Mark 14:27-31

Jesus said to them, “You will all falter in your faithfulness to me. It is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep will go off in all directions.^[d] But after I’m raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else stumbles, I won’t.”

But Jesus said to him, “I assure you that on this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

But Peter insisted, “If I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

^[d] Zechariah 13:7

Mark 14:27-31, Common English Bible (c) 2011

I have an urge to tell Peter to not be so sure of himself.  And not only Peter.  Everyone there that night agrees:  they will stand with Jesus.

Faltering in faithfulness is so very human.  Not that we intend to be unfaithful – at least not usually.  We get caught up in the moment, don’t want to be caught out, aren’t sure about the risk in remaining faithful.

Jesus knows.  He makes a promise:  I will go before you.  When you can’t help but to run away, I’ll be waiting to greet you wherever you go.  When you stumble, I’ll be beside you to help you up.  Though you deny me – and you will – I will never deny you.

-Teressa Clark, 2019

Lenten Reflections 2019:  Following Jesus from the Mount of Olives to the Tomb ~ Day 28