Tag: Easter

After: Living the Resurrection

The Easter holiday is gone by, we celebrated it in a strange and different way this year. But still Jesus is risen and we shout hallelujah! But now that the day is over, and we are back to semi-normal lives, were does that leaves us? Now that we have celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, we have to decide what to do with it in our lives.

It was the same for Jesus’ followers as well. What would they do after the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus? What would they do now with the news of the empty tomb spreading among them? They all had differing expectations of who Jesus was and how his life would play out with them in it. Even after Jesus told them what would happen, they did not expect this. Like us, they all had to decide what to do with the narrative of Easter.

I want to look specifically at Judas and Peter. Both were Jesus disciples, both betrayed him, yet Bothe responded on different ways. one of the things we learn from both Peter and Judas is this: Jesus knows we will let him down sometimes, He still brings us with Him.

Jesus knows we will let him down sometimes,

He still brings us with Him.

Let’s start with Judas.

Judas betrayal began long before his secret meeting with the Pharisees. Let me say this, I believe Judas loved Jesus. When he began following him, he believed in him, believed he was the Messiah, at least what Judas expected the Messiah to be.

When it was clear that Jesus did not come to establish an earthly kingdom, when Judas expectations were shattered, and he had no problem stealing from Jesus

And then when it became clear that Jesus wasn’t going to meet any of those expectations the relationship shifted – Judas had moved from loving Jesus, to try to benefit from him, to having no use for him at all. In the end he didn’t even make a demand for the payment he received, he simply asked ‘what will you give me?”

Judas betrayal shows us that even the closest followers of Jesus can fall over time.

Then there’s Peter.

Peter was the rock. He was outspoken, loyal and had a bit of a temper. The last one that we think would betray Jesu. “Even all fall way on account of you, I never will (Matt. 26:33)” He remain loyal even to the moment of Jesus arrest, cutting off a man’s ear when they came to arrest Jesus.

So when Jesus tells Peter that he would openly deny that he knew Jesus, not once, but three times, Peter was astonished. After all he was Peter, the rock.

Peter never intended to betray Jesus, but he let fear rule his heart in the moment. Peter doesn’t want to be arrested too, fear overpowers him and causes the rock to turn to sand.

Peter shows us that even the strongest of believers can waiver in fear and doubt, and fail.

Judas like Peter, walked with Jesus. Like Peter he saw the miracles, experienced the teachings and saw amazing things happen. Peter failed in the moment and denied Jesus. Judas failed in his walk with Jesus and betrayed him unto death.

We like it when the villain gets what he deserves, which is why we often don’t shed a tear when we read how Judas died. But by doing so, we miss an important chance to learn from his life.

Judas, like Peter, walked with Jesus. Like Peter he saw the miracles, and experienced the teachings. Peter failed in the moment and denied Jesus. Judas failed in his walk with Jesus and betrayed him unto death.

Both made mistakes, but Peter was restored, and Judas died a horrific death.

Peter never let his heart grow cold to Jesus. His denial was out of fear. Judas had let his heart harden towards Jesus, a betrayal driven by greed and bitterness.

When Judas betrays Jesus (Matt. 26:49), he greets him as Rabbi. Not Lord, not even Jesus, just rabbi. Judas had reduced Jesus to being a mere teacher, a good man.

But when we find Peter in the same moment he shouts “Lord, shall we strike with the sword? (Luke 22:49) and he does. He calls Jesus Lord in the moment of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus is still Lord to Peter.

And then we find Jesus and Peter, sitting on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:15). Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, and Peter responds “Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus is still Lord to Peter.

We all have our own expectations of Jesus. Sometimes (oftentimes), they don’t match up with who he is, or what is best for us. We get frustrated, we doubt, we have fear.

If we let our doubts, frustrations, fears, and pursuit of earthly things cloud our judgment, we can begin to deny the reality of who Jesus is.

Each us need to choose what to do with the new of Jesus’ resurrection. Will we Jesus as just a good teacher and discount the glory of his resurrection. Or will we see Jesus as the glorified Christ, risen and ready to welcome you with open arms.

Jesus was still Lord to Peter, and Jesus is still Lord today.

 

 

 

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Tribute

“I volunteer!”

These words freeze the crowd and hang in the air.

“I volunteer as tribute!”

Tears well up and gasps are caught in our throats. These are the words of Katniss Everdeen, the heroine from the best-selling novel and now box-office hit The Hunger Games. For those of you who don’t know, Katniss volunteers to as a tribute in a brutal, gladiator style game to saver her younger sister, Prim, from having to go. There is only one winner, Katniss‘ action means almost certain death. In essence she has exchanged her own life for her sisters. It reminds me of another’s sacrifice, someone who exchanged his life for mine. I am speaking of Jesus.

Giving up our own life is hardly ever that simple though, even when it is for someone we love. Self-sacrifice is not something that we eagerly await. Even Jesus faced a tough decision when it came to the sacrifice He made for us.

Mark 14:32-36

English Standard Version (ESV)

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples,“Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

We have seen the human side of Jesus before this, most notably with His emotions and response to the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:1-44). But in no other place in the Gospel’s do we find Jesus laid so bare as He was in Gethsemane.

Jesus was greatly distressed and troubled (v.33). He even told Peter, James, and John of His sorrow (v.34). And the account in Luke 22 tells us He prayed so hard His sweat was like drops of blood (v.44). This decision was agonizing for Jesus. But it was this decision that made His sacrifice so powerful.

Jesus made the choice in trust, knowing His Father’s good and perfect will would see Him through. Jesus knew what He would face., knew the immense pain and suffering that awaited Him. He knew he would experience something dreadfully new to Him, separation from the Father.

Jesus’ words, “Yet not what I will, but what you will” (v.36), spoke life into a dying world. With them He laid down His life and His own will, and committed to the Father’s plan and desire to redeem humanity.

In light of Jesus choice and sacrifice, how can we do less? How can we bicker and squabble with the world around us literally going to hell? We cannot, I cannot, just stand in the crowd as others sacrifice and give their own lives for God.

I volunteer…