Am I a Judas or a Peter?
"You all will fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered."
I have to wonder how those words made Jesus' closest friends, the disciples, feel. Shock...confusion...anger...hurt. Peter responds boldly, "Even if everyone else falls away, I will not. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."
Peter has self-confidence with no boundaries. He's armed and ready with a sword. But little does he know that the prophecies that Jesus spoke of are about to come true.
In only a few short hours Peter experiences an intimate Last Supper...praying in the garden, but unable to stay awake...a multitude led by Judas coming to take Jesus away...finds himself striking the ear of the high priest's servant...Jesus healing the servant...and now he's in the courtyard while Jesus is being tried and beaten.
Peter has his defenses up. His mind is a blur. His friends are scattered. He's full of fear.
Suddenly, a servant girl points him out and says, "You were with Jesus!" But Peter quickly denies it. Again, she insists that Peter is one of the disciples and he denies it. Then the others in the courtyard insist that he is a Galilean because of how he talks and dresses. Peter curses and swears that he doesn't even know Jesus.
And the rooster crows.
And Peter remembers. And he weeps.
I have felt drawn to the stories of Judas and Peter as I reflect on Holy Week this year. Both betrayed Jesus and yet, both had drastically different outcomes. One was filled with such guilt and self-hatred that he hung himself. The other became the strong foundation of the growing church.
Yes, Peter messed up. He made a lot of mistakes, but he learned from them. He lived a lifestyle of forgiveness: both accepting it and extending it. He forgave himself. He moved on from his past. Peter was refined in the fire, letting God burn away all the worthless things and strengthen his core.
But, Judas couldn't forgive himself. He couldn't accept forgiveness. He let the guilt and choices of his past define him and chose not to move out of Satan's hold.
So, are you living in a sea of unforgiveness and self-condemnation? Or are you living in the freedom of the cross where there's grace, love, peace, and forgiveness?
I pray that this Easter weekend would be a fresh reminder that Jesus died for your ugly, evil, messy self and that you are now a new, pure, and clean person that can radiate His glory!
I have to wonder how those words made Jesus' closest friends, the disciples, feel. Shock...confusion...anger...hurt. Peter responds boldly, "Even if everyone else falls away, I will not. Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."
Peter has self-confidence with no boundaries. He's armed and ready with a sword. But little does he know that the prophecies that Jesus spoke of are about to come true.
In only a few short hours Peter experiences an intimate Last Supper...praying in the garden, but unable to stay awake...a multitude led by Judas coming to take Jesus away...finds himself striking the ear of the high priest's servant...Jesus healing the servant...and now he's in the courtyard while Jesus is being tried and beaten.
Peter has his defenses up. His mind is a blur. His friends are scattered. He's full of fear.
Suddenly, a servant girl points him out and says, "You were with Jesus!" But Peter quickly denies it. Again, she insists that Peter is one of the disciples and he denies it. Then the others in the courtyard insist that he is a Galilean because of how he talks and dresses. Peter curses and swears that he doesn't even know Jesus.
And the rooster crows.
And Peter remembers. And he weeps.
I have felt drawn to the stories of Judas and Peter as I reflect on Holy Week this year. Both betrayed Jesus and yet, both had drastically different outcomes. One was filled with such guilt and self-hatred that he hung himself. The other became the strong foundation of the growing church.
Yes, Peter messed up. He made a lot of mistakes, but he learned from them. He lived a lifestyle of forgiveness: both accepting it and extending it. He forgave himself. He moved on from his past. Peter was refined in the fire, letting God burn away all the worthless things and strengthen his core.
But, Judas couldn't forgive himself. He couldn't accept forgiveness. He let the guilt and choices of his past define him and chose not to move out of Satan's hold.
So, are you living in a sea of unforgiveness and self-condemnation? Or are you living in the freedom of the cross where there's grace, love, peace, and forgiveness?
I pray that this Easter weekend would be a fresh reminder that Jesus died for your ugly, evil, messy self and that you are now a new, pure, and clean person that can radiate His glory!
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