A Series on Lent
Jesus predicts Judas’
betrayal and Peter's denial
(Click
on the link below to read the verses.)
John 13:18-38
[Lent is
a 40-day season of personal reflection through prayer, fasting and
giving in order to prepare your heart to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at
Easter. We will be following Jesus through the Gospel of John as he enters
Jerusalem for Passover, and the ensuing events that led up to his trial,
crucifixion and resurrection.]
In the 1991 movie “Father of the Bride”, Steve Martin plays the role of the unwilling father. From the moment that his daughter announces that she is engaged until the day of the wedding, he puts a damper on the joy of the occasion. Finally, the wedding planner sings this familiar song to him.
“Every party
needs a pooper, that’s why we invited you… party pooper”
In the third year of Jesus’ ministry, excitement was at a fever pitch. It
was Passover so Jerusalem was packed with pilgrims from across the land. Jesus
had recently raised Lazarus from the dead. There was chatter about the Messiah
coming. Even Jesus’ closest disciples believed his time had arrived.
It’s not too hard to imagine that as the disciples were reclined at the
table during the Passover meal, they were enjoying themselves eating, drinking
and laughing. Discussing the days’ events about Jesus’ triumphant entry into
Jerusalem as king.
It seemed as if everything they had sacrificed – leaving their
livelihood, walking for days on dusty roads and eating on the move – would finally
be worth it. The last three years were about to come to fruition. But at the
peak of the evening, something unexpected happened.
21 …Jesus was
troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is
going to betray me”. NIV
You can imagine that the conversation at the dinner table suddenly stopped.
You could hear a pin drop. The disciples were stunned. They couldn’t imagine
who it was. Even Peter was speechless.
Once Judas Iscariot left, the text tells us “And it was night”… both metaphorically and time of day. Jesus then
told the remaining disciples, “Where I am
going, you cannot come”. Finding his voice again, Peter questions Jesus and
then boldly proclaims that he would lay down his life for Jesus.
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down
your life for me Peter? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you
will disown me three times! NIV
Talk about a party pooper.
With the illusion of strength, Peter saw himself as the defender. He
would never betray Jesus; never disown him. But the truth was that he was blind
to his weakness. In fact, Peter did exactly what Jesus predicted. No doubt if I
had been there, I would have done the same.
Thankfully Jesus doesn’t define us by our worst moments. He defines us by his love and forgiveness. And he calls us to love others in the same way.
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each
other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your
love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” NLT
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