Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 14:66-72.
As Jesus undergoes His trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter undergoes a trial of his own. The bravado He displayed earlier in the evening of Maundy Thursday is gone now that Jesus is bound. When a servant girl challenges him, Peter feigns ignorance. His distance from Jesus, physically and spiritually, begins to grow. Soon the servant girl speaks with other bystanders about Peter, who now outright denies Jesus. When Peter is confronted a third time, he begins to call down curses. Immediately the rooster crows a second time. As the Word of Jesus comes to Peter’s memory, he is brought to tears. In the midst of Peter’s denial, Jesus remains faithful. He goes to the cross to bear the curse for Peter and every sinner.
“The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.
Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.
Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.
Mark 14:66-72
Peter Denies Jesus
66 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.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway[a] and the rooster crowed.[b] 69 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. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 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.[c]
Footnotes
- Mark 14:68 Or forecourt
- Mark 14:68 Some manuscripts omit and the rooster crowed
- Mark 14:72 Or And when he had thought about it, he wept
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
