Day 56: Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
At the end of the first book in The Lord of the Rings, Boromir—a member of the fellowship assembled to help Frodo destroy the ring—tries to take the ring for himself. After seeing a friend turn on him like this, Frodo decides that he needs to go on to Mordor alone. But when his best friend, Sam, realizes that Frodo has left, he tracks him down and insists on going with him. Frodo complains that he’d be safely on his way if Sam hadn’t come. “Safely!” said Sam. “All alone and without me to help you? I couldn’t have borne it, it’d have been the death of me.” “It would be the death of you to come with me, Sam,” said Frodo. “And I could not have borne that.” In our passage today, Peter sees himself as being like Sam: ready to go with his master even to death. But Jesus says he’s not.
What does Jesus say about His disciples in verse 27?
How does Jesus explain why He thinks this (v. 27)?
Jesus is quoting from the prophet Zechariah, where God says,“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me … Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7). In Zechariah, shepherds represent kings. Jesus is making a connection: He is God’s ultimate King who will be struck down by God Himself, while His sheep are scattered.
What promise does Jesus make to His disciples in verse 28?
What does this show about how Jesus will treat His disciples after they have let Him down?
Jesus has predicted His death and resurrection multiple times so far in Mark. When He first told His disciples He was going to be killed and then would rise again, Peter tried to talk Him out of it (Mark 8:32). Now, Peter speaks up again.
How does Peter respond to Jesus saying that all His disciples will fall away (v. 29)?
What can we learn from this about how Peter sees himself, compared with the other disciples?
What does Jesus say to Peter (v. 30)?
In Jesus’ day, people didn’t have watches or phones with clocks on them, so they had other ways of marking time. The rooster crowing was a sign that the night had ended and the day had begun. Jesus is emphasizing here that Peter will disown Him—say he has nothing to do with Jesus—three times before the night is over.
What did Peter claim in response (v. 31)?
What did all the other disciples say (v. 31)?
What do you think you would have said if you had been one of Jesus’ disciples that night?
How does their attitude show that they trust themselves more than they trust Jesus’ words?
Praise Jesus that He was ready to go to the cross alone. Ask God to help you trust Jesus more than you trust yourself. Praise Him that He knows all your sin and weakness and still loves you more than you could ever imagine!