LEARNING DAILY

 

Mark 14:50, Then they all forsook Him and fled.

 

When I was young, I wanted to be a detective.  Perhaps the television Starsky and Hutch influenced me – I don’t know.  I applied and eventually was interviewed for a position with the State of Iowa.  During the interview, I was asked this question, “Could you take the life of a person to save the life of another?”  I told them that I had no idea what I would do in that situation.  That was not good enough; they demanded an answer.  Can anyone know what they would do under that kind of pressure?  We can say how we would react.  But, would we?

 

The disciples had been with Jesus, walking and talking with Him for around three years.  From Scripture we know that Peter said he would never deny Him.  I wounder if the others chimed in and said the same thing when Peter made that declaration?  But when the time came that Jesus was arrested, they took off and ran, hiding in fear of what might happen to them because of their association with Jesus.  We know that Peter denied Jesus three times that night.  So much for his bold declaration!

 

What do we do with those who ran from Jesus that night and with Peter?  It is really easy to read that and wonder what I would do if I was in that situation.  What did they do for the days before meeting together in the Upper Room?  What was going through their minds about what had happened to Jesus.  Max Lucado wrote that their thoughts, any fears or guilt has not been recorded.  I really wish there was something written to know how they dealt with this; maybe it would help me understand.  Perhaps it would help us all to be stronger in our walk on the narrow way to God’s kingdom.  Perhaps we would be stronger in the face of opposition and ridicule for being a follower of Jesus Christ.

 

It is not too difficult in this country to be known as a Christian, but are the times changing?  There are certainly indications that difficult times are coming to all who profess to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Have you thought about what you will do when forced to declare who you follow?  I pray with all my heart to stand strong and confess Him as Lord; I know that He has said that those who profess Him before men, He will profess as His to the Father.  Yet, fear causes even the strongest to do things they do not want to do.  My answer right now is to stand strong in Him and declaring Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.  What about you?

 

Oh, by the way, the disciples returned to the Upper Room.  They probably did not know what else to do.  I’m sure that God moved in their hearts to bring them back to be together.  Perhaps they all needed to share the experience that had occurred.  Maybe each needed the others to help them through the fact they had run, leaving Jesus alone.  Were they embarrassed or ashamed or what?  We have all been there, haven’t we?  We have God’s Words of assurance; that He loves us, even in our weaknesses.  Their assurance came with an empty tomb and the risen Christ meeting them.  Oh, what promises we have from a resurrected Christ today!  Stand strong in His Word, His promises of the everlasting and eternal life with Him will help us through any difficult times ahead. 

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.