You will all fall away

Mark 14:27-31 and Mark 14:66-71

Wearing masks during the pandemic was important in limiting the transmission of the virus. But they do cause difficulties, not least I find myself sometimes not recognising people behind the masks. More seriously for some the covering of the mouth and face limits communication in reading lips or facial expressions.

There are other kinds of masks that we all wear. Two decades ago, John Powell wrote a book ‘Why I am afraid to tell you who I am?’ He argued that we hide our real selves by adopting roles or wearing masks that say ‘I’m fine’ because of our insecurity of whether if people saw us as we really are they would love us.

Mark’s account of Peter’s attitudes and actions during Gethsemane and the arrest and trial of Jesus is therefore startling. It is brutally honest in presenting a disciple who was close to Jesus and yet arrogantly asserts that he will never fail (v27-31), falls asleep at a crucial moment (v37) and then falls asleep again, ran away when Jesus was arrested (v50), with swearing and cursing denied being with Jesus when asked three times (v66-71), and someone who breaks down and weeps (v72). This is a concerning referee’s report for someone who will be one of the key leaders of the early church! If Peter was one of the eye-witness sources that Mark used for this gospel then it is amazing that Peter was so honest.

After such an epic fail, Peter could be honest because in the light of the death and resurrection of Jesus he knew that he was forgiven, restored and was in the process of transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, he could be honest because he had come to the point of knowing that he was loved by Jesus, whatever the mess that he was.