Matthew 26:30-56
Dear RTB’ers,
Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You!” And all the disciples said the same. (v. 35) I have to put myself on the same page as Peter and “all the disciples”. In my mind, I imagine that I would never deny Jesus. Or, in other words, I ask what would it take for me to deny Jesus? I remember a philosophy class from my undergraduate years where we reading Soren Kierkegaard’s essay on Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. Our professor asked us to write an essay, “What would it take for you to deny Jesus?” I can remember writing even back then, some fifty years ago, that I would never deny Jesus. But I do have to ask myself again and again, what would it take? Peter and all the disciples were firm – and they all fled. [But, truth be told, in the end we are told that they all, excepting John, suffered martyr’s deaths.]
Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane is super important for all of us in our daily lives. So often we pray Jesus’ words, …not as I will, but as You will. (v. 39b) We repeat, along with Jesus, …Your will be done. (v. 42b) And I know that we mean it, that we want what He wants, and that whatever has happened in our lives is His will being carried out. But as we pray for our future, our plans, our families and friends, we have dreams and desires and we regularly pray, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” And we mean it. Don’t we? Really…?? Yes / No? Your thoughts…??
Blessings.
Fred
One more thing… I must confess, all along this morning my mind has been wandering to the Kudzu comic strip preacher, Pastor Will B. Dunn.