Don't get me wrong, I think Peter rocks, but Mark doesn't exactly display Peter's character in a positive light. Didn't someone once claim that Mark was Peter's interpreter? Hmmm... I digress!
In chapter four of Mark's gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. The disciples don't understand, and ask Jesus what it means. Jesus gives them a bit of a scolding, then begins to explain:
Mark 4:14 "The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away..."
Rocky places. Some bible scholars have indicated that Mark might be having a little fun - perhaps some wordplay with Peter's name - when he describes (as told by Jesus) the bad soil as "rocky" (Greek "petrode"). I guess we will never know. But there's more.
Go to chapter 14 where Jesus predicts Peter's denial:
Mark 14:27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today - yes, tonight - before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
Like seed sown on rocky places, Peter heard the word and received it with joy. He left his net and followed Jesus. But when trouble and persecution came, he will quickly fell away and denied Jesus.
The amazing part to me is that Peter seems to completely ignore the fact that Jesus just said he would rise! Wouldn't that grab your attention? Hello, McFly?!?!
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