Plumbing the Depths

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of peace and mercy, I bring to You all the jumbled complexities of my life, trusting You to help me sort through everything. I look to Your wisdom.

Read Mark 14:66–72

^[66] While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. ^[67] When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. ^[68] But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. ^[69] When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” ^[70] Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” ^[71] He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” ^[72] Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Meditate

That this unflattering story about the most prominent disciple of Jesus is included in Mark is both a disappointment and encouragement to us.

Think Further

Peter’s courage had taken him further than his colleagues: he had followed

the arrest party, until he was challenged. The contrast between him and Jesus, however, is acute.

In public, though it would cost him his life, Jesus has said “I am” the Messiah (62). In public,

fearful of what it might cost him, Peter said, in effect, “I’m not his disciple.” He swore an oath

that he didn’t know Jesus. When the cock crew for the second time he broke down.

From the rest of the New Testament we know that Peter went from remorse to restoration. He

makes one final appearance in Mark. The young man in the empty tomb says, “Tell Peter that he

is going ahead of you to Galilee” (Mark 16:7). Jesus had promised that he would go ahead of

them though they would have fallen away (27), but the danger of knowing how the story ends is

that we escape from the tragedy too easily. Peter’s experience tells us that even mature Christian

leaders can fall; that none of us has an infallible understanding of our own abilities or can be

completely confident how we will act under pressure. We also learn that when you truly love

Jesus and let him down it is profoundly painful.

Between failure and recovery, the primary experience is remorse. Peter had little human

support—the whole group had fled—but he had Jesus’ promise, “I will go ahead of you” (28). At

such times we choose to trust God, though all seems to have collapsed, or we decide not to. We

do not know what Peter’s mindset was before meeting Jesus in Galilee. Did he remember Jesus’

words and accept them, or not? Whatsoever, restoration is not dependent on our faith: it is rooted

in grace.

Peter’s courage had taken him further than his colleagues: he had followed the arrest party, until he was challenged. The contrast between him and Jesus, however, is acute. In public, though it would cost him his life, Jesus has said “I am” the Messiah (62). In public, fearful of what it might cost him, Peter said, in effect, “I’m not his disciple.” He swore an oath that he didn’t know Jesus. When the cock crew for the second time he broke down. From the rest of the New Testament we know that Peter went from remorse to restoration. He makes one final appearance in Mark. The young man in the empty tomb says, “Tell Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee” (Mark 16:7). Jesus had promised that he would go ahead of them though they would have fallen away (27), but the danger of knowing how the story ends is that we escape from the tragedy too easily. Peter’s experience tells us that even mature Christian leaders can fall; that none of us has an infallible understanding of our own abilities or can be completely confident how we will act under pressure. We also learn that when you truly love Jesus and let him down it is profoundly painful. Between failure and recovery, the primary experience is remorse. Peter had little human support—the whole group had fled—but he had Jesus’ promise, “I will go ahead of you” (28). At such times we choose to trust God, though all seems to have collapsed, or we decide not to. We do not know what Peter’s mindset was before meeting Jesus in Galilee. Did he remember Jesus’ words and accept them, or not? Whatsoever, restoration is not dependent on our faith: it is rooted in grace.

Apply

Faith without witness is fragile. Private faith but public silence is vulnerable to public denial. How can you be stronger in your witness for Jesus?

Closing prayer

“Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy” (Psa. 130:1,2).

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

Yesterday’s reading

View all readings

Tomorrow’s reading