Surely Not I

Read John 13:18-25

Context: The disciples are gathered in the upper room for the Passover meal -- no one but Jesus realizes this will be the last one they will celebrate together. Jesus has just finished washing their feet and he's predicting his own death.

Text:
18"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'[a]
19"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."

21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."

22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."

25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" (NIV)

Footnotes:

John 13:18 Psalm 41:9

taken from www.biblegateway.com

It looks like Peter is being a little shy again. Only this time he has a pretty good reason. He has just made a fool of himself by refusing to let Jesus wash his feet. Honestly, I think he's afraid of the answer that Jesus might give. He's said or done the wrong thing so many times that I think he might be fearful that HE would be the one to betray Jesus, even though he wouldn't plan such a thing. I can only imagine the huge sigh of relief he feels when Jesus reveals that Judas will be the betrayer.

In fact, Peter's fears are justified. Just moments later, Jesus correctly predicts that Peter will deny him three times yet that night.

Despite the best of our intentions, we will let God down. Somehow he still loves us. Amazing, isn't it?

I'm Gonna Teeyeellllll

Read Matthew 18:21-35

Context: Jesus has just paid the temple tax with a drachma coin found in the mouth of a fish. His disciples then came to him and asked who was the greatest in heaven. He talked about how we must become like a little child and told the parable of the lost sheep.

Text:
21At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
22Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

23-25"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.

26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.

28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'

29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.

32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy." (The Message)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

I took today's verses from The Message version because we are so familiar with it. The parable Jesus gives is memorable and important for us to know if we want to receive the forgiveness he has to offer. But the reason I like this passage isn't because of the parable, it's because of Peter's question that started the whole thing.

Did you catch the first few words? "Peter got up the nerve to ask"? Since when has he been shy? I can imagine all the disciples sitting in a clump at Jesus' feet. Andrew and Peter are on opposite sides, glaring at each other. Obviously Andrew did something to Peter the night before and Peter has had it. It was probably the eighth time Andrew has done this thing, and Peter is hoping he can get retribution this time. He hints at the wrong in an attempt to tattle publicly, hoping that Jesus will take the bait and ask what the offense was. What a classic example of acting like a little child -- it's obvious they are both destined to be great in heaven!

Of course, Jesus knows better and he changes the subject toward the forgiveness, not the dirty deed. I can just imagine Andrew sitting there with his arms crossed, a smug look on his face while Peter pouts at the answer, can't you?

What's In A Name?

Read John 1:35-42

Context: John the Baptist was in Bethany (2 miles east of Jerusalem) baptizing people in the Jordan River. Jesus has already been baptized, and John testified to his followers that he had seen the Spirit of God descend upon Jesus after he was baptized.

Text:
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

This passage raises lots of questions for me. Andrew and Simon lived in Bethsaida at this point in their lives, 75 miles away from Bethany. Why were they there? Were they both followers of John the Baptist (this passage indicates Andrew probably was). Were they on their way to Jerusalem for a religious holiday, or were they getting supplies for their fishing business?

Simon was renamed the very first time Jesus laid eyes on him! We know that as we get to know Simon more, he was impulsive and unstable – not whom I would expect to become a leader of the early Church. Yet Jesus didn’t see Simon as the world saw him – he knew what Simon would become – a rock, a pillar of strength for all believers to follow. I wonder if Simon (and his brother) thought this new name was a joke – sort of like calling a man who is bald “Curly” or a huge line backer “Tiny”?

Jesus sees us as we will be, not as we are. If he met you today in the street, what do you think Jesus would name you?