(Mark 14:26-31 ESV)
The Lord knows better.
Here they had just finished having the first "Lord's Supper", sung a hymn, gone out the Mount of Olives where Jesus in essence warns them tough times are coming ahead and Peter says "I WILL REMAIN!"
And Jesus says "no, you won't, in fact before the night is over you'll deny me not just once, but three times".
Peter was all "no, no, no.. I'll stick by you".. as did the rest of the disciples.
And I have to admit.. I understand where they are coming from. They LOVE Jesus deeply, they can't imagine not sticking by him.
But the story is known.
The soldiers came. They fought. Jesus stopped it. He was captured and.. all the disciples melted away into the night. Peter alone did follow along though, but he wasn't brave enough to own his Lord. THREE times he denied him.
So THE LORD knows better.
By the end of the night, Peter knew that as well. And it was a hard knowing.
It's odd though how this passage is a comfort and a help to me.
How a help?
1. It helps me understand how in times of trouble people can melt away from the Lord.
2. It helps me understand how we should be gracious in accepting them back. Jesus did. He didn't reappear to all the disciples and condemn them. He came back...he pushed Peter a bit... but took him back and talked with the disciples before he ascended to heaven.
How a comfort?
1. Jesus knows me better than I know myself. He knows ahead of time the things I will do and loves me anyways. He does.
2. It's a comfort knowing that forgiveness awaits.
What do you think? Is it a comfort and a help to you, knowing the Jesus knows better?