MARKAN MEDITATIONS

Meditations in the Gospel of St. Mark

St. Mark 14:27-31

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PETER'S DENIAL of Jesus is one of the most well known incidents in the Gospels. Peter is strongly censured for this terrible act, but this is simply an example of the tendency of human nature to see the failings of others and condemn them, while being blind to the failings in ourselves. Peter's denial was very bad, but there is no room for condemnation on our part or on the part of anyone else.

The truth is that all of us have sins and failings, and we all need grace and should show grace to others. Notice this fact about human nature which is clearly taught in this passage, though perhaps we so easily miss it. Jesus says in verse 21 "You will all fall away". Then when Jesus told Peter he would deny him, Peter's words, rejecting the estimate of his character given by Jesus, were taken up by all the disciples. Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you"; and the rest of the disciples said the same. In fact the only reason the other disciples failed to deny Jesus was because they forsook Jesus from the time he was taken prisoner in Gethsemane. If they had been brave enough to go with Peter to the palace where Jesus was being tried by the High Priest, they would have been challenged as Peter was, and without doubt they would have denied Jesus as well. We have no right to condemn and look down on others when they fail, for we have failings as well and we sin as well, though perhaps in different ways. In fact, as Jesus points out, the failure of the disciples to stand by Jesus at the time of need was foretold in Zechariah as Jesus points out.

This fact of human sin and weakness shows how much we need a Saviour who will take upon himself the full responsibility for our salvation. Jesus is such a Saviour. If any part of our salvation was left to us, we would fail to be saved, because we would not be able to achieve even the smallest part as we should for our own saving.

Then we should notice how events happened in such a way that in fact was necessary. Jesus had to suffer alone, because he was the only one who was truly worthy and able to bear away the sin of the world. He alone was the sinless one. He alone could die for others. He alone was God so that his death was of infinite worth, and could atone for all the sin of the world. The wonder of the infinite love of Jesus is that he was willing to tread the winepress of God's wrath against sin alone and take it all upon himself and exhaust it justly forever.

How wonderful is the work of Jesus for us. Even at the moment when Jesus was going to the cross and to suffer death and hell for us, he had no doubt of the victory he would win. He is able to assure the disciples that he would rise and meet them again. "But after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee" is what he said. He fulfilled this promise to the letter. The resurrection of Jesus is utterly important and essential. Jesus could not have risen if he had not exhausted the just sentence of God of death for the sins of the whole world. Jesus could not rise until he had fully atoned for sin. He had taken responsibility for our sin, and unless he fully satisfied God's justice on account of our sin, he must continue to suffer the punishment due. He knew he would fully satisfy the law of God for us, and so he could confidently say he would rise again. What a glorious assurance the resurrection of Jesus is that Jesus has merited for us full forgiveness and eternal glory.

In the prophesy which Jesus quotes concerning the disciples all failing to support Jesus and running away, we learn a very profound truth. The words are that God would smite the Shepherd. So we must understand that although evil men, motivated by Satan, brought about the death of Jesus, and they are all guilty for their act because they acted of their own desire and volition, yet the fact is that when Jesus died it was God punishing him for the sins of the world. This had to be so. God was satisfying the demands of his justice, by visiting the desert due for our sins fully upon Jesus. So God in justice smote Jesus, so that Jesus may pay the price of our sin, and that we may be forgiven and go free from the just penalty of the sins we have committed.

How amazing is the wisdom and love of God, who for love of us sinners, was prepared to inflict terrible suffering on his only well-beloved Son that we might be saved. Let us remember that this tells us that our sins can't go unpunished. Let this urge us never to cease to believe on Jesus and to depend on him in faith that we might be saved and forgiven.