Mark 14:29-31
When
Jesus tells us something that we perceive as negative, we should accept His
assessment. We aren’t used to accepting contrary opinions. Most of us think we
are right, and that our view of things is the correct view. So when someone
comes along and disagrees with us, we usually put up a fight.
I
learned early on not to disagree with teachers. Even if I was right, trying to
win with a teacher was useless. They had the authority to punish and weren’t
afraid to use that authority. There are several instances that stick out in my
mind that were unjust, even today, over forty years later. I wouldn’t say I was
scared, but I do remember. And for me to remember anything from way back then
is amazing.
And
yet, the disciples, and Peter in particular, try to disagree with Jesus. In
essence they try to tell Him that He is wrong. Ouch! That is a mistake. They
want to defend their character and commitment. They want to say that Jesus’
insight into who they are is incorrect.
Our
knee jerk reaction to the truth about who we really are is often a defensive
one. We pull back behind our walls to protect ourselves, or we counter attack
in an effort to push the truth away.
Peter
goes on the defensive. “I am different than the other disciples.” This is the
cry of a teenager going through their phases. Hair, piercings, dress, attitude,
speech, music, politics, entertainment, you name it. They do things that make
themselves different from everyone else, even though so many others are doing
the same thing! They want to be their own person, but they are really just
conforming to different set of behaviors. Anything except my parents!
Peter
has trouble accepting Jesus’ reality. So Jesus drives home the point. Three
denials, Peter. That is what you will do. But Peter stays in his defensive
mode. But in a few short hours, the truth will come crashing down around
Peter’s ears. He will be just like the others, only worse. He will deny three
times.
When
Scripture declares that we are sinners, we need to accept that statement. We
have failed, and that failure is catastrophic in its consequences. Just like
the spacecraft that explodes shortly after launch, our lives of obedience
failed within a few seconds. Our greatest efforts are not enough. We will fail,
we have failed and we are failing. Only the good news, the grace offered in
Jesus, can rescue us from ourselves.