Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT

Saturday, March 27th

Denial, Luke 22:54-62 - Written by Maddy (Wyshinski) Dutton

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at

a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a
Galilean.”  Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went
outside and wept bitterly.  Luke 22:54-62

You might think, how could Peter deny Jesus?  He watched Jesus heal the broken and feed the hungry. Often times, I think that if I saw Jesus perform all those miracles, I could never deny him.

I have to think about all the miracles Jesus has done in my life.  Jesus saved me and his Holy Spirit lives inside of me.  There are many times where I see his goodness so vividly that I think I could never deny him.  But then soon after, the busyness of life distracts me from gazing at his beauty.  I mindlessly scroll on my phone instead of praying or reading my bible.  How is this different than Peter?

After his Resurrection, Jesus comes back to spend time with his disciples.  In John 21, Jesus questions Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  This is all He ever wanted in the first place.  He doesn’t want our blind obedience, but sweet devotion that leads to joy.  After Peter is forgiven, I believe something in him changes.  He devotes his life to Jesus’ ministry, not without flaws, but with a heart deeper in love with the Lord. 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Friday, March 5th Fasting , Matthew 6:16  - Written by Sharon Ruff   “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting my be seen by others.Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”   Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV) In this passage, Jesus discusses an area of life that tends to reveal where our ultimate loyalties lie.   He is commanding His followers (us) to find our satisfaction and security in God rather than outward displays that bring praise to ourselves.   So what does fasting look like?   It can take on varying times and many forms - from denying ourselves certain food or activities, to giving that “something” to others, even in secret. I remember many years ago, one of ourchildren suggested
Read more
Image
Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Monday, March 29th Hosanna! , Matthew 21:10-17 Written by Bernice Willadsen 10  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11  The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 12  Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  13  “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14  The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.  15  But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16  “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,“ ‘From the lips of children and infants  
Read more
Image
  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Saturday, February 20th 40 Days, Lenten Sacrifice - Written by Ben Kraihanzel   Matthew 4:1,2   Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.   2  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 3 ends on profound moment in the life of Christ, his baptism. This moment was significant because it not only gave us a glimpse of the humanity of Jesus, but also allowed Jesus to identify with sinners (us). Heading into Matthew 4:1-2, we see another moment of    identification as Jesus is led into severe   temptation by the devil. There is a   remarkable contrast between the imminent glory of Jesus’ baptism and the dark challenge to be tempted by the devil. The timing of 40 days and 40 nights is a callback to the nation of Israel   wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.  Jesus will succeed where Israel as a nation failed. Temptation is a certainty for everyone, even Jesus. Jesus did not need to be te
Read more