The Bible Book

THE GOSPELS 257

The third time Peter denies

knowing Jesus, the rooster crows.

Luke’s Gospel also says that at

that Jesus turns to look at Peter

through an open window, as if

acknowledging His words coming

to pass; all accounts, however,

describe how Peter weeps once

he realizes what he has done.

Symbolic dawn

The crowing of the dawn rooster

signifies not only the breaking of

dawn, but also that Jesus’s fate

has been decided upon. Dawn

signifies the new life that Jesus

will bring about through His

death, as does the rooster itself,

a symbol of fertility. However, the

coming of dawn is significant for

another reason: at the time, trials

were required to take place after

daybreak if the Sanhedrin were to

sentence the defendant to death.

Disciples forgiven

The Gospels give no reasons for

the betrayal. Peter and the disciples

are human, and may be afraid that

they, too, will be arrested. The

Gospels frequently describe the

disciples as vulnerable and even

dimwitted: they constantly

question Jesus and have difficulty

understanding His parables. Some

appear to be in denial that Jesus

will die. Their fallibility, however,

shows that one does not have to

be perfect to be a servant of Christ.

Peter denies Jesus, yet he is the

one who will eventually hold the

keys to heaven. ■

See also: The Last Supper 248–53 ■ Betrayal in the Garden 254–55 ■

The Crucifixion 258–65 ■ The Empty Tomb 268–71

Peter’s three denials,

according to Mark’s Gospel

“I don’t know or

understand what you’re

talking about.”

“Again he denied it.”

“I don’t know this man

you’re talking about.”

“You also were with that

Nazarene, Jesus.”

“This fellow is one

of them.”

“Surely you are

one of them, for you

are a Galilean.”

Accuser Peter

The Sanhedrin

Described in all four Gospels,

the Sanhedrin was a body of

elders and priests that met to

discuss religious and political

matters. According to Acts, it

convened several times a year.

The term Sanhedrin comes

from a Greek word meaning

“assembly.” There were lesser

Sanhedrins that could form in

any town or province, but the

Great Sanhedrin was a large

body of more than 70 elders

that met in Jerusalem. It

gathered to discuss the Law

and acted as a judiciary body.

When Jesus met with

the high priest elders, it is

generally assumed that He

is meeting with the Great

Sanhedrin, whose members

will determine whether He

has committed blasphemy.

However, they are portrayed

in the Gospels as corrupt:

Matthew writes that “the

whole Sanhedrin were looking

for false evidence against

Jesus so that they could put

Him to death” (26:59), an

accusation that is repeated

in Mark’s Gospel (14:55).

Christ Before the High Priest

(c.1617), a painting by Gerrit van

Honthorst, illuminates a book

containing the Mosaic Law, which

Jesus is accused of breaking.

US_256-257_Peters_denial.indd 257 27/09/17 10:17 am