Peter Weeps
Mark 14:66–72 (ESV)
66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 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.
During spring, when we celebrate Easter, I am often reminded that it is a season of weeping. Jesus weeps as a man of sorrows. Mary and the women weep at the foot of the cross. Peter, here in this text, breaks down and weeps after denying Jesus. He realized the words that Jesus spoke had come true.
Earlier in Mark 14, Jesus had told Peter that he would deny him three times. Peter, as a bold and outspoken disciple, exclaims that there is no way he would ever deny Jesus. And so Peter comes full circle in Mark 14, from being the ardent defender of Christ’s deity, to the ardent denier of his own identity.
Jesus makes it clear in the gospels that one of the hallmarks of being a follower of Jesus is that other people know you are a follower of Jesus. Mark 8:34 (ESV)
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Peter demonstrates at this moment that he is more like Judas than he dares realize. He may not have given Jesus over for 30 pieces of silver, but when the first threat comes his way on the night of Jesus’s trial, Peter denies any relationship with the Savior.
Perhaps you’ve heard this illustration before. If Christianity was made illegal, and they were convicting anyone with enough evidence to prove their Christian faith, would there be enough evidence for the judge to pronounce you guilty of being a Christian?
This is nearly what has happened to Peter. He has been found guilty by association, and now the crowds want to question him as well. And rather than standing up boldly for the sake of Christ, Peter denies Jesus.
And he weeps.
Why does Peter weep? Does he weep because he denied Jesus? Does he weep because he is aware of his own sin? Does he weep because he remembers Jesus’ words, that anyone who denies him before men will also be denied before the angels in heaven?
We are not told why Peter weeps, although it’s probably a combination of all three. What we must notice is that Peter’s last act is not weeping. Jesus restores Peter at the end of John’s gospel.
Are you weary? Are you weak? Are you weeping?
Weeping may last for the night, as it did with Peter, but joy came with the morning.
It is good to weep over our sin. This is a right and appropriate thing to do. All of us have sinned. Are we broken over it the way Peter was on that night in Jerusalem?
As we approach Easter, it’s appropriate to weep. To think of how horrible our sin is, to think of how many times we have denied Jesus.
And yet, weeping over sin is simply the first step to walking in righteousness. Peter would not remain a shy and timid denier of Jesus. He would go on to be an example to all of those who would follow Jesus of how God can redeem the vilest offenders.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Take heart, weary Chrisitan. The promise is for you.
Weep over your sins, but trust that Christ has atoned for them. This is the good news of the gospel.