Tag Archives: three times

41c BY THE WAY…WHY DID JESUS WEEP?

Bible Study, ,

Why did the Holy Spirit choose Peter to reveal Jesus’ secret of victory? Where did Peter get the insights into the way Jesus dealt with injustice, that he could tell us His true story? 

Was it not from Peter’s own sorry failure, finally deeply understood, that he could write about what Jesus’ did at the cross?

Peter was so sure of himself, on the eve of his greatest test, that it was unthinkable to him that he would fail. He spoke with all the brazenness of his own fleshly self- confidence, that he would never desert Jesus. He failed even entertained the idea that his courage would cave in when the chips were down. 

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 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 ‭14‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Pete was so sure of himself that he refused to heed Jesus’ warning. He was completely unprepared for what lay ahead of him, self-assured that his own will power, his own courage, would stand up under the pressure. 

So, what happened in the courtyard of the high priest’s residence? Peter fell headlong into the trap he had set for himself. He was cocksure, self-confident, and completely unaware of his own vulnerability. He was empty inside, and he imploded under the press. 

Was Peter’s failure the real reason for the violent death that Jesus predicted at the lakeside, he would suffer? Did Jesus allow this end for Peter to redeem his failure. Did He give him the opportunity to suffer with Him by refusing to retaliate?

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now, let’s look at the way Jesus handled His moment of crisis? 

He was prepared. He faced the possibility of failure before it happened. He turned to the Father…He prayed for deliverance but…not His way…not from, but through the cross. He rested His full weight on the Father and embraced the Father’s will without reservation. 

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus knew what lay before Him…the possibility of losing everything, including who He was…the Son of God…if He gave in during His greatest test. Up to that point, He had never failed in any challenge. In fact, He had confidently demanded of His most fiery opponents…

“Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ secret was eternal vigilance…with “fervent cries and tears!”

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered…”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The battle against self-preservation was so fierce that it cost Him “fervent cries and tears”. We note with awe that Jesus didn’t weep for protection from His enemies. He wept for

protection from His human nature…from giving in to the potential of His humanity. 

Again, Peter understood the agony of Jesus’ battle. Where Peter fell, Jesus stood firm. 

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,”

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“…. Christ suffered for us in the flesh…”

We have already discovered, in a previous post, that Jesus suffered being tempted…tempted to fight back…to protect His ego… and that His victory lay in His refusal to retaliate. 

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will was perfect and complete in His final moments…through agony and tears…when He chose the cross. 

His tears, as always, were not for His own vindication or comfort, but for the strength to endure the test until the final victory…for you and for me. 

They stripped Jesus of everything…His honour, His reputation, His name, His dignity, His clothing, His flesh…even to the bone, His human form, His blood, until there was nothing left…just a shredded and unrecognisable human body hung on a pole…and He said nothing!

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth… Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭7‬, ‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Peter felt it, with unbearable pain… the glorious victory of Jesus against the misery of his own failure…and he marvelled!

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – THE ROOSTER CROWED THE SECOND TIME…

Bible Study, ,

THE ROOSTER CROWED THE SECOND TIME…

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:66-72

Caught in the act! It’s easy to see, in this little drama playing out in the courtyard of the High Priest’s house, that Peter had not taken Jesus’ warning seriously. He wasn’t even alerted when the cock crowed after his first denial. All he did was slink around, trying not to be noticed. Unfortunately, every time he opened his mouth, his Galilean accent gave him away Perhaps his appearance also revealed his identity.

What were the bystanders who accused him trying to do? Incriminate him with Jesus? Find him guilty by association? Peter didn’t want to be identified with Jesus in case he was also sucked into the mess Jesus was in. His blustering denial surely did not convince anyone. However, since it was Passover, being a Galilean in Jerusalem was nothing unusual. Perhaps some of them did believe him.

What went on in Peter’s soul in that moment when the rooster crowed a second time?  Perhaps, in that split second, the noise in the courtyard ceased and the crowing of the rooster could be clearly heard echoing across the city. Perhaps, in that moment, the sound penetrated Peter’s consciousness and he remembered – too late. Perhaps Jesus’ words sounded so loudly in his mind that he stopped caring about what the bystanders were saying. Overwhelmed with the guilt of what he had just done, he broke down and wept.

He was exposed; he was undone. All his vehement protests came to nothing. He had denied his Master and he could not take back his words. Worst of all, Jesus had overheard his words, accompanied by swearing and cursing. Peter would never forget the look in Jesus’ eyes – uncovering his guilt, his shame, his remorse, his grief. In an instant Jesus’ eyes undressed Peter’s soul and penetrated the darkness of his heart. His look was not, “I told you so!”  or “Peter, how could you?” It was, “I see your heart. I know you, Peter. Now know yourself.”