Don Hopkins writes...
Are not you also one of this man's disciples?Are not you also one of his disciples?Did I not see you in the garden with him?(John 18:17, 25, 26)
These three yes-no questions were faced by Peter after Jesus was arrested and put on trial. His life depended on his response. In various forms his answers were "No" "No" and "No!" Peter's denial always makes me think of the times I have denied that I am a disciple of Jesus. It has never been life-threatening, just inconvenient. I have failed to speak out in defense of a cause or a person that I know for certain that Jesus would have defended. Why do I think it's that important not to offend people? Will they think less highly of me? I sometimes rationalize by thinking that if I stay on their good side, I might be able to change their minds someday. Or perhaps offending them would do more harm than good. Like Peter, I go away feeling guilty and ashamed. Do you love more than these?Do you love me?Do you love me?(John 21:15, 16, 17)
Jesus asked Peter these three yes-no questions after the resurrection. In various forms Peter's answers were "Yes" "Yes" and Yes!" Jesus' response to Peter's "Yes" was a gentle command to feed His lambs and feed His sheep. Jesus didn't tell Peter to atone for his denial by confronting his enemies like a man and get crucified right then and there. He tells him to perform acts of kindness. I am reminded of the song "They'll know we are Christians by our love." Praise God! Jesus gives us a second chance to turn our "No" into a "Yes!" He gives us a third chance, a fourth chance, a ...
Prayer: Loving Father thank you for the power of the resurrection in our lives that turns our "No" into a "Yes." Help us to admit that we are one of Jesus' disciples by our words and by our deeds of love. Amen
These three yes-no questions were faced by Peter after Jesus was arrested and put on trial. His life depended on his response. In various forms his answers were "No" "No" and "No!" Peter's denial always makes me think of the times I have denied that I am a disciple of Jesus. It has never been life-threatening, just inconvenient. I have failed to speak out in defense of a cause or a person that I know for certain that Jesus would have defended. Why do I think it's that important not to offend people? Will they think less highly of me? I sometimes rationalize by thinking that if I stay on their good side, I might be able to change their minds someday. Or perhaps offending them would do more harm than good. Like Peter, I go away feeling guilty and ashamed. Do you love more than these?Do you love me?Do you love me?(John 21:15, 16, 17)
Jesus asked Peter these three yes-no questions after the resurrection. In various forms Peter's answers were "Yes" "Yes" and Yes!" Jesus' response to Peter's "Yes" was a gentle command to feed His lambs and feed His sheep. Jesus didn't tell Peter to atone for his denial by confronting his enemies like a man and get crucified right then and there. He tells him to perform acts of kindness. I am reminded of the song "They'll know we are Christians by our love." Praise God! Jesus gives us a second chance to turn our "No" into a "Yes!" He gives us a third chance, a fourth chance, a ...
Prayer: Loving Father thank you for the power of the resurrection in our lives that turns our "No" into a "Yes." Help us to admit that we are one of Jesus' disciples by our words and by our deeds of love. Amen
posted by Melanie at 11:48 AM
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