This is part of a year-long series. Find out more about this series by reading the introductory post here.

Mark 14:27–31  You Will All Run Away

“Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will run away, because it is written:   I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. 

But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away, I will certainly not!” 

“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!”

But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And they all said the same thing.”

The disciples all desired to stick with Jesus until death, but none of them were able to do so until the Holy Spirit came and gave them the conviction they needed to do so.  Jesus’ arrest and trial was the most direct persecution they had witnessed since being with Him.  As we see with the disciples, it is easy to be overcome with fear and deny our savior when we experience this level of opposition for the first time.  Peter did not follow behind and hang around Jesus’ trial with the intention of denying his association with Jesus.  He was jolted by the level of hostile opposition that he suddenly found himself facing.  Fear overcame him in the moment, and he acted in a way that he never intended.  Furthermore, he ran away from there and wept over what he had done.

After the Holy Spirit comes in Acts, we see Peter and the rest of the disciples acting very differently in the face of hostile opposition.  They no longer retreat and hide; instead, they accept what happens to them and continue to preach the gospel anyway.  Remaining faithful to our convictions in the face of hostile opposition becomes much easier when we come to accept and expect that type of reaction to the Gospel.