Mark 14:72 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

NIV: 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.

NASB: And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, 'Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.' And he hurried on and began to weep.

CSB: Immediately a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.

NLT: And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: 'Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.' And he broke down and wept.

KJV: And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

NKJV: A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

Peter's interaction with Jesus after the Passover meal in the upper room is characterized by threes. Peter promises Jesus three things: he will not fall away from Jesus (Mark 14:29), he would follow Jesus into prison (Luke 22:33), and he would rather die than deny Jesus (Mark 14:31). Three times, Jesus tells Peter to stay awake, watch, and pray that he does not fall into temptation—that Peter would be able to fulfill his oaths. Three times, Peter falls asleep, instead (Mark 14:32–41). Now, empty of his prior resolve, unprepared for spiritual warfare, and fearful because of his own crime, Peter denies Jesus three times (Mark 14:66–72).

In the dark of the garden of Gethsemane, surrounded by his compatriots, Peter was brave and rash enough to draw his sword against the priests' servants (John 18:10). In the light of a fire, in earshot of the guards beating Jesus (Mark 14:65), and guilty of his own sin, Peter folds. The group of accusing servants includes a relative of Malchus, the man Peter assaulted (John 18:26). Peter is afraid of being punished for his crime while Jesus is being punished without reason.

Peter addresses this dichotomy later in his first epistle (1 Peter 2:18–25). He describes Jesus when he says, "For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly" (1 Peter 2:19). He then says that it is of no account if you sin and are punished for it. You deserve the punishment. Peter lied under an oath he called upon himself while there was no deceit found in Jesus' mouth. While Peter hid, Jesus "bore our sins on his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24).

The passage in 1 Peter is undoubtedly informed by Peter's passionate mourning, here. All of Peter's grandstanding is swept away. Luke says that at this point, Jesus literally turns and looks at Peter (Luke 22:61). In fear for his safety, Peter has forgotten Jesus' warning to him. He finally realizes that all his bravado and claims and presumptions mean nothing. With that dramatic, soul-crushing locking of eyes, Peter realizes exactly what he has done, and just how unworthy he is of Jesus.

The Greek phrase describing Peter's reaction here is epibalōn eklaien. These words, respectively, refer to "falling, crashing, casting, or laying down," and "weeping, as in ritual mourning." Peter literally collapses to the ground in agony, wailing and sobbing over his denial of Christ.

But the final triptych is yet to come (John 21:15–18). After the resurrection, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, near where Jesus first asked Peter to be His disciple (Mark 1:16–18), Jesus will ask Peter three times if Peter loves Him. Three times, Peter readily admits he has phileo for Jesus; that is, he loves Jesus dearly. In his humility, he admits he does not have agape love for Jesus; he is not able, in himself, to pick up his cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34). It is here that he finally becomes open to Jesus' work in his heart so that Peter can, ultimately, follow Jesus to his death.

Mark 14:66–72 occurs while Jesus is in an upper courtyard in the home of high priest. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, is trying to find something to charge Jesus with, finally settling on blasphemy (Mark 14:53–64). Having found their charge, they are now free to beat Jesus (Mark 14:65). John is apparently watching (John 18:15). Peter is in a lower courtyard, warming himself by a fire, surrounded by servants and guards who grow increasingly suspicious of his presence and his role in the proceedings. Peter's denial is also found in Matthew 26:69–75, Luke 22:54–62, and John 18:15–18, 25–27.

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.