March 25, 2010

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25 "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." 29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."
30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today--yes, tonight--before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. Mark 14:22-31

This is a pretty amazing passage!

Jesus has spent his life committed to those he knew would abandon him! Would you do that? That’s the kind of people for whom Jesus has given his life. People just like you and I.

Peter didn’t get this. Peter really thought he had the courage, ability, and commitment to stick with Jesus no matter what. In all fairness of course, he certainly didn’t expect Jesus to just go peacefully to his death leaving the world completely unchanged, indeed to die as an apparent failure. Nevertheless Peter relied on himself. Peter’s failure is our failure when we rely on ourselves instead of God’s Grace, forgiveness, and power. We NEED Jesus. Do you see this for yourself?

Also, it is fascinating how Jesus had the audacity to revise the Passover meal which had been instituted by Moses as a perpetual ordinance (Ex 12:14). In doing so Jesus is saying something like, “My death is the central and climactic event toward which the whole story of the people of God and the history of salvation has been moving. Every other deliverance by every other leader, every other sacrifice, every other prophet priest;, king and hero -have all been pointing to this night. This is the climax of history. I am about to deal with evil and sin and death once and for all”

Your challenge and mine is that if we claim to believe this what implication does this knowledge have for my day to day life?