April 4,  2023

Today's Reading:  Mark 14:1-15:47

Daily Lectionary: Ex 9:29-10:20, Lam 2:1-22, Heb 3:1-19

Mark 14:30–31: “And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. I don’t know why, but we love the idea that God would test our faithfulness. Peter doesn’t hear this as a sad statement of reality, a warning he’s going to need some help. It’s a challenge. A test. Peter would never do that. He responds. “Nuh uh.” If I must die with you, I’ll never deny you. Everyone else might fall away but I won’t. I’ll prove I’m better than them. I’ll prove I deserve your blessing

First, He’s God, He would know…but rather than learn from it, for some reason we have this desire to say, “if I were there I’d have never denied Him” sort of like arguments won later in the shower. We take our surroundings, and imagine ways we can prove to be steadfast. Heroes of the faith. We imagine the awfulness of the present day is a challenge to us. Society. Sin. Suffering. We’ll prove we’re faithful in the face of them. 

Is this some sort of test? Do you think God just wants to make sure we’re good enough? First, He’s God, He would know….but second, you prove what you are all the time. It’s called sin.You can measure it. Look to the Ten Commandments. How are you really doing?  Hear the sad statement of reality from our Lord. Before all this is over, you’ll make idols out of power and popularity. You’ll be afraid. You’ll doubt. You’ll despair. It’s a warning you’re going to need some help that we insist is some kind of challenge.  We respond. “Nuh uh.”  

Why do you want this to be on you? It’s on Jesus, who bore the cross for Peter who denied, for you who were afraid. And He has not left you alone in your struggles. Breathe. Look to the cross. See Jesus there for you. Know who you are, not based on what you’ve earned, but based on what He’s given. You are baptized. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered Was all for sinners’ gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, And grant to me Thy grace. (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, LSB 449:2)

-Pastor Kent Schaaf is Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Little Rock. AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.