7. AND DENIAL Mark 14:27-31 (Matthew 26:30-35; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:36-38) 27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended:--You will all stumble at my being taken, abused, and set at naught; you will be ashamed to own me as a teacher, and to acknowledge yourselves as my disciples. for it is written.--In Zechariah 13:7. The scripture quoted shows Jesus was familiar with the scriptures. It shows that a suffering Messiah was in accordance with the purposes of God. I will smite the shepherd,--This is the language of God the Father, Jesus is the Shepherd. It means that God will either smite Jesus himself, or give him up to be smitten. (Compare Exodus 4:2, Matthew 8:15, etc.) Both were done. God gave him up to the Jews and Romans, to be smitten for the sins of the world (Romans 8:32); and he himself left him to deep and awful sorrows, to bear the burden of the world's atonement alone. and the sheep--Here "sheep" means the apostles. It also refers sometimes to all the followers of Jesus, the friends of God. (John 10:16; Psalms 100:3.) shall be scattered abroad.--This refers to the apostles fleeing, and was fulfilled in that. 28 Howbeit, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.--Another future event foretold, thereby establishing his divinity. This promise was given the apostles to encourage and support them, and also to give them an indication where he could be found after his resurrection. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.--This confidence of Peter was entirely characteristic of him. He was ardent, sincere, and really attached to Jesus. Yet this declaration was made evidently: 1. From true love of Jesus. 2. From too much reliance on his own strength. 3. From ignorance of himself and of the trials through which he was soon to pass. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that thou today, even this night,--This more definitely specifies the time. before the cock crow twice, shalt deny me thrice,--The cock is accustomed to crow twice, once at midnight, and once in the morning, at break of day--about three o'clock. The latter was commonly called cockcrowing. (Mark 13:35.) Mark and Luke speak of the second crowing. The denial would take place before the second crowing, or three o'clock in the morning. 31 But he spake exceeding vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee.--He means that he would die with Jesus before he would deny him. Here Peter shows his strong self-will and self-confidence. But this together with his denial shows how little man understands himself. Self-confidence and a presumptuous opinion of one's own strength is a sin very incident to the holiest and best of men. This good man resolved honestly, no doubt, too much in his own strength. Little did he think what a feather he should be in the wind of temptation if once left to the power and prevalence of his own fears. And in like manner also said they all.--All the apostles. The other ten caught the spirit of Peter and took the position he did. Judas had left them and hence did not join in the conversation. [As Jesus neared his end, he pressed more and more of his teachings into the days as they passed. This fourteenth day of April--the night on which he was betrayed --was replete with service and instruction. This night the supper was instituted and eaten. At this supper, in the guestchamber, he spoke the sermon telling of the mansions in the father's house (John 1:14);the comforter that he would send (John 14:31); the vine and the branches (John 15:1-12); Christ's love for his friends, and the hatred of the world (John 15:13-27); persecution they would endure for his sake, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit (John 16:1-33); his intercessory prayer for the oneness of his apostles, and for all who should believe on him through their word (John 17). "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, himself and his disciples." It is probable the greater part of his teaching was done while they were at the table in the guestchamber. Some think it was at the foot of the Mount of Olives.]