I Will (never?) Fall Away. Matt 26:33 (S3-Episode #33)

"The disciples are a bunch of knuckleheads.  If I was there as Jesus' disciple, I would never have fallen away from Jesus during His tough time."  This is probably the exact wrong conclusion from exposing ourselves to this passage about Peter, his fellow knuckleheads, and Jesus.

First about Jesus.  I am a big fan of the steadfast love of God.  It is called HESED in the Old Testament.  Jesus demonstrates it here PROFOUNDLY: even though you ALL are going to abandon me, 'break covenant', break friendship with me, I AM NOT GOING TO BREAK RELATIONSHIP with you.  In fact, I'll see you after the resurrection in Galilee.  

Then about Peter.  Though we are warned in the Lord's Prayer "lead us not into temptation", and "forgive us our trespass", Peter doesn't approach his upcoming trial with humility and grace.  In fact, he throws the other disciples under the bus! "Though THEY fall away, I will NEVER fall away."  To Peter's credit, he actually thinks he achieves this in about 20 verses where he pulls out AND USES a sword to defend Jesus.  However, it is the words of a person who was thought the least of in that society, a slave girl, who catches him.

Let's keep singing.  Let's stay attached to the Body of Christ.  Let's be humble.  Let's admire the steadfast love of Jesus.  

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