Warnings to Prepare for the Coming of Christ (continued)
relf-rt Deniafs of his Lord. MARK XIV. The Eedeemer's Look upon Peter.
but might, and probably does, mean Just ihe female who had charge of the door or gate near which Peter now was. Accordingly, in Matthew 26. 71, she is expressly called "anpther [maid]." But in Luke it is a male servant: "And after a little while (from the time of the first denial) another" i. e., as the word signifies, 'anotlier male' servant. But there is no real difficulty, as tlie challenge, probably, after being made by one was reiterated by another. Accordingly, in John, It is, " r/iej/ said therelore unto him," &c., as if more than one challenged liim at once—and began to say to them that stood by, This Is one of them—or, as in Matthew 26. 71—"This [fellow] was also with Jesus the Nazarene." TO. And he denied it again—In Luke, "Man, I am not." But worst of all in Matthew—"And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man" (26.72). This was the Second Denial, more vehement, alas ! than tlie first.
nnto ns, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?" The earoastlc fling at Him as "the Christ," and the demand of Him in this character to name tlie unseen perpetrator of the blows Inflicted on Him, was in them as infamous as to Him It must have been, and was intended to be, stinging, and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands—or "struclc Him on the face" (Luke 22.61). Ah! Well did He say prophetically, in that Messianic prediction which we have often referred to, "I gave my b.ocii to the smiters, and my cheeks to tliem that plucked ofl" the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting!" (Isaiah 50. 6). "And many other things blasphemously spake they against Him" (Luke 22. 65). This general statement is important, as showing that virulent and varied as were the recorded affronts put upon Him, they are but a small specimen of what He endured on that dark occasion.
Peter's Third Denial, of his Lord (.v. 70-72). 70. And a
Peter's First Denial of his Lord (v. 66-68). 66. And as Peter was beneath In the palace—This little word "beneath"—one of our Evangelist's graphic touches—is most important for the right understanding of what we may little after—" about the space of one hour after" (Luke
22. 59)—they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou an one of them : for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth tlkereto—"bewrayeth (or ' discovereth') thee" (Matthew 26. 73). In Luke it is "Another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this [fellow] also was with him: for he is a Galilean." The Galilean dialect had a more Syrian cast than that of Judea. If Peter had held his peace, this peculiarity had not been observed ; but hoping, probably, to put them oflT the scent by joining in the fireside talk, he only thus discovered himself. Tlie Fourth Gospel is particularly interesting here: "One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman (or kinsman to him) whose ear Peter cut o/T. safth. Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?" (John 18. 20.) No doubt his relatlonsliip to Malclius drew his attention to the man who had smitten him, and this enabled him to Identify Peter. 'Sad reprisals !' exclaims Bengel. Poor Peter! Thou art caught in thine own toils; but like a wild bull in a net, thou wilt toss and rage, filling up the measure of thy terrible declension by one more denial of thy Lord, and that the foulest of all. 71. But he begun to curse— ' anathematize,' or wish himself accursed if what he was now to say was not true—and to swear—or to take a solemn oath—saying, I know not this man of whom ye 8i>eak. 73. And THE SECOND TIME THE COCK CREW. The other three Evangelists, who mention but one crowing of the cock—and that not the first, but the second and last one of Mark—all say the cock crew "Immediately," but Luke says, " Immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew" (22. 60). Alas !—But now cornea the wonderful sequel.
call the topography of the scene. We must take it in connection with Matthew's word (26.69): "Now Peter sat tv Uhout in the palace"—or quadrangular court, in the centre of which the fire would be burning; and crowding around and buzzing about it would be the menials and others who had been admitted within the court. At the upper end of this court, probably, would be the memorable chamber in which the trial was held open
(o the court, likely, and not far from the fire (as we gather from Luke 22. 61), but on a higher level; for (as our verse says) the court, with Peter in it, was " beneath"
It. The accent to the Council chamber was perhaps by a short flight of steps. If the reader will bear this explanation In mind, he will find the intensely Interesting details which follow more Intelligible, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest—" the damsel that kept the door" (John 18. 17). The Jews seem to have employed women as porters of their doors (Acts 12. 13). 67. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked npon him—Luke (22.56) is here more graphic; "But a certain maid beheld hlni as he sat by the fire" lit., 'by the light,' which, shining full upon him, revealed him to the girl—"and earnestly looked upon him"—or, 'fixed her gaze upon him.' His demeanour and timidity, which must have attracted notice, as so generally happens, 'leading,' says Olshausen, 'to the recognition of bim'—and said, And thou also wast with Jesns of Nazareth—' with Jesus the Nazarene,' or, " with Jesus of Galilee" (Matthew 26. 69). The sense of this is given In John's report of It (18. 17), "Art not thou also one of this maa'8 disciples?" ». e., thou as well as "that other disciple," whom she knew to be one, but did not challenge, perceiving that he was a privileged person. In Luke (22.
The Redeemer's Look upon Peter, and Peter's Bitter Tears
(t). 72; Luke 22.61,62). It has been observed that while the beloved disciple is the only one of the four Evangelists who does not record the repentance of Peter, ho is the only one of the four who records the af Tecting and most beautiful scene of his complete restoration. (John 21. 15-
66) It Is given as a remark made by the maid to one of the bystanders—"this man was also with Him." If so expressed In Peter's hearing—drawing upon him the eyes of everyone that heard it (<as we know It did, Matthew
17.) Luke 22. 61: "And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter." How? it will be asked. We answer. From the chamber in which the trial was going on, in the direction of the court wliere Peter then stood—in tiie way already explained. See on i'. 66. Our Second Evangelist makes no mention of this look, but dwells on the warning of his Lord about the double crowing of the cock, which would announce his triple fall, as what rushed stingingly to his recollection and made him dissolve in tears. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him. Before the cock crow twice, tlion shalt deny me thrice. And tvhen he thought thereon, he wept—To the same ef Tect Is the statement of the First Evangelist (Matthew
26. 70), and compelling him to answer to It—that would explain the different forms of the report naturally enough. But In such a case this Is of no real Importance. 68. But he denied—" before all" (Matthew 26. 70)—saying, I know not, neither underictand I what thon aycat—In Luke, "I know Him not." And he went out into the porch—the vestibule leading to the street—no doubt finding the flre-place too hot for him; possibly also with the hope of escaping—but that was not to be, and perhaps he dreaded that too. Doubtless by this time his mind would be getting into a sea of commotion, and would fluctuate every moment In Its resolves. AND THE COCK CREW. See on Luke 22. 34. This, then, was the First Dental.
26. 751, save that like "the beloved physician," he notices the " bitterness" of the weeping. The niost precious link, however, in the whole chain of circumstances In this scene is beyond doubt that " look" of deepest, tenderest Import reported by Luke alone. Who can tell what lightning fliushcs of wounded Igve and piercing reproach shot from that " look" through the eye of Peter into liis heart! "And Peter reinembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him. Before the cock crow, thou
Peter's SECOND DENIAL 0/ his Lard (f. 69, 70). There Is here a verbal dlf Terence among the Evangelists, which, without some Information which has been withheld, cannot be quite extricated. 69. And a maid saw him •gain—or, 'a girl.' It might be rendered 'the girl;' but this would not neoessarlly man the same one as before.
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