Matthew 26:30-35

Matthew 26:30-35

And after singing a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.  At that time Jesus says to them, “You all will be brought to stumbling in me in this night.  For it has been written, ‘I will strike a heavy blow to the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  But after I am to be raised I will go ahead of you all into Galilee.”  And after answering, Peter said to Him, “If all will be brought to stumbling in you, I will never be brought to stumble.”  Jesus was saying to him, “Amen, I say to you that in this night before the rooster sounds out three times you will deny any relationship to me.”  Peter says to Him, “Even if it should be necessary to die, I will surely not deny you.”  In the same manner all the disciples said this.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Imagine hearing Jesus tell you that you were going to stumble.  Imagine hearing this as you know that the end is coming near.  Imagine hearing the Lord tell you that as life gets more and more difficult you will fall away from Him rather than stand.  Imagine being in the disciples’ sandals on this night.  But isn’t that essentially what we all do anyways?  Are any of us free from sin?  Are any of us not guilty of falling away when things get difficult?  Does Jesus not know that we are going to fall – especially in the difficult moments of life?  Of course we fall.  Of course He knows it.  But the amazing thing is that even knowing this, He still died.  He knows we are weak, and that’s actually why He died for us.

How does this thought provoke guilt within us?  How does knowing that Jesus died in spite of knowing that humanity would fall away from Him help you understand God’s grace?

Second Thought:

Once more we see the humanity of Peter.  Here Peter does not submit.  A submitted disciple would hear the words of the disciple-maker and say, “You know my nature better than I do.”  Peter should have said, “Yes, Lord.”  But in his humanity he denies the words of God.  In his humanity he tries to save face.  In his humanity Peter wants to believe something about himself that just isn’t true.  That’s his humanity at work in him.

What about yourself do you believe that in reality just isn’t true?  How can this be dangerous?  Why do human beings tend to be blind about themselves?

Third Thought:

Look ultimately where Peter’s lack of humility brings him.  Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Jesus three times.  In fact, according to the Greek verb, it isn’t so much denying Jesus as denying any kind of relationship with Him that Peter is doing.  Have you heard the expression: “The bigger they are, the harder they fall?”  In putting himself contrary to Jesus in his assertion that he won’t stumble because of Jesus, he is setting himself on a very high pedestal.  This means that as he tries to reach for that pedestal, he is ultimately going to put himself in a position where his stumble is great.  Everyone stumbles, but Peter will deny relationship with Christ three times!  We should learn this lesson.  Humbleness does more than just keep us submitted to God.  Humbleness allows of moments of stumbling to be moments where our fall is manageable and the recovery is easy.  It is our moments of great pride and arrogance when we find that our stumbling is deep and severe.

When has pride ever led you to a greater moment of stumbling?  How can you keep yourself from pride and instead seek a humble relationship with God in submission to Him?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 26:36-46