MARK 14:66-72 (READ VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS) FEBRUARY 22 ND, 2017

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1 BEHIND THE BOOK Connecting to the Bible (Observation) MARK 14:66-72 (READ VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS) FEBRUARY 22 ND, 2017 RESOURCES: THE NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMENTARY ON THE NEW TESTAMENT THE PILLAR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY NIV APPLICATION COMMENTARY NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY MARK 1-8: TIM CHESTER MARK: 9-16: TIM CHESTER MARK: 1-8: JOHN MacARTHUR: THE MacARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY MARK: 9-16: JOHN MacARTHUR: THE MacARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY THE KING S CROSS: TIM KELLER Introduction: Christians are new creatures (1 Corinthians 5:17) who battle the old person (Romans 7:18; Gal 5:17-21; Eph 4:17-24). Our souls are redeemed but our bodies have yet to be redeemed (Romans 8:23) and our minds are daily being renewed (Romans 12; 2 Cor 4:16; Eph 4:23; Col 3:10 & Titus 3:5) as we put to death (Romans 8:13; Col 3:5-10) the remaining corruption. The saved person desires Christ but the flesh is prone to weaknesses and sin (Mark 14:38). The answer to Paul s question in Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? is answered in the very next verse (25) Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Our failure to understand that salvation is holistic and sanctification is a process puts us at the risk of overconfidence. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (12) - Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 1

2 Peter was a Christian left everything to follow Jesus (Mark 10:28). He acknowledged that Jesus was God s Christ (Mark 8:29). He also knew that only Jesus could save (John 6:68-69). No disciple was more overtly emotional and committed to Jesus than Peter John 13:9 - Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! Mark 14:31 - If I must die with you, I will not deny you. Yet on the same night that Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied him. It was a repeated denial that kept occurring over a two-hour period. Whereas Jesus remained silent before false accusers, Peter could not stop vocalizing his denial of Jesus. Eventually, Jesus told the truth and it condemned him. Peter told a lie in an effort to save himself. Right after Peter s bold confession of Jesus as the Christ, (Mark 8:29), the Lord warned him and the other disciples Mark 8:35 - For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. As such, Peter serves as a model of self-confidence but also the Lord s gracious forgiveness. First: Peter s Over-Confidence All of us have besetting sins, places/things/people that we struggle to overcome. Even though we are saved, our flesh, the old person, strives to live in domination of our lives. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 - For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. Peter s overconfidence was exhibited on several occasions and in different ways: a) He boasted too much Luke 22: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. 33 Peter said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with you both to 2

3 prison and to death. 34 Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me. (When Jesus tells you he is praying for you, the wrong response is to say No thanks. I can handle this on my own. If Jesus is now praying for us, and He is (Hebrews 7:25) the clear implication is that his intercession is necessary for God to Colossians 1: And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Mark 14:29 Peter said to him, Even though they all fall away, I will not. Mark 14:31 - But he said emphatically, If I must die with you, I will not deny you. And they all said the same. b) He listened too poorly Peter warned Jesus repeated warnings When Jesus said, You will all fall away (Mark 14:27) and told Peter individually about his denial, Peter argued with Jesus and even contradicted what Jesus said c) Peter prayed too little Mark 14:38 - Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. In the Garden, Jesus warned Peter 3 times about prayerlessness. Peter did not lose his testimony at Jesus trial but in the garden. d) Peter acted too fast When the disciples in the garden awoke to the sounds of Roman boots, Peter, operating wholly in the mindset and energy of the flesh, impulsively drew his sword in an effort to defend Jesus. Jesus told Peter that his actions were reckless (52), unnecessary (53), and actually ran contrary to the Word of God, which foretold that the Messiah must suffer (54) (JM). 3

