While preparing for the discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I was struck by the words of Jesus speaking to His disciples in Mark 14:27: "All of you will be made to stumble
because of Me this night, for it is
written: 'I will strike the
Shepherd, and
the sheep will be scattered.'" Consider how Jesus appealed to scripture to confirm what would indeed happen. His appeal to the truth of scripture shows how powerful and unfailing it truly is. Being the Son of God Jesus could have appealed to His own prophetic gift or even His judgment of the loyalty and courage of His disciples. Yet He didn't. If it is written, it will most certainly be done.
Now Peter didn't believe what Jesus said. He didn't believe the Word of God applied to him given his feelings at the time. Mark 14:29-30 reads, "Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." The scripture and Jesus both spoke the truth, and the next verse is telling for all people of our natural tendency toward unbelief. Mark 14:31 says, "But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise."
Did you catch the last sentence? Peter and all the rest of the disciples refused to believe the scripture cited by Jesus Christ. We are all capable of doing the same thing. There are warnings in God's Word we shrug off and promises we forget to claim. We worry because we do not entirely believe what God has said. Frankly we do not think the Bible is always relevant to us or our current circumstances. Surely we are an exception to the rule! Because the Word of God cannot fail, all the disciples did indeed flee from Jesus and Peter denied Him three times. God be praised that Jesus restored Peter and his vehement claim ended up being strangely prophetic, for a day came when he refused to deny Jesus and died for Him as a martyr.
If Jesus quoted the Bible concerning future events as the unfailing standard, than that is how we should view God's Word ourselves. The value of gold fluctuates with the market, but the Bible is the gold standard of truth which is perfect and true without fail. Its truth does not shift with culture or lose power over time. This world will pass away, but the word of the LORD will endure forever.
Now Peter didn't believe what Jesus said. He didn't believe the Word of God applied to him given his feelings at the time. Mark 14:29-30 reads, "Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be." 30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." The scripture and Jesus both spoke the truth, and the next verse is telling for all people of our natural tendency toward unbelief. Mark 14:31 says, "But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise."
Did you catch the last sentence? Peter and all the rest of the disciples refused to believe the scripture cited by Jesus Christ. We are all capable of doing the same thing. There are warnings in God's Word we shrug off and promises we forget to claim. We worry because we do not entirely believe what God has said. Frankly we do not think the Bible is always relevant to us or our current circumstances. Surely we are an exception to the rule! Because the Word of God cannot fail, all the disciples did indeed flee from Jesus and Peter denied Him three times. God be praised that Jesus restored Peter and his vehement claim ended up being strangely prophetic, for a day came when he refused to deny Jesus and died for Him as a martyr.
If Jesus quoted the Bible concerning future events as the unfailing standard, than that is how we should view God's Word ourselves. The value of gold fluctuates with the market, but the Bible is the gold standard of truth which is perfect and true without fail. Its truth does not shift with culture or lose power over time. This world will pass away, but the word of the LORD will endure forever.
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