John 18:27

27. Peter then denied again—But, if the challenge of Malchus' kinsman was made simultaneously with this on account of his Galilean dialect, it was no simple denial; for Matthew 26:74 says, "Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man." So Mark 14:71. This was THE THIRD DENIAL.

and immediately—"while he yet spake" (Luke 22:60).

the cock crew—As Mark is the only Evangelist who tells us that our Lord predicted that the cock should crow twice (Luke 22:60- :), so he only mentions that it did crow twice (Luke 22:60- :). The other Evangelists, who tell us merely that our Lord predicted that "before the cock should crow he would deny Him thrice" (Matthew 26:34; Luke 22:34; John 13:38), mention only one actual crowing, which was Mark's last. This is something affecting in this Evangelist—who, according to the earliest tradition (confirmed by internal evidence), derived his materials so largely from Peter as to have been styled his "interpreter," being the only one who gives both the sad prediction and its still sadder fulfilment in full. It seems to show that Peter himself not only retained through all his after-life the most vivid recollection of the circumstances of his fall, but that he was willing that others should know them too. The immediately subsequent acts are given in full only in Luke (Luke 22:61; Luke 22:62): "And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter," from the hall of judgment to the court, in the way already explained. But 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. And Peter went out and wept bitterly." How different from the sequel of Judas' act! Doubtless the hearts of the two men towards the Saviour 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 revulsion, which made Peter "weep bitterly," was, beyond all doubt, this heart-piercing "look" which his Lord gave him. And remembering the Saviour's own words at the table, "Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed [rather, 'I prayed'] for thee that thy faith fail not" (see on Luke 22:62- :), 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 Luke 22:62- :).

Luke 22:62- :. JESUS BEFORE PILATE.

Note.—Our Evangelist, having given the interview with Annas, omitted by the other Evangelists, here omits the trial and condemnation before Caiaphas, which the others had recorded. (See on Luke 22:62- :). [The notes broken off there at Luke 22:62- : are here concluded]. Luke 22:62- ::

Luke 22:62- ::

The high priest asked Him, Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed? —Matthew says the high priest put Him upon solemn oath, saying, "I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God" (Luke 22:62- :). This rendered an answer by our Lord legally necessary (Luke 22:62- :). Accordingly, Mark 14:62:

Jesus said, I am —"Thou hast said" (Matthew 26:64). In Luke 22:67; Luke 22:68, some other words are given, "If I tell you, ye will not believe; and if I also ask you, ye will not answer Me, nor let Me go." This seems to have been uttered before giving His direct answer, as a calm remonstrance and dignified protest against the prejudgment of His case and the unfairness of their mode of procedure.

and ye shall see the Son of man, c.—This concluding part of our Lord's answer is given somewhat more fully by Matthew and Luke. "Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter [rather, 'From henceforth'] shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64 Luke 22:69). —that is, I know the scorn with which ye are ready to meet such an avowal: To your eyes, which are but eyes of flesh, there stands at this bar only a mortal like yourselves, and He at the mercy of the ecclesiastical and civil authorities: "Nevertheless," a day is coming when ye shall see another sight: Those eyes, which now gaze on Me with proud disdain, shall see this very prisoner at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and coming in the clouds of heaven: Then shall the judged One be revealed as the Judge, and His judges in this chamber appear at His august tribunal; then shall the unrighteous judges be impartially judged; and while they are wishing that they had never been born, He for whom they now watch as their Victim shall be greeted with the hallelujahs of heaven, and the welcome of Him that sitteth upon the throne! Mark 14:63; Mark 14:64:

Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy —"of his own mouth" (Luke 22:71); an affectation of religious horror.

What think ye? —"Say, what verdict would ye pronounce."

They all condemned Him to be guilty of death —of a capital crime. (See Luke 22:71- :). Mark 14:65:

And some began to spit on Him —"Then did they spit in His face" (Mark 14:65- :). See Isaiah 50:6.

And to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him, Prophesy —or, "divine," "unto us, Thou Christ, who is he that smote Thee?" The sarcasm in styling Him the Christ, and as such demanding of Him the perpetrator of the blows inflicted upon Him, was in them as infamous as to Him it was stinging.

and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands —"And many other things blasphemously spake they against him" (Isaiah 50:6- :). This general statement is important, as showing that virulent and varied as were the recorded affronts put upon Him, they are but a small specimen of what He endured on that black occasion.