Don’t Miss This

 Jesus spent His last few hours on earth with the disciples.  They were pleased to celebrate Passover with Jesus, little aware that He would soon die.  The disciples joyfully prepared the feast and were soon gathered around Jesus as He initiated the age-old celebration.

Passover was one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals during which the entire population of the kingdom of Judah made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.  The city was packed with pilgrims, eager to celebrate and renew vows.

Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”  

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”  “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”  But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

 Matthew 26:31-35

Jesus, always the teacher, was leading the disciples’ Passover meal and preparing them for events soon to unfold.  He repeated the Mosaic words, presented the chosen foods, and guided the disciples in the appropriate prayers.  He wanted to prepare the 12 for what was to inevitably come.

Did you catch it?  

Jesus spoke words of warning while inserting an exciting prepositional phrase, and the disciples missed it!  “After I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

The disciples were so intent on the previous words of Jesus, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

The disciples jumped on Jesus’ words of their leaving, scattering, and running away.  They were adamant; this will never happen to me, Lord!  Peter, especially was strong in his words of loyalty to Jesus.  However, they missed a truly wonderful sentence of hope.  

After I have risen…

How about You?  Have you been so intent on learning and hearing Jesus, that you miss the important nuggets of truth?  Is your need to justify yourself overshadowing a truth that Jesus wants to give to you?

“After I have risen” is crucial to the message of Easter, in fact, it is the pivotal point of our Salvation.  

Jesus died and He has risen.  

He is alive…forever!  

Don’t miss this!

Ken

Comments

Post a Comment

Feel free to comment.

Popular posts from this blog

The One In Charge

I have a problem.   Can you help me? The item that I recently purchased is not working correctly.   Please help me. If you can’t help, can you call the person in charge?   It’s frustrating when something doesn’t perform as the instructions have led you to believe it should!   Have you experienced this?   Hard-earned money is spent, time wasted with unreadable instructions and finally, the object just doesn’t work.   You need the maker, the creator, or perhaps, the person in charge.   The men were moving with purpose.   They heard that someone was nearby who might possibly be able to solve a problem.   The Ten, as they were known, had done their homework.   The research was flawless and pointed to one man, one expert who could help.   He was the one who could give the answer to an impossible problem.   The Ten were lepers.   Outcasts!   They had no one on their side.   No one cared!   They were on their own, but Jesus had helped others, solved their unsolvable issues.  
Read more

Walking On Water

(If You Want To Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of The Boat) Peter, one of the twelve disciples, is remembered as a hot-headed individual, a bit impulsive, and rather single-minded.  Parents like to cite his actions to their young ones on how not to act around other people.  However, Peter is known as the only one who got out of the boat when Jesus called to him during a vicious storm. Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.   When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”    “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:25-29 (NIV) We read this episode in the life of Jesus, Peter, and the rest of the disciples and think how wonderful it must have been.
Read more

Thirsty – Lent Day 4

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2 Thirsty. I am so thirsty. I need something to drink…something to satisfy this dying thirst. What can satisfy my thirst? Water! Perhaps Coke or even tea? Maybe, but when one is thirsty,…really thirsty, nothing beats a cup of cold water. Have you experienced a genuine thirst for God? Do you desire God? Do you need Him just as a desert dweller needs water? Why are you waiting? God is watching and ready, we need only approach Him, and bring our thirst to Him. He alone can satisfy. “Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.” The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Don’t settle your thirst for that which will not satisfy. Only God can quench your thirst for Him. Lent is a time of contemplation. As you dwell on God’s love for you through Jesus’ act of forgiveness, don’t let thirst drive you away from God’s love. Come to Him. Allow Him to satisfy your thirst. My
Read more