Thomas & Gundry’s Harmony:
I had a couple of people respond with comments on the divisions above. Primarily focused on the number of denials predicted. At this stage I am not focused on the number of denials but rather the number of predictions of the coming denials. There is a difference. I am looking for the sense unit. Did this action described above happen at one time or did it happen in two different stages? Where did it happen? Did Jesus prediction of Peter’s denial happen in the upper room or did it happen on the way to Mount of Olives? That seems to be have been one of the deciding factors for Thomas and Gundry in making the division they have into two stages of the prediction. They make it a question of timing rather than one of location.
I am more interested in how this segment hangs together to make sense. As you Deeper Bible students know, it is all a matter of finding the sense unit. Thomas and Gundry appear to create a second prediction on the basis of the division of where the prediction happened: in the upper room or on the way to the Mount of Olives in the middle of the night. It seems rather tenuous to me. They parallel Matthew and Mark’s account with the portions from Luke and John in the comparative columns (Section 225 above). I don’t believe this constitutes a separate prediction. Essentially we have an account of Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial in all four gospels but they are somewhat different. I favour Robertson’s approach of comparing all four together and not separating them arbitrarily. There is more to be gained from looking at all four accounts in parallel than separating them into a supposed two fold prediction process.
Let’s look at the detailed differences between the accounts.
For discussion purposes at this point I have removed the portion of Luke 22:35 –38 to deal with it in a following Gem. I don’t believe it belongs in the “Prediction” sense unit. Oh sure it follows Luke’s account of the prediction closely but we will analyze it in subsequent Gems. I left you with the essential elements of the prediction of the denial. John’s introduction to it is very different. At a glance we can see Luke and John are dealing with the prediction of Peter’s denial in a very different way – note all the green and pink. John really only picks up on one line from the prediction as such and gives to it a long introduction tailored to his themes. Luke drastically shortens the account from Mark and Matthew and then appends his own specific very revelatory material to it. In my opinion Luke’s is the most interesting account. Notice all gospels predict a three fold denial but only Mark refers to cock crowing twice. Is that because two crows were important or because the sounds of the rooster’s crowing heralded the beginning and the end of the period of time called Cock Crowing? (See Thomas and Gundry’s note to the Second Prediction) You can work that one out. I will leave it for when I get around to gemming Mark.
The prime difference between these gospel accounts lies in the introduction of each gospel writer to Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial.
Note the preface to this action recorded by Mark and Matthew:
27 And 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.’ 28 “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.”
Mark 14:27-29
To which Matthew adds a stronger: “I will never fall away”.
Matt 26:33
Both Matthew and Mark include all the disciples in this denial. Well not a denial of words but a denial by their actions. Peter will express it in words but they will all essentially deny Christ too by running away. There is no difference. They are all “tarred with the same brush”. Remember Luke is writing to all God lovers.
Note John’s introduction is totally different from Matthew or Mark’s. John picks different material form the conversations in the upper room. Jesus tells the disciples He is going away and you can’t follow where I am going. To which Peter says I will follow you anywhere, why can’t I come where you are going? Well you can but not now. Lord I will lay my life down for you. John then adds the Truly truly I say to you statement about the rooster crowing and the denial at this point. Only that statement, no more of the discussion.
Now we turn our attention to Luke’s version. This portion comes from a different perspective yet again.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
Luke 22:31-34
This portion will now become our focus for as long as we need to unpack it. But one thing is clear isn’t it? Luke’s account opens with a glimpse behind the scenes. Luke pulls back the curtain to reveal what is behind what was going on here. Luke gives a much wider view that all the others. Time now to give it the attention it is worth.
This passage is “packed to the rafters” with Gems.
When Jesus throws a party it’s “Come as you are!”
Joyce Meyer
When I lived in insecurity it was like I was a puppet and the devil held the strings.
Joyce Meyer
It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.
Ornette Coleman
Your response to failure determines the height of your success.
Robin Sharma