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The role and nature of Christian discipleship - CCEAThe pressure of discipleship - Peter鈥檚 denial

Jesus chose his twelve disciples to preach, perform exorcisms and to be with him. They faced many pressures and challenges in their role.

Part of Religious StudiesChristianity through a study of the Gospel of Mark

The pressure of discipleship - Peter鈥檚 denial (Mark 14: 66鈥72)

At the Jesus predicted Peter would deny knowing him, something which Peter strongly refuted. However, the predicted event occurred just a few hours later.

After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed at a distance. He was in the courtyard of the high priest鈥檚 house during Jesus鈥 trial before the inside.

It is here that he was recognised by some people. The first person who approached him was a woman who was a servant of the high priest, she had seen him with Jesus.

Peter replies that he doesn鈥檛 know what she is talking about. The woman then says to those around her, again he denies knowing Jesus.

Finally, the bystanders accused him as they recognised him as a Galilean from his accent.

On all three occasions he denied knowing Jesus - just as Jesus himself had predicted.

Image caption,
Illustration of Peter denying Christ (from The Popular Pictorial Bible, published in 1862)

When Peter heard the cock crowing, he remembered Jesus鈥 words and broke down and cried.