Peter Denies Jesus with Cursing and Swearing - Mark 14:71

Mark wrote how, “Peter was beneath in the palace” when “there came one of the maids of the high priest. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And you also were with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what you say. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely you are one of them: for you are a Galilaean, and your speech agrees thereto”, and in chapter fourteen and verse seventy-one of his book, Mark shared how Peter, “began to curse and swear, saying, I know not this man” where we read:

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom you speak.

The verse reads, “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, ...”. Mark began with the words, “But he began to curse” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and Peter initiated and started to declare himself liable to the severest divine penalties” “and to swear” or “and to affirm, promise and threaten with an oath”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Mark shared how Peter began to “declare himself liable to the severest divine penalties” and “promised with an oath” by “declaring” the following words.

The verse goes on to say, “... I know not this man of whom you speak.” Mark continued with the words, “I know not this man” which means “I, Peter, do not have knowledge of, understand, perceive or am aware of Jesus” “of whom you speak” or “that the people were uttering, declaring and proclaiming”. Mark shared how Peter emphatically “denied” “knowing” who Jesus again.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we discover this “third” time when Peter “denied” Jesus. Jesus told Peter he would “deny him three times”, and now Peter fulfilled Jesus' words. Though Peter did not believe it was possible, he swore with an oath and a curse upon himself to the people near the maid on the porch that he did not know Jesus. God knew Peter, and He knows people. He knows their capabilities and lack thereof. God sent His Son Jesus to “save” people from their “sinful ways” because He knew how they really are. Peter needed Jesus just as every person needs Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and those who are wise will recognize their need for Him and yield their lives to the only One who is able to save them from themselves.

Next time Mark shares how, “the second time the cock crew”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".