Thursday, 28th March 2024
Andrews Ampomah
TOPIC: DESERT NOT YOUR LORD
THEME SCRIPTURE: “And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.” – Mark 14:72
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS
- In what ways have you denied Christ Jesus?
In the history of Christianity, this week is undoubtedly the most significant on the calendar for Christians globally. Popularly referred to as the Passion Week, it was the season in which the full penalty of our sins was painfully paid by Jesus on the Cross. It was the week when men and women received the grace to be translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Hallelujah! What a blessedness it is that we, who had the sentence of eternal death on our lives, were miraculously redeemed from the claws of death.
While we celebrate this week, it is also important to reflect on the very happenings of the week.
It was also the week of unprecedented and painful denials by his closest friends. It was the week that our Lord Jesus experienced the most devastating denials from the twelve Apostles whom he had been with for three years. How painful it is for loved ones to disappoint and desert you in moments when you need them most. It was during the Passion Week that Judas sold the Saviour of the world [Jesus] for thirty pieces of silver (approximately between $91 to $450 in present-day value) – (Mathew 26:15). It was the week in which Mark (the Gospel writer) literally fled from Jesus during his arrest naked – leaving his clothes behind (Mark 14:51-52). Jesus witnessed the foremost Apostle deny him three times invoking curses and swearing to all who identified him with Christ Jesus.
It is important to note that during this week, all the disciples of Jesus denied and deserted him for fear of their lives (Mathew 25:56).
It is amazing how in reading these verses of denial we disassociate ourselves from such behaviors and seem to judge the Apostles in our own rights but do the worst to him, now. We may have consistently denied our Lord Jesus even when there was no possibility of fear for our lives. We may have acted in ways that evoke questions on our claimed identity to Christianity. We may have deserted Jesus in our marriages and other love relationships, in raising our children, at our workplaces and even in our local churches. We may have indulged in sins with no second thoughts, for the sake of life expediencies we may have thrown away our identity as Christians severally. The list will be endless if we are to name the number of times in several instances that we boldly denied and deserted Christ Jesus. Beloved in Christ, suffice to say that anytime we deny Jesus, we break His heart.
It is worth noting however, that some women who had been with Christ Jesus stood with him and followed him to the end.
There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome (Mark 15:40-41). When men who had stayed longer with him abandoned Jesus, these women defied the odds not fearing to lose their lives, they stood with Jesus not only in his life but in his death as well. Beloved in Christ, will you, as we all go through the Passion Week, resolve to stand with Jesus in life and death? Emulate the examples of these women, and also Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, by ensuring you don’t compromise on your faith in Christ Jesus. Rather, be uncompromising in all areas of your life. God bless you as you stand with Jesus this week and the rest of your life, Amen.
Call to Salvation: If you have not received salvation yet by turning over your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day. Click here to do so.
FURTHER READING – Mark 14:1-72
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Will you resolve to stand with Jesus at all times, in your relationships, at work and in your local assembly?
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to pay the penalty of sin in my place. Help me through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit not to deny Christ Jesus at all times in Christ Jesus' name. Amen
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Numbers 10; Proverbs 6; Luke 20
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