Betrayed...Denied

~~~ Isaiah 49:1-6 ~~~ Psalm 71 ~~~ John 13:21-33, 36-38 ~~~ 

For now the LORD has spoken

who formed me as his servant from the womb...

I will make you a light to the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

The prophet Isaiah speaks beautifully

 of Jesus being 

formed in the womb, 

as we know the womb of Mary.

We also are known by God 

while we are yet in our mother's womb.

Because God has this intimate connection with our soul;

we are wonderfully made.

God made Jesus the light for all generations.

Since we are united with Jesus

we too must be a light to others.

Holy Week is not a time for us to walk 

around in sadness,

but rather for us to accept 

how much we are loved by God.

Jesus, knowing his time is drawing near,

begins his good byes.

He loves these twelve men very much.

It must cause him much heartache

to acknowledge that one of them would

 betray him that very evening.

In addition to betrayal he also knows

 that his most trusted follower, Peter, 

would deny him three times.

Not once or twice, but three times.

Peter said to him,

“Master, why can I not follow you now? 

I will lay down my life for you.”

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me?

Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow

before you deny me three times.”

Peter wants to immediately go with Jesus.

He loves Jesus so much that he 

is willing to die for him.

The words of Jesus pierce the heart of Peter.

His words penetrate into the essence of Peter.

He has no concept of how he could 

possibly deny the one he loves and 

admires above everyone else.

There is no way we can predict how we 

would respond in specific situations.

Jesus is the light of the world.

We must keep his light shining within our hearts.

Jesus did not cease to love Peter or Judas.

We know Peter laments his denials.

We do not know if Judas did repent in the end as well.

One thing we can be confident of

is that there is nothing we could do that

 God would not forgive.

Neither betrayal or denial can keep

 us from being blessed with God's love.

You have been loved since you were formed 

in your mother's womb.

~~~Peace~~~