ected to Peter gives a slightly altered account of his personality and role.

Peter is introduced as one of Jesus' first followers in both Matthew 4:18 and Mark 1:16. Both passages seem to recount Jesus' speech word-for-word. He merely said

Peter's deep trust in Jesus is apparent through his bold actions in Matthew's account of walking on water. His faith is so strong that he is willing to put his fears aside and attempt to trust God with the purity his teacher does. For a short while he appears to succeed, proving that he above all the other followers has the courage to follow and the faith to see him through. Yet the fears of a mortal man keep him from attaining the faith that Jesus has secured. His life still is at risk and God seems so abstract when he is an inch way from drowning. By leaving this story out, it appears Mark does not want to acknowledge something about the story. Perhaps he believes that Jesus and Jesus alone can accomplish such miracles and that the story undermines his power as the savior. Alternatively, the story could paint Peter as weak and without faith in some readers' eyes and Mark may wish to save Peter from that humiliation. Nevertheless, it creates an important pa!

the doings of his mortal followers. Peter's importance is determined by this difference of views, leaving two different pictures of him behind. In Matthew, his personality is unfolded through several insightful passages that leave behind a lively and devoted friend and follower. In Mark, he is merely one of the disciples, more important definitely, but nothing compared to Jesus. The absence of those few important passages throw a shadow over this figure and leave him humbly depicted, rather than the outspoken, involved man shown in Matthew. Yet his faith and deep devotion to Jesus make Peter stand out from the other disciples in both passages, and leave him weeping in misery over the denial and loss of his friend and teacher.

One of the most interesting differences in the two stories is found in Peter's confession, in both Matthew 16:13 and Mark 8:30. When Jesus asks his disciples “But who do you say that I am?” in Mt. 16:15, it is Peter who answers. In Mark he simply says, “You are the Messiah”, but in Matthew he adds, “…the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16). Perhaps this part is included to define Jesus' role and to add an extra punch to the statement. Mark, who is more interested in telling the story as laconic as possible, may have found this bit unimportant. Yet it is Jesus' next speech that is so vital to the portrayal of Peter that Mark completely leaves out. Jesus continues in praise:

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not

“Are you still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”

Some topics in this essay:
Matthew Peter, Jesus Jesus, Nevertheless Mark, Mark Peter's, Mark Matthew, Peter Mark, Jesus Peter, Jesus Mark, God” Mt, Jesus Temple, story jesus, mark leaves, mark matthew, jesus' life, peter story, walking water, relationship jesus, jesus' teachings, matthew peter, passages leave,