Mark 15
Mark 15
Peter was one of Jesus’ closest disciples. He was the disciple that Jesus said he would build his church on and then the next moment told him to get behind him satan. Peter also said he would never deny Jesus and cut off one of the men's ears in his zeal to protect his Lord from being arrested.
Could you imagine you are zealous Peter, cutting people’s ears off and telling Jesus he wouldn’t let him die, all for him to deny him? Then after his denial of his Lord, he sees the events of this chapter.
Then Jesus is mocked, “And they dressed Him in purple, and after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began saluting Him: ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they repeatedly beat His head with a reed and spit on Him…” (Mark 15:17-19).
Jesus is nailed to the cross, crying out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Then His limp body is put in the grave - like everyone else.
I imagine the shame Peter felt. Not only for denying Jesus but for watching Jesus go through all of that. The hope Peter had felt in this man, who promised restoration, promised the everlasting Kingdom, is gone. I wonder if Peter thought to himself, “How could I fall for a mere man? He cannot be the Messiah we’ve been waiting for.”
Isn’t that the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice, though? The fact that Jesus came to live a human life to its fullest. He was born, raised from child to man, baptized, and tempted in every way but without sin, and he lived his life to the fullest, serving others. His life was filled with the signs of a completed promise.
We know that the disciples didn’t understand Jesus when he foretold his death.
It is easy for us to either read this chapter at a distance because we are avoiding the feelings of shame and guilt. Or we dive deep into the pits of those feelings. Either way, we must come out of this with worship and hope. I hope that the promises were fulfilled. I hope you'll be able to see what is to come. Worship because Jesus took our place on the cross and in the grave. Remember the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice and remember that he didn’t die for you to sit in your guilt and shame, but actually quite the opposite. He died for you to be free. For you to be clean, righteous, and holy. Let this be a reminder of what that freedom cost Jesus, and worship him because of it.
Peter shirked his shame the moment he saw Jesus. Let us see Jesus, too and leave that shame in the grave where it belongs.
