In the Gospel passages that refer to the denial, the name Peter is used. The Hebrew name “Peter” (פיטרוש) Petros forms a pun with the Hebrew word “Deny” (כפור) kapeer. In Matthew 26:31-35 and Mark 14:27-31, Jesus tells His apostles that the sheep of the flock will be scattered and he tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the rooster finishes crowing. Shortly afterwards, Jesus and the apostles have the last supper signaling the end of the apostles’ training is about to occur.
Conversely, in the Gospel of John when Jesus meets some of the apostles in Galilee after the resurrection – He uses the name Simon. The Hebrew name “Simon” (שמעון) Simeon forms a pun with the Hebrew words for “Casting” (משליכים) Mashalachom and “Kingdom” (שמלכות) Shamalchooth. Simon had just cast a net catching a large school of fish and Jesus was about to invite him to a very important job in the kingdom of God. Three times, Jesus asks Simon if he loves Him. Jesus asks Simon to feed his lambs, tend his sheep, and feed his sheep. This happens just after a breakfast that Jesus prepared for the apostles signaling that the the worldwide ministry of the apostles is about to begin.
The Gospel passages employ five contrasting sets of symbols to emphasize the complete turnaround in the ministry and in Simon Peter. Prior to the Crucifixion, the sheep are scattered after Jesus their shepherd is arrested. Whereas, after the resurrection Jesus selected Simon to feed and tend the sheep. Prior to the Crucifixion, the name Peter which rhymes with deny is used and after the resurrection the name Simon which rhymes with casting and kingdom is used. The three denials of Peter prior to the Crucifixion contrast with the three times that Simon says he loves Jesus after the resurrection. The rooster sounds the alarm to scatter while the fish come together in the net. At the Last Supper, Jesus ends the training of the apostles. At the breakfast, Jesus starts the apostles on their individual missions throughout the world.
Dr. J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament
References:
Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the
flock will be scattered.’
32
But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 But Peter
declared to him, “If all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34
Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, this very night, before the rooster
crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I have to
die with you, I will never deny you.” And so said all the disciples.
Mark
14:27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away. For it is written:
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be
scattered.’
28
But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 But Peter
said to him, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Truly,
I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me
three times.” 31 But he insisted, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny
you!” And they all said the same.
Luke
22:34 He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you
deny three times that you know me.”
John
13:37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down
my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me?
Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will never crow, till you have denied
me three times.
Matthew
26:58
But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high
priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the end... 69 Now Peter
was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him and said,
“You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” 70 But he denied in front of everyone,
saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 And when he went out to
the gateway, another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow
was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 But again he denied it with an oath, “I do not
know the man!” 73 After a little while those who stood by came up and said to
Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then
he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.”
And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word Jesus had
said, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” So he went out
and wept bitterly.
Mark
14:54
But Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high
priest. And he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire... 66 Now as
Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest
came. 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said,
“You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I
neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway,
[and a rooster crowed]. 69 And the servant girl saw him, and began to say again
to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And
after a little while those standing near said to Peter again, “Surely you are
one of them; for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on
himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And
immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word,
how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me
three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Luke
22:55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down
together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in
the firelight, looked at him, and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he
denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later some one
else saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 Then after about an hour had passed, another insisted, saying, “Certainly
this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man,
I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a
rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter
remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster
crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept
bitterly.
John
18:16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, the one
known by the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who kept the door, and
brought Peter in. 17 Then the girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are
not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the
servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they
were standing and warming themselves. And Peter also was with them, standing
and warming himself... 25 Now Simon Peter stood warming himself. Therefore they
said to him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and
said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him
whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”
27 Peter again denied it; and at once a rooster crowed.
John
21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son
of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I like you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him again a
second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord;
you know that I like you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 The third time
he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you like me?” Peter was grieved because
the third time he said to him, “Do you like me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you
know all things; you know that I like you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my
sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded
yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch
out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish
to go.” 19 This he said to show by what death he would glorify God. And after
this he said to him, “Follow me.”
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