Mark 14:27-31

4. PETER'S BOAST 14:27-31

TEXT 14:27-31

I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad. Howbeit, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto Him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that thou today, even this night, before the cock crow twice, shalt deny me thrice. But he spake exceeding vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner said they all.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 14:27-31

794.

Where was Jesus when He spoke of the defection of the disciples?

795.

In what sense were the apostles to stumble?how did prophecy relate to the stumbling of the disciples?

796.

What appreciation did the apostles have of the resurrection of Jesus?

797.

Why mention His visit to Galilee?

798.

What prompted Peter's pledge of loyalty? Please note that pride was not the only element.

799.

Read Matthew 26:34 and John 13:38harmonize these two accounts with Mark 14:30.

800.

Why did Jesus predict the multiple denial of Peter?

801.

Didn-'t Peter believe Jesus knew all things? Why did he continue to contradict the words of Jesus?

802.

Just what did all the disciples say? Where they just as guilty as Peter? Discuss.

COMMENT

TIME.Thursday evening, April 6th (14th Nisan), A.D. 30. With the Jews the 15th of Nisan had begun.
PLACE.Jerusalem, in an upper room with the disciples.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTS.Matthew 26:31-35; Luke 22:31-38.

OUTLINE,1. The prediction and promise of Jesus, Mark 14:27-28, Mark 14:2. The poor pride of Peter, Mark 14:29. Mark 14:3. Pointing up the prediction, Mark 14:30. Mark 14:4. personal and public pride, Mark 14:31.

ANALYSIS

I.

THE PREDICTION AND PROMISE OF JESUS, Mark 14:27-28.

1.

The prediction: All ye shall be offended: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.

2.

The promise: after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.

II.

THE POOR PRIDE OF PETER, Mark 14:29.

1.

He took exception with Jesus.

2.

He promised the highest of loyalty.

III.

POINTING UP THE PREDICTION, Mark 14:30.

1.

It shall happen this very night.

2.

Before the cock crows twice you shall deny me thrice.

IV.

THE PERSONAL AND PUBLIC PRIDE, Mark 14:31.

1.

Personal pride of Peter: ... he spake exceeding vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee.

2.

Public pride of the rest of the apostles: And in like manner also said they all.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

THE PREDICTION AND PROMISE OF JESUS.

Mark 14:27. You will all be scandalized in my regard. Our Lord means that when the disciples witnessed His humiliations and sufferings, it would be a sore trial to their faith, and would lead them to doubt that He was the Messiah. That this actually occurred we see from Luke 24:21. But we hoped that it was he that should have redeemed Israel; and now besides all this, etc. Evidently these disciples no longer hoped, and all were incredulous at first as regards the resurrection of Christ.

I will strike the shepherd, etc. The prophecy is not literally quoted; it runs thus, Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that cleaveth to me, saith the Lord of hosts: strike the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn my hand to the little ones (Zechariah 13:7). Jesus refers the prophecy to Himself as the good shepherd (John 10:11).

In quoting this prophecy the Evangelist represents God as saying I will strike, etc., and in truth the death of the Son was willed by the Father, that thus the Redemption of man might be effected, but He allowed human agents to accomplish His designs. God could not will man's sin, but he can make it serve His designs, and thus bring good out of evil.

the sheep shall be dispersed. Primarily the prophecy referred to the Jewish priests and to the Israelites, but there is a secondary reference to Christ the Messiah and to the disciples, the sheep of His flock. These words were fulfilled when in Gethsemane his disciples leaving him, all fled away (Mark 14:50). They were also accomplished in the dispersion of the Jews.

Mark 14:28. But after I shall be risen, etc. Christ now turns His hand to His little ones. In spite of their weak faith and of their cowardice, He promises to see them again, and foretells once more His resurrection.

I will go before you into Galilee. The angel of the Resurrection used these very words, and reminded the disciples of Christ's promise, Remember how he spoke unto you, when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must. the third day rise again (Luke 24:6-7). And going quickly, tell ye his disciples that he is risen: and behold he will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see him. Lo, I have foretold it to you (Matthew 27:7). In spite of the disciples-' predicted defection, Jesus consoles them

(1)

by the assurance that He will rise again.

