NOTES for Mar 14:71-72

Peter did not limit himself to denying that he knew Jesus. He began to swear and call God as witness, and as a result he aggravated his denial with the blasphemy of a false oath. In many Gospel episodes the words spoken by Peter turned out to have been spoken on behalf of all the apostles. This was so, for example, when in the name of all he confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Should we consider that he also spoke the words of denial not only in his own name? If so, this means that in different situations he expressed not only the faith and wisdom given to the apostles from above, but also their old human weaknesses. Then it turns out that he also accepted the shame for all who faltered, for all who were ashamed of their faith, and not only for his own weakness. But it appears that he also had to realize the fall more deeply than the others. And therefore the repentant words of love for Christ that Peter later spoke were spoken not only for himself. Perhaps not only for the apostles...