I wish I could copy today's whole chapter of Just Give Me Jesus to share it with anyone who may need a reminder that we are forgivable. Don't we all need that sometimes?
Pieces of the chapter:
"Judas was one of Jesus' very closest friends. He had been hand-picked to be a disciple. He had been given the special responsibility of being treasurer for the entire band of disciples...On a grassy hillside, he had passed out portions of five loaves and two fish until more than five thousand people had been fed. He had been in the boat that was swamped and going down during a storm at sea when Jesus, with just a word, had calmed the raging waves and the wind. He had been one of those to question callously why the beggar had been born blind, only to watch as Jesus created sight. He had smelled the odor of death when the tomb of Lazarus had been opened, and he had seen with his own eyes the mummylike figure appear in the gaping hole when Jesus had commanded that he come forth. As recently as that very evening, he had had his feet gently and lovingly bathed by Jesus during dinner in the Upper Room. It was this disciple, this Judas, who betrayed his Lord and Friend with a kiss!"
"Judas was one of Jesus' very closest friends. He had been hand-picked to be a disciple. He had been given the special responsibility of being treasurer for the entire band of disciples...On a grassy hillside, he had passed out portions of five loaves and two fish until more than five thousand people had been fed. He had been in the boat that was swamped and going down during a storm at sea when Jesus, with just a word, had calmed the raging waves and the wind. He had been one of those to question callously why the beggar had been born blind, only to watch as Jesus created sight. He had smelled the odor of death when the tomb of Lazarus had been opened, and he had seen with his own eyes the mummylike figure appear in the gaping hole when Jesus had commanded that he come forth. As recently as that very evening, he had had his feet gently and lovingly bathed by Jesus during dinner in the Upper Room. It was this disciple, this Judas, who betrayed his Lord and Friend with a kiss!"
Why did he do it? I wonder... Don't I betray him with unbelief? Worry? Fear? Selfishness? Laziness? Why do I do it? I wonder that too...
"Peter insisted, 'I don't know the man!' Yet as he spoke he heard the unmistakable sound of a rooster crowing in the distance. At that very moment, a commotion in the breezeway got everyone's attention. With the denial and curses still burning his lips, Peter looked up, right into the eyes of Jesus!
Apparently, Jesus was being led from the house of Caiaphas to the trial before the full Sanhedrin. Surrounded by the armed officials and self-righteous religious leaders, Jesus stopped. With a face that was red from having been repeatedly slapped, with blood and spit dripping down His beard, Jesus 'turned and looked straight at Peter.'"
Apparently, Jesus was being led from the house of Caiaphas to the trial before the full Sanhedrin. Surrounded by the armed officials and self-righteous religious leaders, Jesus stopped. With a face that was red from having been repeatedly slapped, with blood and spit dripping down His beard, Jesus 'turned and looked straight at Peter.'"
Can you imagine? Peter had seen the miracles and heard the teaching too, and denied Him. If I could see the sweet sacrificing face of Jesus looking straight at me would my sinful desires come to fruition? I think sometimes I forget that though I can't see it, He is here.
Thanks be to God, Peter was given words of encouragement:
"'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.' Peter knew Jesus had known he would deny Him. Peter knew Jesus had prayed for him. Peter knew Jesus had said he would turn back and strengthen the other disciples. And that is what Peter did."
Anne mentions that because Peter's denial is recorded in all four gospels there is a good chance a number of people knew the truth of what happened. And yet, on the day of Pentecost, 3,ooo people were saved as he proclaimed the Gospel.
"'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.' Peter knew Jesus had known he would deny Him. Peter knew Jesus had prayed for him. Peter knew Jesus had said he would turn back and strengthen the other disciples. And that is what Peter did."
Anne mentions that because Peter's denial is recorded in all four gospels there is a good chance a number of people knew the truth of what happened. And yet, on the day of Pentecost, 3,ooo people were saved as he proclaimed the Gospel.
Two men walked closely with Jesus, and still betrayed him. One carried that betrayal to his own death. The other "wept" and sought rightness with God again. He turned away to strengthen his brothers. Because of him, people would know Jesus!
No one is alone in sin. We may think one action or thought is worse than another but we all fall short of the glory of God. And we are all forgivable.
He is waiting. We need only confess. Turn away. And rejoice! We are made new!
He is waiting. We need only confess. Turn away. And rejoice! We are made new!
Lord, may our experience be used to strengthen our brothers, and may we remember that we are forgivable! You made a life-taking life-giving sacrifice so that it could be. Thank you, praise you, Amen.
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