Today's passage begins with the end of Jesus' interrogation by Annas and then moves to Peter denying Jesus twice. I'm not quite sure why Burridge broke up the readings this way. The first two verses belong to the scene in Annas' house. The remain four are what my NRSV calls "Peter Denies Jesus Again." Burridge spends the first portion of his commentary on Friday's reading, and then says
The oscillation between Jesus and Peter continues: while Jesus is being taken to Caiaphas and questioned there, the director turns the cameras back into the courtyard to see how Simon Peter is getting on. (p. 210)Burridge uses the middle third of his commentary to discuss Peter's denial. He notes this particular difference between John's version of these events and those of the Synoptic writers:
Significantly, John omits any reminder here of Jesus' warning nor does Peter go out into the dark to weep. (p. 211)One wonders why John even bothered to include it, except that it is one of the important stories about this particular disciple.
The final third builds on the image of the cock crowing. The night is ending, and Good Friday is dawning.
Poor Peter. His courage fails him at the last minute. Yet he is still remembered as the rock upon which the church is built. Peter's courage fails over and over again. Yet he perseveres. He continues God's work in spite of his faults. Or perhaps, because of them. And God does not stop believing in Peter.
What does it mean for us that God believes in us, even when our courage and our faith fail?
Peace,
Jeffri
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