You Will Deny Me…
When we are young, either in age or spiritual growth, there is usually a lot of confusion. After several years of study, reading, listening, praying and attempting to live the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Disciples, there is still a lot of confusion. There is a long way to yet travel to clear some of the confusion. Some of it may never depart.
Our confusion, which may possibly, perhaps, lead headlong into frustration and anger, can make us question our relationship with Jesus Christ. This just happened within the past week. The frustration that arose from being confused about a situation led directly to anger.
What is the difference between our relationship with Jesus Christ and someone else that we truly love? Can we not reach a point of confusion with our spouse, our siblings, our parents, get super-angry and wish to turn our back to them – or does this not happen? What is the difference with Jesus Christ? There is no difference. Our relationship grows, matures and along the way there are miscarriages in judgement – our judgement, our way of thinking, our feelings, our desires all come to the fore, which creates confusion leading to frustration and anger. Jesus doesn’t, He is not confused about us, nor is He ever angry, He just patiently runs after us until we come back to our senses. Isn’t that what Jesus did in the first place?
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The night Jesus Christ was arrested Peter had reached this point. Peter, who is a lot like a great many of us, had just told Jesus, with a stern voice, with a reassuring word that he, Peter, under no circumstance would never, ever deny Jesus – not going to happen.
Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
And they all said likewise. ~ Mark 14:29-31 NKJB
Jesus is telling Peter, and all the Disciples, they will deny Him, today. They will be scattered in this day. They will turn their back on the King of kings.
We have all done this. We are no stronger than Peter or any of the other Disciples. Our discipline wains, our heart hardens and our strength is loosed. It’s usually right at this point is when we realize we have lost our way. If our faith is that of a mustard seed we will usually turn back, to our Lord and Savior, with great sorrow. We can turn back to Jesus or begin living our sinful ways leading to death.
Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept. ~ Mark 14:71-71 NKJB
It’s safe to say, Peter would move past this moment of weakness, this moment in which his faith did not fail. We can as well.
Either the Scripture is the divine Word of God teaching us how to live and how to be a reflection of God, or it’s nothing more than a historical account of events.
