Gospels Explained: Mark 14:53-72

 Here we are given the accounts of two events happening side by side. The first being the false trial against the Lord Jesus (v53-65) and the second being Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus outside the very courtroom (v66-72).

There is much I could say about each word and every line of this text, the prophecies that were fulfilled by this event, such as Christ remaining silent against His accusers, just as it says in Isaiah 53:7, or the fact that nothing that his accusers said matched up, because it was lies, or the fact that the Lord Jesus claims His deity in v62 when He is asked ‘who is he?’, (Jesus said “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”) which is an encouragement and a lesson to us, that when people ask us for the reason for the hope that is in us we should tell them (1 Peter 3:15). However I wish to focus on the stark contrast between Peter in his personal trial and the Lord.

You can see a major contrast between the Lord in v53-65 and Peter in v66-72. Unlike Christ, who is perfect and never changes Peter is imperfect and human. At the exact same time that His Father and Rabbi is being tried before the Sanhedrin court, Peter is denying that He even knows Him, this is after Peter in Mark 8:29 has declared that Jesus is the Christ.

It is appropriate to question why Peter is even there if he is going to deny His Father. Maybe the answer is pride. Peter was a loud mouth, constantly trying to save his own skin. Throughout all four gospels, most of the time when Peter opens his mouth Jesus rebukes him. In chapter 14 Jesus predicts Peter will deny Him. Peter is adamant that he won’t. However it is easy to declare that Christ is the Lord when everyone around you declares it too. Peter has made a pledge to His Father and He is trying to keep it. Notice how timid he is. He is not making his presence in the courtyard known; he is sitting quietly hoping that nobody notices Him. How similar that can be to so many Christians today, who whilst in Church pray out loud and confess their love for God, but then when they are in the world, surrounded by people who do not believe in the Lord, they suddenly become very quiet and intimidated, or even become influenced by those in the world and dragged down to their level, even to the point of denying the very God who they declare their love for when they are in a safe environment.

This passage shows how far Peter falls of the glory of God, just like us all. His heart is in the right place and he wants to do good, but he is just too weak in himself to do it. In fact even after this, when Christ is risen Peter is filled with doubts and fears, all the way up until Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit fills Peter. All of a sudden the fear is gone and he immediately gets up and preaches to the hostile crowds about His Saviour, the Lord Jesus. What a change in Spirit that is. That is because in ourselves we are weak, but in God we are strong. Matthew 19:26 states: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”.

In our own strength it is impossible to do good. It is impossible to make ourselves ‘good’. It is impossible to please the Lord, because we are sinful. The only way to please the Lord is through faith in Him, for "with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter is a sinful man, just like us. However, despite denying the Lord Jesus, Jesus is merciful and still welcomes Peter back with open arms. The Lord forgives Peter, and He will forgive you too. No matter what you have done, no matter how sordid your past is, you can be forgiven in God. 

If we read verse 72 we can see the remorse that Peter has upon realizing that he has denied the Lord, just as Jesus predicted. When Jesus is in the courtroom, alone with no one on His side, His only friend that has returned from fleeing after Jesus’ arrest is denying that he even knows Him. Peter knows very well what he has done and verse 72 tells us that, “when he thought about it, he wept.”

However we must remember that it is not by Peter’s remorse that he is forgiven by God. We have all been given a conscience from God. We all feel guilt and remorse at times. It is not this feeling of guilt and remorse that earns Peter forgiveness from God. Turn to Matthew 27:3 and we are told that Judas too, like Peter was filled with remorse. Both Peter and Judas were remorseful. Both knew that they had done wrong. Both knew that the Lord was the Lord. Yet, the fate of these two men are very different. Peter goes on to become a mighty man of God, whilst Judas is lost and hangs himself, labeled as ‘the son of perdition’ (John 17:12).

What is it that differentiates these men? The answer is Christ. Both men were remorseful and in need of a saviour, however only Peter found his. If Judas had asked the Lord for forgiveness there is no doubt that he would have been forgiven. But he didn’t. How many people today are lost and ready to put their trust in the Lord Jesus but they aren’t looking in the right places. They are deceived by things of the world, pointless religion and charitable works.  Salvation is available to us all, yet only those who put their trust in the perfect Lord Jesus will be saved. Sadly, today the majority put their faith and hope in things that do not last. They seek satisfaction in the things of the world. But we know that these things are all fading away. The only thing that remains is the Lord. The world and what people say is constantly changing, but the Lord remains the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Turn to Mark 16:7, “But go, tell His disciples – and Peter – that He is going before you into Gallee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 

Peter is mentioned specifically. This is a reassuring verse for both non-Christians and Christians. For non-Christians, no matter what you have done, God is calling you and His grace is open to you no matter what. For Christians, we all fall short of the glory of God and no matter how zealous we are we can make mistakes, yet the Lord never lets go. Remember when we are not close to God in our walk, it is us who have fallen away, not Him. He remains the same yesterday, today and forever. There is nothing that you can do that separates you from the love of the Father. (Romans 8:38-39). If you like Peter are weak and scared to declare the name of Christ, immerse yourself in His word and pray and ask for courage and He will give you strength. Submit yourself to God and the devil will flee from you, scared (James 4:8).

Finally turn to John 21:15-19 and we can see why the fate of Peter and Judas was so different. Peter put his trust and hope in the Lord and the Lord accepted him back. No matter how much we have failed the Lord He is always willing to accept you back. We must ensure that we put our hope in things that last, and not things that are fading away.

God always loves us, and his love is always available to us. We just have to ask. 

God is offering you His gift of grace. It is pointless to look at it, admire it or even believe in it. You must accept it! Just like if you are given a Christmas present, if you do not unwrap it you will never have it. You must accept it and open it. 

Romans 8:38-39

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

-BACChristian