Chili

It has nothing to do with being first but with the given perspective of the different Gospels. Mark reports events as they are without any religious implication that created the bitterness of the weeping.

In Mark the denyal by Peter is part of the plot as a normal part of the course while Matthew shows the religious attachement (including his accent) that needs to be severed to allow Jesus to die without any blame. In Luke the departure was expected (bitter-sweet) which now becomes a credit to Judaism while in Matthew it (Judaism) blows up in Peter's face.

Jeffrey Gibson

http://asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~dwwilson/twilight.mid

Jeffrey

Chili

But Jeffrey, why would Peter move to Rome if there was no victory in the cross? The cross is very much a decisive event where faith is put to the test so that religion can deliver and this here is the clear cut meta-physics behind the event so John can be happy about the apparent betrayal that Joseph [our transcending hero] swallowed hook, line and sinker only to appear again to get the 'body' for burial.

Jeffrey Gibson