#116. Denial
Are you always proud of being a disciple of Jesus? I'm not, there have been many times when I have been silent about Jesus. I look back to the times when I haven't spoken up - in the staff room, classroom, the bar, the party. Why? Because I think more of my reputation rather than Jesus’.
In our reading today Jesus tells his disciples that they would fall away and that one would even disown him three times.
Let's read it -
Mark 14:27-31
Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
‘You will all fall away,’ Jesus told them, ‘for it is written:_
‘“I will strike the shepherd,_
and the sheep will be scattered.”_
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’_
Peter declared, ‘Even if all fall away, I will not.’_
‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘today— yes, tonight— before the cock crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.’_
But Peter insisted emphatically, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the others said the same.
Jesus knows that all his disciples will fall away (v27) and yet earlier in this chapter Jesus says that He will give up His life for them. One commentator says this - These are the most reassuring words of grace in the whole of the Bible. Jesus tells them that He knows their future sin (falling away) but also that He plans to reconcile and restore them. This is the Jesus who would shed His blood (v23-24).
Jesus knows you will deny Him and sometimes you will fall away but Jesus is also the grace giver, the reconciler, the restorer.
This morning some of us may feel far away, but remember -
Jesus is waiting for you with His arms open wide.
I will end with a quote from Max Lucado - Grace is God's best idea. His decision to ravage a people by love, to rescue passionately, and to restore justly - what rivals it? Of all His wondrous works, grace, in my estimation, is the magnum opus.
Much love
Tim