16. Peter's Denial

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Lesson #16Peter’s Denial

(Mark 14: 27-72)

1Judas, the Betrayer



In Lesson #15 we explored the character and motives ofJudas the betrayer, drawing on Matthew, Luke and

John—and a few outside sources—for additional

information.

As we saw, Judas is a much more complex character thanhe is typically portrayed. A disciple from the start, Judas

was with Jesus for his entire 3-year public ministry; Judas

witnessed Jesus’ teaching, preaching and healing; Judas

was present at Peter’s confession of faith; and he firmly

believed that Jesus was the Messiah.

So why does Judas betray Jesus?




In Lesson #15 we speculated that Judas may have viewed himself asa mediator, one who could bring Jesus and the religious leaders

together to resolve their differences, one who could be a “peace

maker.” We also learned that Judas was an “outsider,” the only one

of Jesus’ disciples not from Galilee. And we speculated that Jesus’

stinging rebuke of Judas when Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with

expensive oil may have tinged Judas’ more worthy motives with a

degree of anger and resentment at being publically humiliated and

unfairly treated.

In any case, when Judas flings the 30 pieces of silver back at the

religious leaders, saying “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood”

(Matthew 27: 4) and then goes out and hangs himself, he does not

demonstrate the actions of a man whose plan worked; rather, his

actions are those of a man whose plan went horribly awry.




At Caesarea Philippi Peter said with great certainty, “Youare the Messiah” (8: 29); across the three years of Jesus’

public ministry, Peter emerged as leader of the disciples;

after the Last Supper Peter pledged with conviction:

“Even through all should have their faith shaken, mine

will not be” (14: 29). And yet, Peter denies the Lord, not

once, but three times.

In Lesson #16 we explore Peter’s actions and possible

motives.




Peter Paul Rubens. St. Peter as Pope (oil on panel), c. 1610-1612.

Prado Museum, Madrid.





This section of Mark‟s narrative

unfolds in four parts:1. Peter‟s denial foretold (14: 27-31)

2. Jesus‟ arrest in the Garden

of Gethsemane (14: 32-52)

3. Jesus‟ trial before the Sanhedrin

(14: 53-72)

4. Peter‟s denial occurs

(parallel to Jesus‟ trial in Part 3)

(14: 66-72)

7Conflict and Confrontation



Notice how Peter‟s story

frames Jesus‟ story

A Peter‟s denial foretold

B Jesus‟ arrest in the Garden

of Gethsemane

B Jesus‟ trial before the SanhedrinA Peter‟s denial occurs





frames Jesus‟ story

A Peter‟s denial foretold


of Gethsemane

B Jesus‟ trial before the Sanhedrin

A Peter‟s denial occurs




10Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

Neighborhood of the Last Supper

Walking to the Garden of Gethsemane

Temple Complex

Eastern (“Golden”) Gate



Mount of Olives

Temple Platform

Temple

Eastern

(“Golden”) Gate

11Triumphal Entry

Gethsemane




Peter‟s Denial Foretold (14: 27-31)

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will have your faith

shaken, for it is written [in Zechariah 13: 7]:

„I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be dispersed.‟

But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to

Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all should have

their faith shaken, mine will not be.” Then Jesus said to

him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock

crows twice you will deny me three times.” But hevehemently replied, “Even though I should have to die with

you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly.



What do we know about

Peter up to this point to

support his confident

statement?

13Peter's Confession of Faith




Checklist on Peter

He is in Jesus‟ inner -most circle:Peter, Andrew, James & John

Jesus lives with Peter at Capernaum

Peter speaks for the disciples at

Caesarea Philippi (confession of

faith)

Jesus appoints Peter leader of his disciples

Peter (along with James and John)

witnesses Jesus‟ Transfiguration



So, then, Peter might

very well feel confident

that when push comes toshove, he will defend

Jesus!


I would defendJesus.




frames Jesus‟ story A Peter‟s denial foretold


of Gethsemane






Mount of Olives

Temple Platform

Temple

Eastern

(“Golden”) Gate

17Triumphal Entry

Gethsemane




Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Gethsemane, looking east from the Temple Mount area. The Church of All Nations (also called

the Church of the Agony) is at the bottom left.





