10. The Denial of Love
Friday 23rd Feb
(for more details see here)
Pause:
I am no longer my own, but Thine.
Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for Thee or laid aside for Thee,
exalted for Thee or brought low for Thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am Thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
JOHN WESLEY (Covenant Prayer)
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Peter had been sat listening long enough - there was a darkness creeping into the room, a foreboding sense of doom; a growing tension that had created an eerie atmosphere.
Peter didn't like it.
Not one bit.
There was plenty that was concerning him, but one phrase shook him more than most:
"Where I am going, you cannot come."
JOHN 13.33
A passion had been welling up inside of him, a torrent of emotion that his lips are not strong enough to hold back any longer:
"What on earth are you talking about?! What do you mean I can't come?
There is nowhere I wouldn't follow you! There's nothing I wouldn't do for you!
If everyone else runs a mile, I'd be right here by Your side.
And I'd pay any cost for it too!
If I have to go down in fighting at your side, if the quest claims my life, I'd pay it gladly!"
And he meant it too - with every fibre of his being he meant it... or at least, he thought he did.
Reflection:
A few years ago, I remember doing a teaching series on the questions of Jesus. This was very much inspired Martin Copenhaver's book: Jesus is the Question. In his introduction, Martin describes Jesus in this way:
"Contrary to how Jesus often is portrayed, he does not offer spiritual tips.
He does not give us a neat list of ten ways we can be closer to God.
He does not provide easy answers.
Instead, He asks hard questions."
MARTIN COPENHAVER (Jesus is the Question)
He goes on to explain:
"It is telling that the word 'question' contains the word 'quest'.
That is, a question sends you on a journey and often in search of something valuable...
If the goal is communicate a body of knowledge, then the direct communication of a lecture is appropriate.
But the goal of both question and parable is different.
The goal is not to communicate knowledge but to elicit new understanding in the listener.
Information is not the goal.
Transformation is."
MARTIN COPENHAVER (Jesus is the Question)
In this moment with Peter, Jesus asks a painfully hard question... but remember that the goal is always transformation:
Will you really lay down your life for me?
JOHN 13.38
For a moment - see Jesus turn His face towards you.
He leans in closer.
He has a question for you.
A question only you can answer:
Will you really lay down your life for me?
Will you really lay down your life for me?
Will you really lay down your life for me?
Will you really lay down your life for me?
Will you really lay down your life for me?
Will you really lay down your life for me?
JOHN 13.38
Nine little words.
None of them hard to understand.
But don't rush your answer.
Peter thought he knew his... but by the time the rooster crowed it's third and final evening call, Peter found out what Jesus had foreseen all along.
But the same Jesus who foresaw his immanent failure also saw his future obedience..
...you cannot follow now, but you will follow later...
JOHN 13.36
Jesus knows.
He knows the desires of our hearts, and the deals we make with fear.
He sees the past mistakes, the present temptations - but also the promise of a future beyond our failure.
And absolutely remarkably He sticks with us - all the way.
In the declarations of love and in the denial of it... He is determined to be our closest friend.
Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
if we endure, we will also reign with Him.
If we disown Him, He will also disown us;
if we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot disown Himself.
2 TIMOTHY 2.11-13
Questions for today:
-
What does it cost people to follow Jesus in our world today?
-
What does it cost me?
Prayer:
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Amen
THOMAS MERTON
I prayed this.
My prayer for today: (if you would like to, please feel free to add your own prayer here):