You Are the Ones who Stood by Me in My Trials

 


For some reason, I keep coming back to the last few chapters of the book on Luke on my walks. Maybe it is because the spine of my Bible is creased to land there, or maybe it is because there is something more there that God wants me to learn. Either way, every time I have read Luke 22 recently, a different verse has stood out to me.

Throughout my entire life, I have been taught that Jesus is always with me and never changing. I take much comfort in times of stress, knowing that, no matter what I am facing, I am never alone. Jesus still stands by me in all my trials.

Today, I read a sentence that I must have read many times before, but today was like the first time I have ever ACTUALLY read it. As Jesus and his disciples had finished their final Passover meal, the disciples got into a dispute about who is greatest among them. Jesus tried to teach them that you must be humble to be great, to serve to be a ruler. Then He reminded them that he has been a servant among them. He followed up by saying, "You are the ones who stood by me in my trials."

Two important things come to my mind when I picture that scene. First, Jesus had just finished telling the disciples that He was going to be betrayed and killed, and the disciples were worried about who was the best disciple! My second thought is that Jesus talked about the disciples being with him in his trials only moments before the real trials began.

I repeat that throughout my entire life, Jesus has stood by me during my trials. But would I have stood by Jesus during his trials? I am willing to admit that I would have probably been like Peter. I might have talked a big game and stayed close by to see what was going on, but in the end, I would have been scared for my life to admit that I knew Him. I can't blame Peter for being scared, and before the end of the whole story, we learn that Jesus obviously didn't place any blame on him either.

Something else that absolutely breaks my heart for Peter in this story comes a few verses later. Immediately after Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, the rooster crowed, then Luke records this statement:
"Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter...." (Luke 22:61)
I cannot even begin to imagine the shame that Peter must have felt when Jesus looked at him.

The beauty of the entire story is that, even in the darkest day of his life on earth, Jesus still stood by Peter in his trials. Jesus had already called Peter the rock on which the church would be built, even though he knew Peter would deny knowing Him, and before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave Peter the job of feeding and caring for His sheep. Jesus never gave up on Peter, and praise be to God that he will never give up on me.

Heavenly Father, I confess that there have been times (too many to count) when I have not stood up for You, and I beg your forgiveness for my failures. Thank you, Jesus, for never giving up on me, even when I am not reliable to follow your Word. I pray that you continue to guide and keep me on your path all the days of my life, and I pray you give me courage and boldness to proclaim that I know you. In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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