The Disciples Deserted Jesus (TMF:300)

Friday, November 27, 2015
Peace to Live By: The Disciples Deserted Jesus (TMF:300) - Daniel Litton
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       Peter and John did follow Jesus and the crowd from a distance, but they really had deserted him. They hadn’t been arrested with him. And they hadn’t stood up for Jesus. So, John was able to get himself and Peter inside the courtyard to watch what would happen to Jesus (see John 18:15-16). And, as I am sure many of you know the story, Peter ends up denying Jesus multiple times. The rooster crows, and Jesus’ earlier prophecy about Peter’s denial for him becomes fulfilled. And as Luke penned about Peter: “And he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62, ESV). I am sure that many of us today in our lives have failed someone or a group of people. Perhaps we promised we’d do something, only to fail at doing it. Or, perhaps we promised we wouldn’t do something, only to do it (see James 5:12). Maybe we didn’t stand up for a friend when he or she needed help, or when others were attacking that person. Maybe we let the person burn at the mercy of others (see James 4:17). Whatever the case, the good news here is that while Peter did deny Jesus, he later found restitution with him. Jesus forgave him, and their relationship was restored to an even better place than before (see John 21:15-19). And indeed, Jesus will forgive us when we fail ourselves and fail others (see 1 John 1:9).