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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_14:27-31
27And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.' 28But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." 29But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." 30And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times." 31But Peter kept saying insistently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing also.
Mar_14:27
NASB, NJB "You will all fall away"
NKJV "All of you will be made to stumble"
NRSV "You will all become deserters"
TEV "All of you will run away"
This is a future passive indicative. This is another evidence that Jesus knows and controls future events. The passive idea is captured in the ASV translation "all ye shall be offended" (i.e., skandalizô, which was used of baited trap sticks). There is a second future passive, "will be scattered," from Zec_13:7. This same terminology of unbelief (i.e., "fall away") was used for others rejecting Christ (cf. Mat_11:6; Mat_13:21; Mat_13:57; Mat_24:10; Mat_26:31). The disciples' faith will fail! Peter's denials were only exemplary of all their fears.
▣ "'it is written'" Literally this is "it has been written," which is a perfect passive indicative. It was a characteristic phrase (i.e., Hebrew idiom) referring to the inspired OT.
▣ "'I will strike'" This is a quote from Zec_13:7. It was the Father's plan that Jesus should give His life as a sacrifice for sin (cf. Isa_53:4; Isa_53:6; Isa_53:10; Mar_10:45; Luk_22:22; Act_2:23; Act_3:18; Act_4:28; Act_13:29; 2Co_5:21).
Mar_14:28 Jesus told the disciples several times that He would meet them on a mount in Galilee (cf. Mat_26:32; Mat_28:7; Mat_28:10; Mat_28:16). This special meeting was the occasion for the Great Commission (cf. Mat_28:16-20), which is probably the post-resurrection appearance spoken of in 1Co_15:6. This does not refer to the ascension, which took place from the Mount of Olives forty days after the resurrection (cf. Act_1:12).
This was a prediction of His resurrection, but they did not perceive its significance. This phrase is an excellent opportunity to show that the NT often attributes the works of redemption to all three persons of the Godhead.
1. God the Father raised Jesus (cf. Act_2:24; Act_3:15; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_13:37; Act_17:31; Rom_6:4; Rom_6:9; Rom_10:9; 1Co_6:14; 2Co_4:14; Gal_1:1;Eph_1:20; Col_2:12; 1Th_1:10)
2. God the Son raised Himself (cf. Joh_2:19-22; Joh_10:17-18)
3. God the Spirit raised Jesus (cf. Rom_8:11). This same Trinitarian emphasis can be seen in Mar_14:9-10. See hyperlink at Mar_1:11.
Mar_14:29 "'Even though'" This is literally "even if" (cf. NKJV and NJB). It is a first class conditional sentence, which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. Peter could imagine the others fleeing, but not himself!
▣ "'yet'" This is the strong adversative alla. Peter was making the emphatic assertion that he would never leave Jesus (cf. Luk_22:33; Joh_13:37-38). Peter was publicly proclaiming an allegiance he would not, could not fulfill! His desire superceded his ability!
Mar_14:30 "this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times" "You, yourself" is emphatic! This is a future middle indicative. Luke's account is longer (cf. Luk_2:31-34). The detail that the rooster crows twice is an eyewitness memory of Peter. It is only recorded in Mark's Gospel.
Mar_14:31
NASB "kept saying insistently"
NKJV "spoke more vehemently"
NRSV "said vehemently"
TEV "answered even more strongly"
NJB "repeated still more earnestly"
This term (perisseia) for excess or extreme degree is used often in its various forms in the NT (cf. Mat_5:20; Mat_27:23; Act_26:11; Php_1:9; 1Th_4:1). The intensified form with its ek prepositional prefix is only found in Mark. It is probably from Peter himself! He remembered how vehement his denial was!
▣ "'Even if'" This is a third class conditional sentence which means potential action. Literally "even if it must be."
▣ "'I will not deny You'" Peter truly felt this way. With all his heart and will power he was determined to stand by Jesus! As David's sins and subsequent forgiveness function to encourage later believers, so too, Peter's assertions and failures. Sinful, weak humans want to do the right thing (cf. Romans 7), they just find themselves incapable! Jesus can deal with failure, but not unrepentant unbelief.