⁵⁴ Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶ Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” ⁵⁷ But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” ⁵⁸ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹ Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” ⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.⁶³ Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; ⁶⁴ they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” ⁶⁵ They kept heaping many other insults on him.” Luke 22:54-64

If we were in the crowd witnessing these events, would we have had any more conviction, or courage, or backbone than the disciples? I doubt it. The absence of the disciples screams at us throughout the trial – but we have the benefit of 2000 years of separation. Peter falls to self-preservation, but would any of us have done anything differently – understanding it was a matter of life, or death?    In fact, most of the disciples do nothing to stop the events – and do everything to save their own lives. We don’t have our savior on trial today, although the authority of scripture and the teaching of the Gospel is always being assailed. But the impact of religious reductionistic activities puts our religious beliefs on trial everyday. Every…day! How do we respond when someone threatens our religious freedoms? Do we run away when given the opportunity to share the story of Jesus? Do we hide from religious controversy?  Do we seek our own self-preservation? Or, do we have the nerve to stand up, speak out, and tell anyone the truth of the Gospel?

Pastor Dave

³⁹ He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” ⁴¹ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” [[⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. ⁴⁴ In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]] ⁴⁵ When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Luke 22:39-46

I preached these words in a sermon in May – it was a sermon on prayer.

Prayer – it can come so easily to us – it can be some of the most rewarding time that we spend each day of our lives, when we spend time in prayer with G-d – and it can be some of the most trying and difficult words that we seek.   But for many people, prayer is not the experience that they would hope that it could or would be…and they struggle with this aspect of their faith lives.   Pray – let the words stumble and mumble from your lips, praying in confidence that the One who came to bring repentance and forgiveness doesn’t care whether we are eloquent in our words, but simply seeks a relationship with us that begins with humble words, a  want and need to be in conversation, and a heart that understands that we are in need of a oneness that only the Father Son and Holy Spirit can give……thanks be to G-d.

Pastor Dave