Lesson #16

Peters Denial
(Mark 14: 27-72)

Judas, the Betrayer

In Lesson #15 we explored the character and motives of

Judas the betrayer, drawing on Matthew, Luke and
Johnand a few outside sourcesfor additional
information.
As we saw, Judas is a much more complex character than
he 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 Peters confession of faith; and he firmly
believed that Jesus was the Messiah.

So why does Judas betray Jesus?

Judas, the Betrayer

In Lesson #15 we speculated that Judas may have viewed himself as

a 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.

Judas, the Betrayer

At Caesarea Philippi Peter said with great certainty, You

are 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 Peters actions and possible
motives.

Judas, the Betrayer

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

Prado Museum, Madrid.

To understand Peters
denial of Jesus we must
view his actions within the
context of the ongoing,
dramatic narrative.

Judas, the Betrayer

This section of Marks narrative

unfolds in four parts:
1. Peters 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. Peters denial occurs
(parallel to Jesus trial in Part 3)
(14: 66-72)

Conflict and Confrontation

Notice how Peters story

frames Jesus story
A Peters denial foretold
B Jesus arrest in the Garden
of Gethsemane
B Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin
A Peters denial occurs

Conflict and Confrontation

Notice how Peters story

frames Jesus story
A Peters denial foretold
B Jesus arrest in the Garden
of Gethsemane
B Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin
A Peters denial occurs

Conflict and Confrontation

 Neighborhood of the Last Supper

Temple Complex

Eastern (Golden) Gate

Walking to the Garden of Gethsemane

Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

10

Gethsemane

Temple Platform

Temple

Eastern
(Golden) Gate
Mount of Olives

Triumphal Entry

11

Peters 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 he
vehemently replied, Even though I should have to die with
you, I will not deny you. And they all spoke similarly.

Conflict and Confrontation

12

What do we know about

Peter up to this point to
support his confident
statement?

Peter's Confession of Faith

13

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

Peter's Confession of Faith

14

So, then, Peter might

very well feel confident
that when push comes to
shove, he will defend
Jesus!
I would defend
Jesus.

Peter's Confession of Faith

15

Notice how Peters story

frames Jesus story
A Peters denial foretold
B Jesus arrest in the Garden
of Gethsemane
B Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin
A Peters denial occurs

Conflict and Confrontation

16

Gethsemane

Temple Platform

Temple

Eastern
(Golden) Gate
Mount of Olives

Triumphal Entry

17

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.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

18

The somber interior of the Church of All Nations features a beautiful mosaic
of Jesus praying in agony.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

19

The exposed bedrock is the traditional place where Jesus prayed.

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

20

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.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

21

The oldest olive tree in Gethsemane, perhaps from the time of Jesus.
Like people, olive trees get wider as they grow older, not taller!
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

22

So, lets have a

close look at
Jesus agony and
arrest in the
Garden of
Gethsemane
(14: 32-52).
Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

23

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

National Gallery, London.

Eastern (Golden)
Gate

The Temple Mount and the Eastern (Golden) Gate seen from the Garden of Gethsemane,
320 yards away. Jesus could see them coming.
Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Excursus, Mark's Roman Empire

25

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 potters 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.

Now a young man

followed him
wearing nothing but
a linen cloth about
his body. They
seized him, but he
left the cloth behind
and ran off naked.

Peter cutting off the

ear of the High Priests
servant!

Mark 14: 51

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

Museumslandschaft Hesse, Kassel, Germany.

Notice how Peters story

frames Jesus story
A Peters denial foretold
B Jesus arrest in the Garden
of Gethsemane
B Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin
A Peters denial occurs

Conflict and Confrontation

30

Antonia Fortress

Robinsons Arch

Temple

Southern Steps

Home of Caiaphus

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

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

Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Notice how Peters story

frames Jesus story
A Peters denial foretold
B Jesus arrest in the Garden
of Gethsemane
B Jesus trial before the Sanhedrin
A Peters denial occurs

Conflict and Confrontation

33

Amen, I say to
you, this very
night before
the cock crows
twice you will
deny me three
times.
Mark 14: 30

Photography by Ana Maria Vargas

Courtyard

Wohl Archaeological Museum, Jerusalem (Jewish Quarter).

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

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 didnt

deny Jesus because his
faith failed; he denied
Jesus because his
courage failed!

Peter's Confession of Faith

39

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

Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome.

1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

In the context of our narrative, how did Jesus know that

Peter would deny him? (And dont revert to Jesus is
God, so he knows everything. Think it through!)
When Jesus prays in Gethsemane that this cup be
taken from him, what did he mean by that?
What did Jesus feel as he prayed at Gethsemane?
When Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, how is that an
example of stunning irony?
Why did Peter deny Jesus?

Copyright 2014 by William C. Creasy

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