While the other three Evangelists represent our Lord as saying that the
three denials by Peter should take place before the cock would crow, St.
Mark, who was a disciple of St. Peter, records the prediction more
minutely, and represents our Lord as saying: “Before the cock crow
_twice_, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Mark xiv. 30). There is, however, no
contradiction between St. Mark and the others, even if all refer to the
same prediction; for the _second_ crowing of the cock, before which,
according to St. Mark, the three denials were to take place, is that which
is meant by the other Evangelists, and which was universally known as
“_the_ cockcrowing.” That the cockcrowing in our Lord’s time was regarded
as so distinct a note of time as to have given its name to one of the four
watches of the night, we have clear evidence in the Gospels. Thus, in St.
Mark (xiii. 35), our Lord says: “Watch ye therefore (for you know not when
the lord of the house cometh; at even, or at midnight, _or at the
cockcrowing_, or in the morning).” Thus, then, although the cock crew
after Peter’s _first_ denial, as St. Mark records (Mark xiv. 68), still
the time generally known as cockcrow—about 3 a.m.—was that meant when the
word was used, as it is in our Lord’s prediction in SS. Matt., Luke, and
John, without any special indication that the first crowing of the cock
was the one intended. Hence, the _second_ crowing of the cock referred to
by St. Mark was _the_ cock‐crowing mentioned by the other three
Evangelists.
Before quitting this chapter, it may be well, for clearness sake, to
repeat here what we consider to be the most probable order of events at
the Last Supper.
(1) There was the Paschal Supper.
(2) During the Paschal Supper, or at its close (but certainly before the
ordinary supper was over: see above on verse 2), the washing of the feet,
accompanied by the first allusion to the traitor (John xiii. 10).
(3) The ordinary supper, during which
(4) Another reference to the traitor (Matt. xxvi. 21 _ff._; and Mark xiv.
18 _ff._).
(5) The Eucharistic Supper.
(6) A third reference to the traitor (Luke xxii. 21).
(7) The strife among the Apostles as to which of them was the greatest,
occasioned, perhaps, by the anxiety of each to shift from himself the
charge of treachery.
(8) The question of St. John (John xiii. 25), and the final disclosure of
the traitor, who quits the supper room.
CHAPTER XIV.
1‐4. *Christ bids the Apostles not to be troubled in heart, and
puts before them three motives of consolation.*
5‐7. *Interrupted by Thomas He declares Himself to be* _the way_,
*and His Father* _the term_ *whither He goeth*.
8‐12_a_. *Philip’s request, and Christ’s reply containing a fourth
motive of consolation.*
12_b_‐14. *All who have the requisite faith shall perform even
greater miracles than His, for whatever they shall ask the Father
or Himself in His name, He will grant.*
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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