Mark 14:27-31 “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.
And all the others said the same. How easy it is for Christians to say that under the threat of physical pain or even facing death, they would never deny Jesus. As we sit in our comfortable homes, experiencing the warmth and security of our environment, we can express undying allegiance to our Lord, but how many of us would waver if our lives were in duress because of our commitment to Jesus. In reality, sometimes in far less dire circumstances, such as in a group full of nonbelievers who would reject our witness, we have trouble remaining faithful to Jesus. Likewise, sickness, family problems, or financial difficulties will sometimes cause us to question our Lord's fidelity to us, and our faith begins to waver. We grumble, complain about Jesus not coming to our aid to rescue us from our problems. How quickly we blame Jesus for not eradicating all of the trials in our lives. Is He really there? Does He care for me? Am I believing the right thing? Maybe I should just go back to my old ways of thinking and living? Human beings tend to be fickle even when they are not stressed; but under stress, they are even more ready to go back on their words or even lie about their faith while in reality they are full of anger and doubt. Car accidents or some other sudden vicissitude of life will bring out such a tendency to doubt in some believers. Normal events such as income tax time tempt many people to skew the truth about their financial situation while they say they are trusting God. Humans, as in the case of Peter above, tend to lack reliability and trust in their Lord under stress. Yet many scriptures tell us life will be difficult. After the cross, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, speaks of the great inheritance we have in Christ, and says, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1Peter 1:6-7) While life is hard at times, we have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)
Peter knew the precarious situation that he, Jesus, and the disciples were in when he made his affirmation of loyalty to Jesus: Even if all fall away, I will not. He knew the authorities wanted to kill Jesus; he knew Jesus' followers might also be put to death; yet even under those realities, he and the disciples all pledged their enduring faithfulness to Jesus. Their hearts were not false when they made these declarations: they had followed Jesus throughout his earthly ministry, and they had agreed to leave all to be with him. But as we learn later, they all fled. None were willing and able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jesus as he faced his enemies who would crucify him. The disciples were just men, strong in their allegiance but weak in their practice when it came to going to the cross. How many times in our walk with Jesus have we promised him something and then failed to carry it out because of the weakness of the flesh? How many times have we allowed our flesh to take priority over our promises to the Lord? Peter and the disciples were facing real persecution and possible death. This was not one of those times they would be rebuked by the religious leaders: they knew where Jesus was headed. Can you imagine the scene when Pilate turned Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took charge of him. Can you imagine Jesus: Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). We can excuse the disciples for not carrying out their pledge of allegiance to Jesus, but can we excuse ourselves in this day and age, for not reading the word, not praying fervently, not witnessing? He does not condemn us; neither did He condemn Peter. He was ready to use Peter to preach to thousands, and He is ready to use each of us and has work for us to do. As Paul wrote: And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:10-12)
Since this breakfast is read by people all over the world, we know some reading this breakfast are facing persecution if they stand up for Jesus. We know some are enduring the real trials that the apostles faced. How will they remain steadfast? What can keep them faithful under tremendous duress? We know that after the day of Pentecost, the disciples went out and gave their lives for Christ. They were fearless in their pursuit to preach the gospel. When one city would reject them, they moved to the next to carry the Good News to others. To do this, they had to have a reality more compelling than just their past experiences with the physical Jesus. Of course they did! After Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them in the upper room, they had the indwelling of the Spirit of God. Every day, no matter their circumstances, they had the Spirit of God comforting them, urging them to understand the nature of their business on Earth. Daily they needed his words: "SON OR DAUGHTER, I AM WITH YOU. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THE GIFT I HAVE GIVEN YOU IS ETERNAL LIFE. MY LIFE IS IN YOU. YOU WILL NEVER DIE." The Spirit gave them power and authority to carry on, doing the will of God. Unless we also hear those words, we will fear, we will step back. But God is in us, and we are IN HIM. The Spirit has come to give us courage and to comfort and to guide us. He challenges us to live confidently IN HIM every day: on the easy and the hard days. For IN HIM, even while we abide now here on Earth, we are always HOME, present with God. Because we know who we are, we can believe with the disciples what Jesus said to them and act upon his words: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-19)
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