JESUS PREDICTS PETER'S DENIAL

Passage: Mark 14:27-31

Key verse: 28

NIV

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial(A)

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’[a](B)

28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”(C)

29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[b] you yourself will disown me three times.”(D)

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you,(E) I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 14:27 Zech. 13:7
  2. Mark 14:30 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will (A)strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, (B)I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 (C)Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And (D)Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before (E)the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But (F)he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. You will all fall away (27-28)

Jesus knew his disciples' weakness. He knew that though they loved him, they were under the power of death; so they were full of fear. In the moment of crisis they would all run away. But Jesus did not despair. He saw even their running away from the point of view of God's history--as a fulfillment of Scripture. Most importantly, he planted in them hope in his resurrection, gave them a clear direction to repent, and assured them that he would welcome them when they came back.

2. Peter's self-confidence (29-31)

Peter loved Jesus. He was unconditionally committed to him. He said that he would be faithful to Jesus even if they all ran away. But his bold words rested on confidence in himself, not on confidence in God. He did not know himself nearly as well as Jesus knew him. By predicting Peter's denial, Jesus opened a way for Peter to be restored after his failure.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to depend on you and not on myself, and give me the humility to repent and come back to you when I fail.

One Word: Jesus restores those who fail and repent