Quick Notes on Mark
And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 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.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 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.
(Mark 14:66-72 ESV)
It is interesting to note that the denial of Peter and the betrayal of Judas lies in such close proximity to each other in Mark. This causes me to ask the question, "What is the difference between Peter and Judas?"
One of the distinguishing factors of Mark's text that I think begins to answer this question is the fact of a resolve: Judas is left off being portrayed as an unrepentant enemy of Jesus, while Peter is last seen here broken and weeping. Even though they were both of the twelve chosen apostles, perhaps even both were performing miracles when Jesus sent them out in Matthew 10, only Peter had truly come to know the identity of Jesus (Mark 8:29), and that by the Father's intentional revelation specifically to Peter (Matthew 16:17).
There are several questions and implications raised here, which I do not have time to go into, so suffice it to say, I think Mark is highlighting something about the nature of the true believer - namely, no matter how heinous the crime they commit against Christ, Christ's grace extends to the uttermost of that person. In other words, for the true child of God, even in their greatest failure there is hope for redemption. Since Christ has been crucified once for all the sins of each believer, He has dealt definitively with His people's sins on the cross. Not only has He pardoned them from the wrath of the Father, but He has given them the ability to follow Him.
And so for those who feel like they have done too much evil for God to redeem them, for God to restore them, stop looking to yourself and look again to Christ, and there fix your gaze. It is painful, for as Peter was broken and wept, so will we be. But born from brokenness is the cornucopia of abundant life flowing from God the Father - like a phenix rising from the ashes. For as we survey the rest of Peter's life, we see remaining evidences of Peter's sinfulness, but there we also see God's grace unfolding in his life, maturing him, prodding him along in the abundant life that God has called him to live, that God has called us to live even here, even now.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
(Mark 14:66-72 ESV)
It is interesting to note that the denial of Peter and the betrayal of Judas lies in such close proximity to each other in Mark. This causes me to ask the question, "What is the difference between Peter and Judas?"
One of the distinguishing factors of Mark's text that I think begins to answer this question is the fact of a resolve: Judas is left off being portrayed as an unrepentant enemy of Jesus, while Peter is last seen here broken and weeping. Even though they were both of the twelve chosen apostles, perhaps even both were performing miracles when Jesus sent them out in Matthew 10, only Peter had truly come to know the identity of Jesus (Mark 8:29), and that by the Father's intentional revelation specifically to Peter (Matthew 16:17).
There are several questions and implications raised here, which I do not have time to go into, so suffice it to say, I think Mark is highlighting something about the nature of the true believer - namely, no matter how heinous the crime they commit against Christ, Christ's grace extends to the uttermost of that person. In other words, for the true child of God, even in their greatest failure there is hope for redemption. Since Christ has been crucified once for all the sins of each believer, He has dealt definitively with His people's sins on the cross. Not only has He pardoned them from the wrath of the Father, but He has given them the ability to follow Him.
And so for those who feel like they have done too much evil for God to redeem them, for God to restore them, stop looking to yourself and look again to Christ, and there fix your gaze. It is painful, for as Peter was broken and wept, so will we be. But born from brokenness is the cornucopia of abundant life flowing from God the Father - like a phenix rising from the ashes. For as we survey the rest of Peter's life, we see remaining evidences of Peter's sinfulness, but there we also see God's grace unfolding in his life, maturing him, prodding him along in the abundant life that God has called him to live, that God has called us to live even here, even now.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Truth!
ReplyDeleteI love what this shows us about the character of God and how he deals with his Children. It reminds me that His Children are always repenting. And how much greater He is always showing grace.
This caused me to praise God this morning.
Thanks for sharing, Tim.