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Stumbling and Saved
Mark 14:26-31
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The disciples—and especially Peter—show an incredible stubbornness and foolishness. Over and over again, the disciples do not understand what Jesus is saying or doing. Mere moments after confessing that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Peter all but calls Jesus an idiot for telling the disciples that the Son of Man must suffer and die. When they’re on the boat in the midst of the sea and the storm hits, the disciples accuse Jesus of not caring that they’re all about to die. When they’re on the mountain and Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, Peter doesn’t really care what God is trying to show him; he only thinks they should stay on the mountaintop and never come down. That way, he—and maybe James and John, since they’re present, too—can share in the glory of Jesus and the exalted position of the Old Testament prophets.
And then, finally, when they reach the Mount of Olives, Jesus tells the disciples plainly, “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.’” And the disciples lose their minds. Peter, always the self-assured ringleader, proclaims his fidelity: “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” And the other disciples, not to be outdone, quickly agreed that they would remain faithful. They’ve forgotten how many times they have already failed to believe. They don’t know what it will mean for them if they display loyalty to Jesus when the soldiers come for Him. And they’ve forgotten that Jesus has not come merely to be a teacher to twelve foolish men; He has come to die so that He could save them and all people.
“How could they be so dense?” we might be tempted to think. How could they fail to understand what Jesus means? Of course Jesus must die; no one else can pay the price for the sins of the whole world. How can Peter not see that he’s been faithless and selfish in his interactions with Jesus? Even when he first met Jesus, Peter himself said, “I am a sinful man.” How can the disciples think they would be willing to stand with Jesus when they don’t understand that they will have to suffer with Him?
We see with all the certainty of hindsight. But if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit we exhibit the same foolishness. How often do we fail our Lord? How often do we see the suffering around us and question the goodness of our Father’s will? How often do we receive blessings from the Lord and believe that we somehow have earned or deserve what we have received? And then, how often we stand with Peter and claim to be better than the person across the aisle, more faithful, more constant in our worship and obedience and devotion? Like the disciples, we have put our trust in our own reason and strength. We are proud of our faith, as if our faith is something we give to God and not the other way around. “Even if everyone else in this congregation fails you, Lord, I will not fail you.”
The disciples don’t know what’s going on; and, although He has already told them, they don’t know where Jesus is going. In their lack of understanding, they can only see themselves. We may have the advantage of their witness, but even our hindsight doesn’t keep us from thinking only of ourselves. Like the disciples, we are in the dark: not seeing, not understanding. We struggle against the will of our heavenly Father in every aspect of our lives.
Only one Man sees and understands; only one Man is perfectly obedient to the will of the Father, and that is Jesus, the Son of God. He understands that it is not Pilate, nor Herod, nor the High Priest, nor the religious leaders of the day, nor the soldiers, nor the crowd who is leading Him to the cross. Hear again the words Jesus speaks: “…It is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” This is God speaking through the prophet Zechariah. The Father Himself is responsible. He has chosen Jesus as the Sacrifice appointed to pay the price for the sins of sinful man. As much as we deserve to suffer for our sins, the Father reserves the greatest blow for His Son. Only Jesus understands. Only Jesus is faithful. Only Jesus pays the debt with His own lifeblood.
Thanks be to God that receiving His forgiveness does not depend on our understanding, on our worthiness, on our obedience. Our forgiveness depends upon His grace, on Jesus giving us His worthiness and obedience. He alone has borne the full weight of the cross and has died for you. He alone has drawn you into His Church, His family. Do not be discouraged or disheartened by your disobedience, by your lack of understanding, by your sin. For Jesus, and He alone, has saved you. In the name of the Father and of the (†) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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