‘And as Peter was beneath in the court there comes one of the maids of the high priest, and seeing Peter warming himself she looked on him and says, “You also were with the Nazarene, with Jesus”.'
Mark's interweaving continues. We must always remember that Peter was there. No one else was. His bravery was unquestioned. But it failed him at the last. We can imagine him standing there, shaking inside, apprehensive, hoping to avoid being noticed, but determined to see it through. He would stand by Jesus to the end and find out what happened. But he had not reckoned on himself and the constant effects of tension and of the danger of being recognised. As we have suggested above there appears to be a deliberate contrast of his experiences with the trial of Jesus. Peter too was ‘on trial'.
His luck had run out. One of the maids recognised him and came up and looked at him closely. She may have listened to Jesus preaching in the temple and noticed his disciples, especially big, bluff Peter. She may have followed the arresting party for excitement. But whatever the reason for her knowledge, from the glow of the fire on his face she had recognised him. Her comment need not have been accusatory, just and expression of interest, and even girlish excitement. But it was the final straw.
‘With the Nazarene, Jesus.' Possibly contemptuous, but possibly a little excited. After all ‘the Nazarene' merited the attention of the Sanhedrin and a large arresting party. So he must be dangerous.