Peter and John are sent by Jesus to secure the place and the items needed to observe the Passover meal with Jesus. It is Thursday.
There had been many Passover celebratory meals since Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. But this Passover meal will be just a bit different. Jesus is going to ask His disciples to use future Passover meals to “Remember Me.” Remember my broken body and my shed blood.
There are two guests leaning around this meal who will play very important roles. Judas will leave the meal and prepare to carry out his part of the betrayal agreement he has made with the Sanhedrin. He will lead them to the garden and kiss his master, identifying Him as the One they are seeking for trial.
The other guest has no idea what he is about to do. Jesus has even told him what he was going to do and yet he has been adament that He would never deny Jesus. But, early in the morning, He will try to get close to see what is happening to his beloved Jesus. He will deny Him, not once, not twice but three times.
Thought For Today:
Have you ever said or done something that still makes you wince when you think of it? Something you wish you could do over? Though Jesus is our focus of this week, I can’t help but think of these two followers of Jesus. They are alike and yet so different. One has such a love of money that he will barter a relationship with the Master in exchange for his idol…money. He would realize too late that perhaps the money wasn’t important after all.
Then the one who has proclaimed very boldly time and again his love and desire to protect Jesus. So bold in his proclamations and yet the most painful thing he can imagine will come from his own mouth. He will deny even knowing Jesus, with a curse.
Two men, two denials. We know that at a point Judas will feel remorse and desire to give the money back without success. He will hang himself. We know that Peter will flee and weep bitterly at what he has done. Jesus will turn and look at Peter at the moment of the third denial. How painful to see those eyes witness the thing Peter thought was unthinkable. The very thing he swore he would never do.
Have we denied Jesus at times in our walk through life? Have we acted around people like someone who has never known the man called Jesus? Have we kept our mouths closed to keep from being associated with “Jesus People.” Is being a Christian something we don’t admit to out of fear, like Peter? Oh, my! That causes me to shudder. I know that I have failed Him many times. Just like Peter, I have never doubted He was the Son of God, but there have been denials in many forms over the years. Thank God, He hears our prayers of repentance.
But Jesus was prepared for the betrayal and the denial, wasn’t He. Just as He knows what we are going to do, the remorse we are going to feel and the great work that can come from our failures. One will take his life out of remorse, the other will build a ministry for Christ and become a martyr for Jesus. He denied Him, was forgiven and would himself die, before he would ever deny Jesus, the Son of God, again. We didn’t see Jesus risen but Peter did. What he saw caused him to claim Jesus as Lord to his last breath. That is enough witness for me. How about you?
There will be a meeting for breakfast later, by the Sea of Galilee. A breakfast among friends. The forgiver and the forgiven. They will break bread. A commission will be given. But right now…the sun will soon be rising on Friday.
Scripture For Today:
Matthew 26:74-75
74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly. (NKJV)
Luke 22:61-62
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. (NKJV)
Matthew 27:3-5
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” 5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. (NKJV)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! Time is drawing near. Let us be found diligent at professing the name of Jesus. Let us place Jesus in the center of our lives. We pray for courage to speak up about our relationships with the Savior. We thank You that he hears our repentent words, that His grace is sufficient for us. Let us run the race for Jesus. Sure footed and unphased by the culture of our day. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.