4 e) Peter followed too far As the Romans and Jews led Jesus to Annas house, Peter was following at a distance Luke 22:54). At Caiaphas house, Peter was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire (Mark 14:54b). Second: Peter s Cowardice 66-72a Remember that Mark is in the last of 3 sandwiches in this chapter. He has sandwiched Jesus truthfulness between the witnesses false testimony and Peter s denial of him. The record of Scripture is that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). V 66 GR = While Peter was below resumes Peter s story. When Jesus was arrested, the disciples fled just like Zechariah predicted (Zechariah 13:7). He was taken first to Annas house and then to Caiaphas house. Annas was the former high priest and family patriarch. Both men lived in a large estate, probably in the same sprawling mansion with living quarters separated by a courtyard. So the courtyard of Annas (John 18:15-16) and the courtyard of Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57-58) refer to the same location. To get from Annas house to Caiaphas house, Jesus had to travel only the distance of the courtyard. It was here, probably by the same fire, that each of Peter s denial occurred. All four gospels record Peter s denials. In fact, in Mark s recollection, only Peter is named among the anonymous servant girl, the Romans and others. Only Peter is identified since it is his story that Mark desires to tell (JE). The estate was effectively a compound that Jesus entered through a door and corridor that led to the courtyard. Another disciple of Jesus whom the high priest recognized Peter and let him into the courtyard. (Could this have been Nicodemus?). Because Peter was below, Jesus trial must have taken place in a room above the courtyard. John 18:15 - Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest Mark focuses this section exclusively on Peter s denials 68, 70 & 71 which happen just as Jesus predicted 30. Jesus warned Peter 3 times to stay awake and pray. Peter will now deny Jesus 3 times. 4

5 This is how Peter s denials occurred - A female servant of the high priest saw Peter warming himself at the Roman fire and openly acknowledged Peter s association with Jesus. Luke 22: Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, This man also was with him. 1 - Mark 14: And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus. Despite Peter s attempts to remain inconspicuous, the fire from the March/April cold reveals his true identity 54 - Fire = phos = light She must have said it loud enough for the accusation to be public Matthew 26:70 - But he denied it before them all, As on other occasions, Peter responded impetuously Mark 14:68 - But he denied it, saying, I neither know nor understand what you mean. know = oida = theoretical knowledge understand = epistamai = practical knowledge Luke 22:57 - But he denied it, saying, Woman, I do not know him. At this point, Peter left the fire and went back toward the gated entrance of the courtyard - 68b 2 - Mark 14: And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, This man is one of them. 70 But again he denied it. Luke 22:58 - And a little later someone else saw him and said, You also are one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. 3 Mark 14:70b-71 - And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean. 5

6 Luke 22: And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean. 60 But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are talking about. Physically tired and mentally shocked, Peter s last denial was vehement and demonstrative Matthew 26:74 - Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not know the man. Mark 14:71 - But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not know this man of whom you speak. Curse = anathematize = anathematize = a divine curse or judgement Swear = a form of omnuo = a solemn pledge of truthfulness What began as a knee-jerk reaction to the inquiry of a servant girl had escalated into a premediated tirade of dogmatic deceit and disloyalty, punctuated with cursing and swearing, that echoed throughout the courtyard (JM). Just as Jesus predicted, a rooster crowed, Mark said, twice. Mark, who is intentional in recording Jesus faithfulness and truthfulness contrasted with the disciples faithlessness and untruthfulness, tells us that the rooster crowed immediately after Peter s first denial (14:68) and again after Peter s third denial (14:72). Luke 22: And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. Third: Peter s Contrition 72b And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times. And he broke down and wept. Peter s courage failed but Jesus grace did not fail - Luke 22: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, [d] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Judas felt remorse for his betrayal and committed suicide (Matthew 27:3-10). Peter felt remorse for his denial and repented. He fled the scene (Luke 22:62) and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75). 6

