Falling Away
| "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," 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. (Mark14:27-31) |
On the surface of it - it feels tough that Jesus draws attention to the disciples' impending failure after all the emotion and tension they had already been through. Peter is immediately affronted and after his dramatic claim of fealty, Jesus brings him back to reality.
Why does Jesus seem to be so harsh?
Is it just a truthful reality check?
Is He just preparing them for the worst?
Or is there something more?
I think there is, and it's in the phrase "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." I think Jesus is saying: "Don't worry - no matter what happens - I've got you!"
There are three key thoughts here:
- "After I have risen": The resurrection changes everything. Our failures? Paid for! Our mistakes? Redeemed! Our denials? Dealt with! Our lack of courage? Forgiven! Sin and Death? Conquered! The resurrection means a new beginning for us. We are new creations and His mercy is new every morning. It also meant that no matter how big the disciples' failure was, it paled into insignificance in the glorious light of resurrection.
- "I will go ahead of you": We don't have to find our way to Jesus after our failures. He's going ahead of us. His heart is still toward us. Our failures don't change His heart toward us. Just like the Father of the Prodigal Son ran towards His Son, so Jesus goes ahead to meet us even after we've failed.
- "Galilee": This was where Jesus called the Disciples. This was a place of simplicity and quiet. Far from the noise, bustle, politics and complexity of Jerusalem. This is a reminder to go back to the basics: to first principles, to the "first love" that Jesus calls the Church of Ephesus to return to in the letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3.
When I was active in the SCA at our high school I remember one student saying: "I don't like holidays. During the term, I have SCA and church and my routines that keep me close to God. When I go on holiday, it often feels like I take a holiday from God too."
The Christmas Season can get frenetic and busy. (As can the madness of the year-end.) Sometimes we lose touch with God in the year-end chaos and sometimes go on holiday and it becomes a holiday from God too...
So here's the comfort!
He's risen - and that is what REALLY matters.
He goes ahead of us - our failures aren't a surprise to Him and He's still coming toward us.
We need to look for Galilee - that place of simple faith and beginnings.
This is Amazing Grace - He knows our failures, loves us anyway and goes ahead to meet us in "Galilee" where we can come back to basics and first loves and be all He made us to be.
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And so, on that note, I want to close the EmmDevs for the year.
I pray this year of devotions have been a blessing to you and have helped you in your Spiritual Pilgrimage. May you know and experience the incredible love of God over Christmas and walk with Him into the new year.
Blessings and Love,
Theo
