Mark 14:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.”

NIV: Peter declared, 'Even if all fall away, I will not.'

NASB: But Peter said to Him, 'Even if they all fall away, yet I will not!'

CSB: Peter told him, "Even if everyone falls away, I will not."

NLT: Peter said to him, 'Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.'

KJV: But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

NKJV: Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

It is after the Passover meal, and Jesus has told the disciples that soon He will be arrested and they will scatter. The Twelve have followed Him for three years. Countless times, they've watched Him debate religious leaders and win. They know Jerusalem is a dangerous place for Jesus and tried to convince Him to stay away (John 11:7–8). Thomas spoke for them all when he said, "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). They think they're ready for anything.

"Fall away" is from the Greek root word skandalizo, from which we get the English word "scandal." It means to trip up, entice to sin, or cause someone to abandon the one they follow. It's also used of the seed that falls on the rocky soil and "falls away" when faced with persecution (Mark 4:17). Jesus uses the term when He condemns anyone who causes a little one to "sin" (Mark 9:42). Most of the time, however, skandalizo is translated as "offend." The disciples will be so offended—so deeply repulsed—by what happens to Jesus that they abandon Him.

Peter is told he will deny ever knowing Jesus. Peter rejects Jesus' warning. He declares he is willing to face prison and death (Luke 22:33). In point of fact, he will face both; Herod will imprison Peter and behead James (Acts 12:1–6). And church tradition says that Peter will be crucified upside-down, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy in John 21:18–19. This night, however, Peter will strongly deny that he knows Jesus three times (Mark 14:66–72) within Jesus' hearing (Luke 22:61).

Fortunately, this is a temporary condition. Peter will flee, weeping bitterly (Luke 22:62). The disciples will scatter. At the crucifixion, only John will join the women at the cross (John 19:25–26). After the resurrection, however, they will gather together (John 20:19–29), and after Jesus ascends into heaven, they will join to start the church (Acts 1:13–14).

The whole point of Jesus' sacrifice is to save us from our sins. It should be no surprise that this includes the sins of His followers around the time of that sacrifice.

Mark 14:26–31 occurs as Jesus and the twelve disciples have just had the Passover meal in an upper room in Jerusalem. They are now on the Mount of Olives, where they have stayed every night this week (Luke 21:37). After such an intimate celebration, Jesus warns the disciples they will abandon Him, and Peter, specifically, will deny he knows Him. But Jesus isn't trying to shame the disciples; He's telling them where to meet Him after His resurrection. Jesus' warning is also recorded in Matthew 26:30–35, Luke 22:31–34, and John 13:36–38.

Jesus is anointed in a symbolic anticipation of His death. Judas decides to secretly cooperate with local religious leaders to arrest Jesus in secret. During the Passover meal, Jesus predicts His betrayal by Judas, and Peter's denial. He also institutes the Lord's Supper, also known as communion. After praying on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is captured when Judas identifies Him to a hostile mob sent by Jewish authorities. He endures a corrupt, prejudiced trial, ending in a conviction for blasphemy. Peter, fearing for his life, lies about knowing Jesus, before remembering Jesus' prediction and breaking down in sobs.

Jesus has finished His public teaching ministry and now prepares for the crucifixion. His sacrificial loyalty will provide the means by which the disciples' abandonment will be forgiven. Next, the Romans, as representatives of Gentiles throughout history, will join the Jews and kill Jesus. Jesus will be buried, but He will rise again with the promise that His sacrifice will redeem the world. Matthew 26 and Luke 22 follow Mark 14 more closely while John 13:1—18:27 records more of Jesus' teaching in the upper room.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.