Thursday
Mark 14:27-31, Mark 14: 35,36, Luke 22: 48
After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to a grove, among the olive trees called the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them that His soul was crushed with grief. "He went along a little further and fell to the ground. He prayed to the Father, that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. ' Abba Father,... everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'...
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| Judas Betrays with a Kiss Thomas Coutere |
"... Jesus said, 'Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?' Luke 22: 48 NLT
After a scuffle, Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the temple guard: "'Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.' So they arrested Him and led Him to the high priests home.
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| Peter denies Jesus by Carl Bloch |
Peter followed at a distance" and joined the guards around a campfire in the courtyard. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and said, "'This man was one of Jesus' followers!'" Later someone else looked at Him and said "'You must be one of them!' 'No, man, I am not! Peter retorted. About an hour later someone else insisted, 'This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.' But Peter said, 'Man, I don't know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was still speaking the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, 'Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.' And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly."
"Then the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating Him. They blindfolded Him and said, 'Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?' And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at Him." Luke 22: 52- 64 NLT
The pain Jesus felt was not just the beating and mocking but the betrayal and denial of His friends. Judas, actually was paid to bring the soldiers to Jesus in the dark of night. Judas betrayed Jesus to His death. He was never reinstated as an apostle. Satan entered into him and he committed suicide. However Peter, who, while among friends, said He would die for Jesus. In that terrible night, all the disciples ran away for fear of being beaten and killed. Peter at least followed along at a distance.Yet, when surrounded by soldiers and those who did not like Jesus, He denied Him three times, then the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. He remembered what the Lord said, and left the courtyard weeping bitterly." Oh, the anguish Peter must have felt for not standing up for the Lord in that moment.
Today, we live in a time where there are many enemies of Jesus. When in a crowd, what will we say? Will we admit to being a follower of Jesus? Admit to being a Christian? Speak Truth?
Though Judas was not reinstated; Peter was forgiven and fully restored after Jesus died and was resurrected. Our God is a God of second chances. You will find that story in John 21 and in future posts.
What did Jesus do for us and His disciples that awful night and following day? How did He show us His love?
than to lay down one's life for his friends."
Jesus laid down His life knowing that His friends would deny and betray Him.
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