, lest we reproachfully of him. However, while he was in the process of speaking them the cock interrupted what he was saying to fill the night air with a stern reminder that the words of Jesus will never pass away (Matt 24:35). This time, Peter will take note of what is heard, even though he did not do so the first time the cock crowed.
THE LORD LOOKED AT PETER. Luke records that at this time “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter” (Lk 22:61). He was not looking at Peter while he vigorously denied any association with or knowledge of Himself. Peter’s words, at least the most recent ones, were while the back of Jesus was toward him. In my judgment, they could never have been said if Peter had been viewing the face of Jesus. Thus, in a deliberate move, Jesus “turned” and “looked straight at Peter.” NIV That look will end the present phase of Satan’s sifting, as when the word of God placed a line of demarcation on the trying of Job. From this point to the time when Peter will b e martyred, he will never again deny Jesus, or claim no association with Him.
PETER REMEMBERED THE WORD. Commensurate with the look of Jesus, Peter recalled what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Oh, what a bitter recollection that must have been! Luke says that Peter remembered “how” the Lord had said this (Lk 22:61). He no doubt also recalled how he had said at that time, “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I” (Mark 14:29), and “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (Luke 22:33). Matthew says that after Jesus had said Peter would den y him three times, Peter responded, “Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee” (Matt 26:35). However, at the time, Peter did not have the faintest conception of how fiercely Satan can sift a person. He had been under the protective care of Jesus for the last 3½ years, and had not confronted the ferocity of the devil. Because of this, he had overestimated his own strength, not even taking into account the “power of darkness.” (Lk 22:53), but had only regarded the opposition of men. Later, shortly before he was about to put off his earthly tabernacle, he wrote with a wider perspective of the truth. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). He knew first hand what havoc Satan can wreak, even when the subject he is attacking has been prayed for by Jesus, that their faith fail not. I do not doubt that Peter thought his faith was totally void at this time. However, it is not his assessment that will determine the outcome, but Jesus’ intercession.
Those who flirt with spiritual danger do well to recall the case of Peter. He was willingly in the camp of the enemy, even though he had heard Jesus tell those who came to arrest Him, “Let these go their way” (John 18:8). When professing believers take it upon themselves to company with the ungodly, they at once enter into an environment of danger. This is why the Psalmist, in an age of spiritual twilight, said, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psa 1:1),
HE WENT OUT AND WEPT BITTERLY. Concerning the word that Jesus had spoken to Peter, Mark says, “when he thought thereon, he wept.” His mind was now devoted to the words of Jesus, and it was a bitter experience. That is what sin does. Both Matthew and Luke report that he “went out and wept bitterly” (Matt 26:75; Lk 22:62). Every major version, both literal and paraphrased, say the same thing – “wept bitterly.” The Amplified Bible adds, “that is, with painfully moving grief.” The word “bitterly,” as defined lexically, means “with poignant [painfully affecting the feelings] grief,” THAYER “violent and uncontrolled weeping that expresses despair,” FRIBERG and “feeling mental agony.” LOUWA-NIDA Tradition records “that all his life long Peter hereafter never could hear a cock crow without failing on his knees and weeping.” PULPIT
Only the soul that has been smitten with the enormity of guilt has any idea about what Peter experienced at this point. This was an example of “godly sorrow” that “works repentance” (2 Cor 7:10). It is an experience where there is no longer any excuse for sin. A sense of the indignation of the Almighty hovers over the head, and all self confidence flies away like a wounded dove. Sin is serious enough to cause this kind of response, even when it is traceable to the sifting of Satan. You will not hear Peter saying that the devil made him do this, or that he was unable to control himself. All such excuses only cripple the soul. The truth of the matter is that shame and reproach are associated with every sin. Every sin offends Christ, and is the result of yielding to the wicked one. Peter knew that at this time, and wept bitterly.