(1) Mark first described Peter following Jesus into the chief priests' courtyard v.53-54 and then he recorded the trial of Jesus v.56-65. Now, Mark turned the attention back to Peter. One can assume that Mark set up Peter as a comparison with Jesus. If the trial of Jesus reminds us about His willingness to choose death (for saving us) over safety then Peter certainly reflected those who choose safety over loyalty.
(2) Peter denied Jesus in front of 3 people:
a. When Peter was in the courtyard of the high priest he denied Jesus in front of a high priest's slave girl v.66. From v.53-54, Peter was sitting among the guards of the high priests.
14:68a But he denied it: “I don’t even understand what you’re talking about!”
(NET) Grk “I do not know or understand what you are saying.” In the translation this is taken as...a figure of speech where two terms express a single meaning, usually for emphatic reasonsPeter's strong reaction was probably due to the guards around him. He might be caught by them.
b. Then he moved away to the gateway the slave girl followed him and told the bystanders v.68b-69.
c. The bystanders picked it up from the slave girl and agreed that Jesus was one of the Galilean who accompanied Jesus v.70-71. These men again were a great threat to Peter and therefore he was broke into another strong reaction.
14:71 Then he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about!”
Summary: Whenever the threat came by, Peter tried to save himself. He used strong expression to protect himself, and he moved away. Finally, he curse and swore with an oath so that people might believe in him.
Summary: Whenever the threat came by, Peter tried to save himself. He used strong expression to protect himself, and he moved away. Finally, he curse and swore with an oath so that people might believe in him.
(3) Why did Peter broke down and wept?
14:72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Reflection: Was it wrong to protect ourselves from danger? Was it wrong to be coward? Or Peter just could not stand to be coward when Jesus Himself was facing the death trial? Or Peter could not stand to let Jesus down when He knew Peter better than himself?
How about us? To a God Who loves us so much and saved us even He knew us so much, how can we let Him down??
Audrey
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