Mark 14:27-31 – Don’t be presumptuous, just do your best

Logically the account could have gone on straight from verse 26 to verse 32. But it did not. Mark seemed to have deliberately inserted verses 27-31 to tell us that the Lord was fully aware of the events ahead. His account did not take into consideration when and where these two events were told to the disciples. This prediction of the denial of Peter according to Luke 22:31-34 and John 13:26-37 took place during the Passover. But Mark inserted it here to help the readers to anticipate the desertion of all His disciples, and Peter’s denial of the Lord, which he would narrate later in verses 43-50 and 66-72 respectively.

Quoting Zechariah 13:7, the Lord told them that they would all desert Him the moment the enemies struck Him. Like when a shepherd had fallen, the sheep would be scattered. So the Lord told them that when they had smitten Him, the whole fellowship would be disintegrated and they would scatter. However, He would not remain down. He would rise and go ahead and meet them in Galilee. Here the Lord indirectly told them that He would be smitten and die but He would also rise again. He wanted them to know in advance what would happen.

Peter found what Jesus said offensive. And he refused to take it lying down. So he vehemently declared his absolute loyalty. He was being presumptuous and proud. He asserted strongly that He would never desert Him even though every one of them should fall away. He spoke too quickly and boasted too much. He was abhorred at this suggestion that He would deny the Lord and protested so cock-surely. This prompted the Lord to tell Him saying, “Truly I say to you, that this night before the rooster crows twice you yourself will deny me three times.” The Lord wanted Peter to know in advance how thoroughly he would deny Him. So He referred to his threefold denial of Him which took place as He had foretold. Despite the Lord’s insistence, Peter still refused to back down. And the rest of the disciples also presented their pledge of loyalty.

This account reminds us not to be presumptuous. We will all face hardship following Christ. No one is immune to hard times. It is better to rest in the grace of God that He will supply the strength when we need it most. It is better to determine we will do our best, and not presume that we will never fall. That’s the reason Paul said, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls.” Our best insurance for staying loyal is to stay connected. The best way to stay connected is to stay prayerful. That’s also the prescription given by the Lord. He is still saying to us to “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation.”