Today's "Moment with Mark" (85)
14 February, 2013
"....one of you will betray me.....all of you will desert me..... you (Peter) will deny me." ( Mark 14:18; 14:27; 14:30)
What pain must have been in the heart of Jesus as He "levelled" with His disciples. These words must have been so hard to utter as well as being hard words to hear. Which is worse, "betrayal" or "desertion" or "denial"? I don't know how to answer that question. But here's my best shot.
"Betrayal" carries a sense of treachery. "Desertion" is wrong but it is not as bad as treachery. "Denial" is also wrong but it is marginally (just!) better than desertion.
So, after 3 years of living and serving together, now comes the crunch. And all of them fail at some point. But Jesus sees all of these realities but He is not about to give up on them. He still believes that He can make them to "become fishes of men". He had no doubt that the divine process would succeed (Luke 22). So He said to Peter,
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers." Luke 22:31-32
Some of you reading this article may I urge you not to give up on yourself. If you are determined to disqualify yourself from the Lord's presence, you must wait until He gives up on you.
In other words, you can give up on yourself but God will never give up on you.