(2)

by promising to meet them in Galilee.

The prediction itself after its accomplishment, would strengthen their faith, since knowing that they would forsake Him, Christ had promised to see them in Galilee. There is perhaps in these words an allusion to the shepherd preceding his flock.

II.

THE POOR PRIDE OF PETER.

Mark 14:29. Peter saith to him: Although all, etc. Peter, always impulsive and generous, cannot believe such desertion possible.

In his reply we notice

1.

Peter rejects the very idea as an impossibility, and bluntly contradicts our Lord. He evidently regarded our Lord's words as a mark of distrust of the disciples rather than as a prediction and solemn warning.

2.

Peter asserts his strength of character to be greater than that of the other disciples.

3.

He trusts to his own strength, though the remembrance of how his faith failed when he was sinking in the Lake of Galilee, should have presented this presumption.

III.

POINTING UP THE PREDICTION.

Mark 14:30. Truly I say to thee, Our Lord uses His solemn asseveration to check Peter's assumption and enforce the warning.

today, even in this night, etc. Notice the gradation to-day (the day had begun at sunset), even this night, hence before tomorrow's dawn, before the second cock-crowing. The cock crew at midnight, and again about three o-'clock in the morning.

In this chapter (Mark 14:68-72) we find the fulfillment of this prediction. It has been objected that it was forbidden to have cocks and hens in Jerusalem, but this prohibition (if observed, which is very doubtful) could not affect the Romans, who would certainly have kept fowls in the Castle of Antonia, and whence Jews could hear the cock crowing distinctly. The Romans used these birds, and even carried them with them when on the march, since they required chickens for the auspices. It is mentioned by one of the rabbinical writers that a cock, which had killed a little child in Jerusalem, was slain.

deny me thrice: not merely once, but thrice. Mark alone gives the details

(a)

that the cock should crow twice.

(b)

Peter's vehement, second declaration of fidelity.

IV.

THE PERSONAL AND PUBLIC PRIDE.

Mark 14:31. spoke the more vehemently. He denied the bare possibility of such a denial, with increased energy. Peter, from whom Mark received his gospel, reveals his own weakness with profound humility.

Some writers affirm that Peter never lost faith in our Lord, since Christ had prayed that his faith fail not, but that he sinned against charity in lacking the courage to profess his faith openly.

Although I should die, etc. Peter was sincere in his protestations of fidelity, but he had yet to learn how weak human nature is in the face of temptation and suffering. Luke and John give Peter's protestation more fully. I will lay down my life for thee (John 13:37.) Lord, I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death (Luke 22:33). Thomas likewise had made a protestation of fidelity in the name of his companions. Let us also go, that we may die with him (John 11:16).

in like manner also said they all (i.e. all the Eleven). Judas was not present. We may be sure that they were sincere in their offer, but their inexperience led them to underestimate the force of the trial that awaited them. (Cecilia)

FACT QUESTIONS 14:27-31

973.

Show when and where the words of our Lord, you will all be scandalized in my regard found fulfillment.

974.

Who struck the shepherd? Why?

975.

God could not will man'S, ------, but He can make it serve His designs, and thus bring ----- out of -----.

976.

Show at least two places and times when the words the sheep shall be dispersed were fulfilled.

977.

In spite of the disciples predicted defection, Jesus consoles them in two thoughtswhat are they?

978.

Peter misunderstood the purpose of the words of Jesuswhat purpose did he find in the prediction of defection?

979.

Peter had reason to doubt the strength of his faithwhat was it?

980.

How is it that the expression today, and this night mean the same period of time? At what two times did the cock crow?

981.

Where was the cock when it crowed?

982.

How could some writers affirm that Peter never lost his faith in his denial?

983.

Show how Thomas and Peter were alike.

984.

What caused the disciples to underestimate the force of the trial that awaited them?