The somber interior of the Church of All Nations features a beautiful mosaic

of Jesus praying in agony.





The exposed bedrock is the traditional place where Jesus prayed.





“Gethsemane” means “olive press.” In Jesus’ day Gethsemane was a commercial center for the

production of olive oil, used for lighting the Temple complex. Today it is a beautiful garden.





The oldest olive tree in Gethsemane, perhaps from the time of Jesus.

Like people, olive trees get wider as they grow older, not taller!




So, let’s have a

close look atJesus’ agony and

arrest in theGarden of

Gethsemane(14: 32-52).



Andrea Mantegna. Agony in the Garden (tempera on wood), c. 1458-1460.

National Gallery, London.





The Temple Mount and the Eastern (“Golden”) Gate seen from the Garden of Gethsemane,

320 yards away. Jesus could see them coming.

Eastern (“Golden”)

Gate



Giotto. Kiss of Judas (fresco), c. 1304-1306.

Arena Chapel, Padua.



Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage,

and the people plot what is vain?

They stand together, the kings of the earth;

the leaders conspire against the Lord and his Anointed:

“Let us break their bonds asunder;

Let us cast off their cords.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord, he laughs them to scorn.

Then he will speak in his anger;

in his wrath he will strike them with terror:

“Indeed, it is I who installed my king

upon Zion, my holy hill.”



I will announce the decree of the Lord,

the Lord said to me:“You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations,

put the ends of the earth in your possession.

With an iron rod you will break them,

shatter them like a potter’s jar.”

Now, O kings, understand;

take warning, rulers of the earth:

serve the Lord with fear and trembling;

kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish,

for suddenly his anger will blaze.

Blessed are they who trust in God.



Giuseppe Cesari. Christ Taken Prisoner (oil on walnut panel), c. 1597.

Museumslandschaft Hesse, Kassel, Germany.

“Now a young man

followed himwearing nothing but

a linen cloth about

his body. They

seized him, but he

left the cloth behind

and ran off naked.”

Mark 14: 51

Peter cutting off the

ear of the High Priest’s

servant!






of Gethsemane







Antonia Fortress

Robinson’s ArchSouthern Steps

Temple

Home of Caiaphus



Matthias Stom. Christ before Caiaphas (oil on canvas), c. 1633.

Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.






of Gethsemane







“Amen, I say to

you, this verynight before

the cock crows

twice you willdeny me three

times.” Mark 14: 30



Wohl Archaeological Museum, Jerusalem (Jewish Quarter).

Model of the reconstructed home. The courtyard measures 27’ x 27’.

Courtyard



Simon Bening. Prayer Book of Cardinal Albrecht Brandenburg (tempera colors,

gold paint, gold leaf and ink on parchment), MS Ludwig IX 19, Fol. 123v, c.

1525-1530. Getty Museum, Los Angeles.



Caravaggio. The Denial of St. Peter (oil on canvas), c. 1610.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.



El Greco. The Tears of St. Peter (oil on canvas), 1587-1596.

Museo Soumaya, Mexico City.



Ah, ha! So Peter didn’t

deny Jesus because his

faith failed; he denied

Jesus because his

courage failed!




Caravaggio. Crucifixion of St. Peter (oil on canvas), c. 1601.

Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome.



1. In the context of our narrative, how did Jesus know thatPeter would deny him? (And don’t revert to “Jesus is

God, so he knows everything.” Think it through!)

2. When Jesus prays in Gethsemane that “this cup” be

taken from him, what did he mean by that?

3. What did Jesus feel as he prayed at Gethsemane?

4. When Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, how is that an

example of stunning irony?

5. Why did Peter deny Jesus?



Copyright © 2014 by William C. Creasy

All rights reserved. No part of this course—audio, video,

photography, maps, timelines or other media—may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic

or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any

information storage or retrieval devices without permission in

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16. Peter's Denial

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