Will You Fall Away?

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”…Matthew 26:33.

Yesterday, I had a few moments before I was scheduled to head out the door.  Mindlessly, I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels, but stopped abruptly when the Passion of Christ move flashed on the screen!

I was quickly taken back to several years ago when I first viewed this move on the big screen!

Though the movie had already begun, and I knew I had to head out the door before it was over, I sat there…watching the movie depicting the 12 hours leading up to Jesus’ death

It had been several years since I had seen this movie, but I was quickly reminded of the graphic scenes.

Just as I did several years ago, I had to turn my head as Jesus was whipped and beaten beyond recognition!  I remember crying out at the movie theater…”Stop…that’s enough…no more”! 

At different times, Jesus would flash back to his time spent with the disciples.

One scene in particular stood out yesterday.  They had just finished the Passover Supper, and Jesus said, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:  “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered”…Matthew: 27: 31.

When Peter heard this, he replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will”…Matthew 27:33

Jesus responded back, “I tell you the truth…this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times”…Matthew 27:34.

Just as Jesus predicted, Peter denied knowing Jesus three different times before the rooster crowed.  The last time he was accused of knowing Jesus, Peter began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man”…Matthew 26:74.

Immediately, a rooster crowed.  Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken:  “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times”…Matthew 26:75.

After this, Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

I’m sure Peter meant it when he said...”I will never all away”.  He loved Jesus!  He had spent the last few years beside Jesus!  Peter knew who Jesus was!

Yet, when faced with the horrifying events before him, Peter denied his Lord!

It’s easy to look at Peter and wonder…how could you?  You were one of the three who was closest to Jesus! 

You saw Jesus heal the sick, feed the thousands, raise the dead…you had just told Jesus that you would never fall away!

But I have to also wonder…what would I do? 

What would you do?

I love Jesus with all my heart.  But, would I be willing to confess him as Lord if it meant laying down my life?  Oh, how I pray I would!

This past week, armed terrorists stormed a university in northern Kenya, killing 147 people, wounding dozens and taking hostages during a 15-hour siege.

Students said the gunmen separated Christians from Muslims and held hostages in a dormitory, where they placed explosives around the Christian hostages, according to Kenya’s National Police Service (“USA Today”, p. 2).

According to the Telegraph, most of the 147 victims of the terror attack died execution-style as they lined up waiting for their turn to be shot. 

I can only imagine the fear they felt as they waited in line, knowing what lay ahead of them. 

I can only imagine the fear they must have felt as explosives were placed all around them.

Did they tremble and deny Christ as Peter did, or did they stare the terrorists in the face, reiterating their love for Jesus, even if it met dying for him that day.

Jesus loves us.  He died on the cross for us!  And even though Peter denied Christ, He still loved Peter.

When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death, he met with Peter.  Upon hearing Peter confess his love for His Lord repeatedly, Jesus told Peter to follow him (John 21:19). 

And Peter did!  Peter preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and many were saved!

Jesus desires to use you…to use me…to use each of us for his glory!  How I pray that we are willing to be used for his glory!

Dear Heavenly Father…help each of us to follow you and to not fall away in times of persecution!  May our love for you be steadfast and unshakeable, regardless of what is before us!  May everything we say and do bring glory to you!