A very mortal Easter tale #BecauseofHim
#BecauseofHim
I won't rehearse the full Easter story at this point, but I have been thinking very much on another that ran parallel to Christ's death and resurrection. It is a story of bravado, cowardliness, and grief. The players were there, many witnessed the story first hand, and recorded it. Of course, I am talking about the rock, Peter.
They had completed their Passover Seder, and had retired to the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas was gone to get the soldiers, and Christ is telling them what was to come.
Matthew 26 (KJV)
31. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33. Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter was convinced that he would be willing to die for Jesus, that he would never deny him. How often do we feel that we can face whatever tempests storm about us, that when the time came that we may have to stand for Christ, we would never deny him? Peter felt the very same, and no doubt meant it. But that was not how it played out.
A midnight hearing of the Sanhedrin. A predetermined outcome, complete with mob worked up against Christ, for Blaspheming Jehovah (let that sink in, Christ, or Jehovah, being accused of blasphemy against himself) People were worked up into a riot, and Peter is spotted in the crowd. He was recognized for having been with Christ in the temple, and ultimately by his accent as a Galilean. His response the third time?
74. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Most movies that depict this also include Jesus in the scene being transferred from one trial to another, and he looks at Peter.
How must Peter have felt in this circumstance? As soon as the rooster crew, undoubtedly the words of Christ filled his head. The shame and humiliation that he was so weak he could not stand for Christ at that time had to be nearly more than he could bear. That night he had participated in the Last Supper. He had been near to the Lord as he prayed at Gethsemane. What anguish. He probably wished he was dead.
Have you ever felt that way?
But just as the sun rose on the third day, so did Peter have the opportunity to confess to his Savior, and to be given the assurance that all was well. For that, we follow Christ and the disciples to the Sea of Galilee, and a miraculous catch of fish. We have John the Beloved to thank for this exchange.
John 21
15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
This exchange happens twice more. Can you imagine the feeling that he feels? Wondering if the Lord trusts him at all anymore? Have you ever felt that way?
17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved for he saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord thou knowest all things; thou knowest I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
The Lord gave Peter three opportunities to affirm his love, just as he had denied him three times before. He also confirmed Peter's calling. What a relief Peter must have felt! To know that Christ still trusted him in his calling.
Of course most know this story, so nothing new here. If you felt you wasted your time, expecting some big reveal, I am sorry, but for some reason I felt that I should share this.
None of us are in such a way that we can't be rescued by the Lord. If we turn to Him, we can start that path back.
If you've gotten this far, may I add a couple of links. The first is an aria from Messiah, and my favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCdWc5-EHsg
The second is a link to ComeuntoChrist.org, where you can look up a meetinghouse if you were inclined to attend on Easter Sunday. Also if you have any questions regarding Jesus Christ and His mission on earth.
comeuntochrist.org
I won't rehearse the full Easter story at this point, but I have been thinking very much on another that ran parallel to Christ's death and resurrection. It is a story of bravado, cowardliness, and grief. The players were there, many witnessed the story first hand, and recorded it. Of course, I am talking about the rock, Peter.
They had completed their Passover Seder, and had retired to the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas was gone to get the soldiers, and Christ is telling them what was to come.
Matthew 26 (KJV)
31. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33. Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter was convinced that he would be willing to die for Jesus, that he would never deny him. How often do we feel that we can face whatever tempests storm about us, that when the time came that we may have to stand for Christ, we would never deny him? Peter felt the very same, and no doubt meant it. But that was not how it played out.
A midnight hearing of the Sanhedrin. A predetermined outcome, complete with mob worked up against Christ, for Blaspheming Jehovah (let that sink in, Christ, or Jehovah, being accused of blasphemy against himself) People were worked up into a riot, and Peter is spotted in the crowd. He was recognized for having been with Christ in the temple, and ultimately by his accent as a Galilean. His response the third time?
74. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Most movies that depict this also include Jesus in the scene being transferred from one trial to another, and he looks at Peter.
How must Peter have felt in this circumstance? As soon as the rooster crew, undoubtedly the words of Christ filled his head. The shame and humiliation that he was so weak he could not stand for Christ at that time had to be nearly more than he could bear. That night he had participated in the Last Supper. He had been near to the Lord as he prayed at Gethsemane. What anguish. He probably wished he was dead.
Have you ever felt that way?
But just as the sun rose on the third day, so did Peter have the opportunity to confess to his Savior, and to be given the assurance that all was well. For that, we follow Christ and the disciples to the Sea of Galilee, and a miraculous catch of fish. We have John the Beloved to thank for this exchange.
John 21
15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
This exchange happens twice more. Can you imagine the feeling that he feels? Wondering if the Lord trusts him at all anymore? Have you ever felt that way?
17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved for he saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord thou knowest all things; thou knowest I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
The Lord gave Peter three opportunities to affirm his love, just as he had denied him three times before. He also confirmed Peter's calling. What a relief Peter must have felt! To know that Christ still trusted him in his calling.
Of course most know this story, so nothing new here. If you felt you wasted your time, expecting some big reveal, I am sorry, but for some reason I felt that I should share this.
None of us are in such a way that we can't be rescued by the Lord. If we turn to Him, we can start that path back.
If you've gotten this far, may I add a couple of links. The first is an aria from Messiah, and my favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCdWc5-EHsg
The second is a link to ComeuntoChrist.org, where you can look up a meetinghouse if you were inclined to attend on Easter Sunday. Also if you have any questions regarding Jesus Christ and His mission on earth.
comeuntochrist.org
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