eaven.'"(Mt. 16.17-16.19)Not only does Jesus dispense many intriguing religious ideas in this speech, he casts light upon Peter's own spirituality. The image presented is a man of religious insight who has gained respect in both Jesus' eyes and God's. Yet Mark leaves this lengthy speech out. Again, it may be too far-fetched from the message Mark is trying to present about Jesus' life, just a petty little detail. Another hypothesis, much debated among the scholarly circle, is that perhaps Mark is trying to write from Peter's perspective about Jesus. This explains the embarrassment that the walking on water story would create for Peter and the author's choice to leave it out. Therefore, such a speech as this would need to be tossed aside to create a humble portrait of the follower, one that is simple and quiet.If such a theory were true, many confusing aspects of Mark would be clarified. For example, Mark leaves out the story of Jesus' birth. Peter has no connection to that time period of Jesus' life, nor is it important to the message God is trying to send. In the first chapter itself, Peter is quickly introduced. Now a book written from Peter's eyes focusing on Jesus' teachings would not include his own embarrassment or praise. He would only appear as he feels a humble, devoted follower of a divine man. Yet, there is no first person. This is not a surprising fact, because it seems rare in ancient storytelling, especially the Bible. In addition, this not even Peter writing, and although the author chooses to write from his eyes, the subject is Jesus. Why complicate that obvious point by adding a main character that narrates? The author of Mark wishes to show a spiritual leader in his prime. Peter is an excellent viewpoint to take because he was extremely close and devoted and would therefore been present as Jesus acted as a miracle worker and fulfilled the prophecy. Peter's most substantial part in Mark is described dur...
