Follow the leader – until …?
by Steve Liersch
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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 26:35).
Read Matthew 26:26–35
We see it time and time again. A group united around its brave leader – until …? Sadly, politics provides many of these moments where a campaign leading up to an election constantly shows many of the party faithful, colleagues and those who believe in the promise of the leader before them, all gathered around together nodding their heads in agreement as the leader speaks. Until? Yep, if the party loses the election, many of those who were bravely following their now-defeated leader are suddenly running for the door. Nowhere in sight to face the barrage of constant questions of where it all went wrong.
Peter was his name. ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will’ (verse 33). To which Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times’ (verse 34). And here’s the kicker: ‘And all the other disciples said the same’ (verse 35). Within hours, the disciples deserted Jesus in the garden following his arrest. Their leader is gone, their bravery melted away, and Jesus’ words become reality.
We all want to be on the winning team. Words are cheap if actions don’t follow them. When Jesus predicted his death in Matthew 16:21–28, Peter said to him, ‘Surely not, Lord. This will never happen to you.’
Peter put himself out there as the brave leader designated by Jesus to lead his disciples. Yet he needed to learn a few lessons that had to be lived through rather than just spoken about in one of Jesus’ teaching sessions on a mountainside.
Sometimes, our failures can teach us more about ourselves than we care to learn. I would never do that – until …? I couldn’t see myself ever being part of that – until …? I wouldn’t dare say anything like that – until …? Yet nothing surprises Jesus about the humans he came to save. Sin, human failure, even Satan’s joy at the scene on Golgotha, seemed to have won – until …? Until Jesus spoke salvation over creation, ‘Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing’ (Luke 23:34).
How many ‘untils’ do you need to repent of?
Heavenly Father, please keep drawing me back to you in repentance. Please help me to live here on Earth by your grace until I live with you forever. Amen.
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