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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - Mark 14:72 - 14:72
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And the second time the cock crew - The other three Evangelists, who mention but one crowing of the cock - and that not the first, but the second and last one of Mark - all say the cock crew “immediately,” but Luke (Luk 22:60) says, “Immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.” Alas! - But now comes the wonderful sequel.
The Redeemer’s look upon Peter, and Peter’s bitter tears (Mar 14:72; Luk 22:61, Luk 22:62).
It has been observed that while the beloved disciple is the only one of the four Evangelists who does not record the repentance of Peter, he is the only one of the four who records the affecting and most beautiful scene of his complete restoration (Joh 21:15-17).
Luk 22:61 :
And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter - How? it will be asked. We answer, From the chamber in which the trial was going on, in the direction of the court where Peter then stood - in the way already explained. See on Mar 14:66. Our Second Evangelist makes no mention of this look, but dwells on the warning of his Lord about the double crowing of the cock, which would announce his triple fall, as what rushed stingingly to his recollection and made him dissolve in tears.
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 - To the same effect is the statement of the First Evangelist (Mat 26:75), save that like “the beloved physician,” he notices the “bitterness” of the weeping (Luk 22:62). The most precious link, however, in the whole chain of circumstances in this scene is beyond doubt that “look” of deepest, tenderest import reported by Luke alone (Luk 22:61). Who can tell what lightning flashes of wounded love and piercing reproach shot from that “look” through the eye of Peter into his heart!
And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.
Luk 22:62 :
And Peter went out and wept bitterly - How different from the sequel of Judas’ act! Doubtless the hearts of the two men towards the Savior were perfectly different from the first; and the treason of Judas was but the consummation of the wretched man’s resistance of the blaze of light in the midst of which he had lived for three years, while Peter’s denial was but a momentary obscuration of the heavenly light and love to his Master which ruled his life. But the immediate cause of the blessed revulsion which made Peter “weep bitterly” (Mat 26:75) was, beyond all doubt, this heart-piercing “look” which his Lord gave him. And remembering the Savior's own words at the table, “Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luk 22:31, Luk 22:32), may we not say that this prayer fetched down all that there was in that look to pierce and break the heart of Peter, to keep it from despair, to work in it “repentance unto salvation not to be repented of,” and at length, under other healing touches, to “restore his soul?” (See on Mar 16:7).