7 Think: Peter and John raced each other to the empty tomb (John 20:2-10). Peter was one of the first to see the resurrected Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:5). Peter was with the disciples when they gathered in the Upper Room (John 20:19-20). Peter went to Galilee to wait as the Lord instructed (Matthew 28:10; John 21:1-11) Peter was personally restored by Jesus to fellowship and ministry (John 21:15-17). 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. 16 He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Tend my sheep. 17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. Three times, Jesus encouraged Peter to remain awake and pray about his own temptations Three times, Peter denied Jesus Three times, Jesus questioned and three times Peter affirmed his love for Jesus Less than two months later, Peter boldly proclaimed the gospel to 3,000 Jewish men on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40), even accusing them of murdering Jesus. Peter fulfilled the Lord s command to feed my sheep throughout the book of Acts and in two New Testament epistles, using his own personal experiences to remind and warn his brothers and sisters 1 Peter 5: Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be soberminded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Conclusion: Peter s public denial of Jesus is set in stark contrast to Jesus public declaration to be God. Throughout Mark, the disciples have misunderstood Jesus, and one of them even betrays him secretly. But Peter s renunciation is the first open denial of Jesus in Mark. The fact that it comes from the chief apostle makes it all the more trenchant. Peter does not face a formal trial, nor is he even questioned directly about his faith. He denies Jesus without ever using his name. Peter s example is a warning to disciples then and now that faithful witness to Jesus is most 7

8 important (and most easily betrayed) in simple and ordinary actions and words. It is in the everyday matters that disciples are true martyrs (the root meaning of which in Greek means to bear witness ). Mark may have concluded this section with Peter s story to remind his persecuted congregation in Rome that not even the best Christian or lead apostle is immune to apostasy. Nor (as we shall see) is he beyond the promise of grace. The church can be honest about sin even the sins of an apostate apostle because it is so convinced of grace. Where sin increased, grace increased all the more (Rom 5:20). (JE) Every CG leader and CG member is encouraged to read this article: replacing same-sex attraction with the sin that besets you In response to this evening s Scripture I want to encourage: 1 Personal reflection about besetting sin 2 Researching particular scriptures about that sin 3 Review God s goal in salvation (Build a theology of sanctification) Eph 5:1-14 & Consider your personal accountability to others (Eph 5:19-21) who can a) Listen to you b) Rebuke you c) Direct you d) Pray for you (Peter denied Christ when he was alone, without the other disciples) If you are an accountability partner, your ministry is to (2 Timothy 4:2) preach the word. Only the Bible, not my wise counsel, can change lives a) be ready in season and out of season Discipleship is not convenient b) reprove bring something to light, to call into account, to show one s fault and demand an explanation c) rebuke to tax with fault, charge sharply d) exhort to comfort, strengthen and encourage e) with complete patience endurance, longsuffering, perseverance f) and teaching - instruction Consider the purpose of Scripture: 2 Timothy 3: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. a) Teaching = Instructing in doctrine, precepts This is right b) Reproof = Correction This is wrong 8

9 c) Correction = Restoration, improvement of life and character This is how you make wrong, right d) Training = Soul cultivation This is how you keep right, right I also want to encourage CG leaders to use #s 1-4 in their CGs on Sunday. Perhaps you could give everyone a sheet of paper and ask them to work through 1-4. Behind the Book is only one aspect of Heritage s teaching ministry which seeks to employ our church s mission statement: Connecting to God, Growing with Others and Impacting the world. On Wednesday evenings, we connect to Sunday morning s Bible passage and discover what it says through in-depth Bible study. Sunday morning in corporate worship (9:30am) we grow from the passage by learning what it means for our daily living. In Community Groups (10:45am) we practically apply the text, being impacted by it and learning to impact the world with it. CGI provides a balanced approach to life and Bible study; an upward look (Connect), an inward look (Grow) and an outward look (Impact) ensuring that our mission fulfils our vision to be a God-centered, Great Commission congregation. It s a well-known and beneficial way to approach the Bible Connect/Observation, Grow/Interpretation, Impact/Application. It s also a Trinitarian approach to Scripture: Connecting to the Father, Growing in Christ and Impacting the world by the Spirit, so that the way we study the Bible daily reminds us about who our God is and how he is unique among all religions of the world. 9