THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 14:66-72
“And he broke down and wept.” (Mark 14:72)
Have you ever been disappointed with yourself?
You do something that you know is wrong, and you hate yourself for it.
In addition to guilt, your pride is also wounded — you thought better of yourself.
Peter had boasted about his loyalty (see v.31), but now his sees his true nature.
It is not Peter’s denials, nor his tears, that strike me most.
It is that Jesus knew this would happen, He knew Peter’s weakness (and the others).
And He still accepts them as His followers, He still commissions Peter as His apostle.
Whereas Judas despairs of hope, Peter’s tears are a turning point for transformation .
Eventually Peter and the Lord together – with the Spirit’s help – overcome his fear.
Peter painfully faces his guilt and weakness, with Jesus, and overcomes them.
This story – and Peter’s life story – gives me hope.
I am a weak Jesus-follower, I have fears and doubts and lukewarm love and faith.
Jesus knows this, He is just waiting for me to despair of hope in myself.
To break down in defeat myself, so that I can find hope in Him.
When my ‘self’ crashes in tears, He is read to help me find my new self in Him.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I sense areas of pride and self-confidence in me that need to be broken. Humble me and help me, please. Bring me through the tears to the transformation that I need.
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observations/Application
Remember Peter?
He had a passion for Jesus.
He was over confident.
He was impetuous.
He had been warned by His Master of the temptation, but he relied upon his own strength once again and fear got the better of him once again and he failed. In his brokenness he remembered the words of Jesus and was filled with grief for not living up to be His follower.
What do I do when I face challenges and temptations? Do I give in to self pity and despair or turn to the Lord in prayer?
I need His grace for restoration and a new beginning just as Peter received. He became a rock for His Saviour and I too need to learn to stand up for Jesus.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear;
If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without,
Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post,
Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain,
And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.