Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew 27:5 Then he [Judas] threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
SNIPPETS OF HOLY WEEK: JESUS' DISCIPLES
Peter and Judas, from a human standpoint the best and the worst of Christ's disciples. We idolize Peter wishing we could have such faith to also walk on water even if but briefly. We despise Judas thinking, "I would never do such a thing." Yet here without Christ they stand equal, both betraying their Lord. Both equally guilty, both equally wicked. But not alone. No, for to often this is where we stand as well. No better than Judas, no worse than Peter. The question is where will we go from here?
Will we follow Judas and be destroyed by despair of our sin? Or will we follow Peter to see the cross of Christ, to hear the words of love and forgiveness which He speaks even to us who have betrayed and scorned Him? There is no doubt that as long as we live in this world the temptation to despair over our own sins will ambush us often, even daily. Yet as long as we go with Peter, to find the love of Christ we will never be disappointed. After all, His mercy is "new every morning." And Peter himself directs our attention to the greatest mercy our Lord has shown us when he says, " ... you were redeemed ... with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
