Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
We return to Peter’s denial of Jesus: “And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, ‘Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice.’ And when he thought thereon, he wept” (Mark 14:72). When Peter is confronted with his association with Jesus, he denies it (verses 66-70), culminating in cursing and swearing (verse 71). His actions are worse than using foul language, as bad and unnecessary as that usage is. Peter is using the name of God as a witness to the truth of his lying words. Peter is afraid, and he fails exactly as Jesus had predicted only hours before (Mark 14:30). Peter had protested when Jesus uttered this prophecy (verses 29, 31), but he falls apart under pressure and fails miserably. And he is miserable, for “he wept.” Luke 22:61-62 includes two significant details. First, Peter “wept bitterly” (verse 62). These were not tears conjured up to manipulate someone or to wallow in self-pity. No, these were tears of abject failure, of searing remorse. Romans 7:19 provides this principle: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” We sigh in agreement, and thank our Savior for His forgiveness and His empowerment through God the Holy Spirit. “Godly sorrow worketh repentance” (II Corinthians 7:10a). Second, just before Peter “went out and wept bitterly,” we read that “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter” (verse 61). I cringe when I think of Jesus looking upon me when I fail, and I share in Peter’s dejection. Also, though, I think of the sadness of our Savior as He gazes upon Peter. “A man of sorrows” is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, “and we hid as it were our faces from Him” (Isaiah 53:3). However, He never hides His face from us.