Mark 14:27-31 — Before the Rooster Crows

 Mark 14:27-31

And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.”

And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.”

And they all said the same.

Comments:

Jesus continued to prepare his disciples for what was coming. 

They would all fail him that evening as it was written in the prophecy of Isaiah (which Jesus quoted in v. 27), but Jesus did not seem to take their denial of him personally. He spoke about being raised for the dead and going before them to Galilee. If Jesus would die to pay the price for their sin, certainly he certainly would not hold a grudge. 

Peter defended himself by comparing himself favorably to the rest of the disciples, believing that he would not fall away from Jesus even if everybody else did. He meant it too. However, he didn't have the strength to carry out his commitment against the spiritual forces arrayed against him. Jesus told Peter matter-of-factly that he would deny Christ three times before the rooster crowed twice. Peter and the other disciples didn't agree—they all denied that they would fall away.

Their zeal for the Lord is great, but we humans must fight in the armor and strength of the Lord, not in our own strength. Notice how many times Peter used the word "I"—three times. He didn't pray to the Lord for the strength to see it through; rather, he went in the strength of an emotional commitment—much like the seed that is sowed upon the shallow (rocky) ground (see Mark 4:5 &16). It responds quickly and joyously, but when persecution comes it withers away. 

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

Peter and the other disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit so they were too weak for the spiritual battle ahead. For a season, despair and disappointment would blot out hope from their minds.  

Just a random thought…wouldn’t the first time the rooster crowed (v.68) be a powerful wake-up call to Peter’s conscience and courage? Nope. It seems that he hit the spiritual snooze button.

Are we full of false confidence in our abilities to stand up for Christ in times of persecution? Or have we made it our practice to seek God in prayer regularly before any crisis occurs (like Daniel) so that when persecution comes we will not fall away but be used by the Holy Spirit in a powerful way? Peter would later give it the best shot in his own strength and only catch one ear before withering. We probably can look back on our week and see where we were filled with the Holy Spirit and had our spiritual armor on as Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Eph. 6:10-20)