After they ate the Passover meal, Jesus told the disciples that they would fall away or be scattered, but after He was resurrected from the dead, He would meet them in Galilee. Jesus knew that the disciples would be gripped with fear, run away, and be scattered when He was arrested by the religious leader. The prophet Zechariah prophesied hundreds of years ago, "I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered" (Zechariah 13:7). The Shepherd refers to Jesus, and the sheep refers to the disciples. However, Peter insistently told Jesus that he would never fall away even though others would. Jesus answered, "Truly I say to you, today—yes, tonight—before the rooster 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 the other disciples agreed and said the same. (Mark 14:27-31).
All these conversations were happening on Thursday evening, and several hours from this time, Jesus would be arrested. Jesus knew ahead of time what would happen to His disciples. Although Peter was confident in himself that he would never deny Jesus, He would learn the painful experience of denying Jesus. Peter and the rest of the disciples never saw Jesus being arrested and bound by the religious leaders. They believe that Jesus could overcome all His enemies because He was God. They had seen Him perform miracles, but they never understood the main mission of Jesus, which was to die for the sins of this world. Jesus could have prevented His arrest and avoided being crucified on the cross, but that would defeat His purpose of saving us from our sins. Jesus was determined to go through suffering to save us.
We are the main reason Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested, tortured, and crucified. The only way for Jesus to save us was to drink the cup of suffering. Although the disciples would deny Jesus and be scattered, their hope in Jesus would be restored when they would see Him in Galilee after His resurrection. Peter would learn an important lesson that he was not the strong person he thought he was. He would learn to completely rely on God's grace, mercy, and love.
Ask yourself these questions: Why did Jesus allow Himself to be arrested, tortured, and crucified? What can I learn from Peter in this story? Why is it important for me to rely on Jesus?
Write down all the worries you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I thank my Lord Jesus for His faithfulness in saving me from my sins. Please help me never take for granted the sacrifice that Jesus made for me. May I praise and worship Him in everything that I do? Please help me rely on Jesus instead of my strength and wisdom.
In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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