God Never Gives Up on Us

 “Shall I not drink the cup the Father gave me?" John 18:11

"Are you not also among the disciples of this man?" the woman servant asked Peter. John 18:17

I cannot decide which verse to think about. Both speak to me eloquently. The first one tells me how in following Jesus, we too should go after God's will no matter the difficulty and sacrifice. The second verse shows that even if we desire to follow Jesus, even if we know Him intimately like Peter, there will be times that we will betray Him and say, "No I do not know Him!"

The important thing is not to despair like Judas, but to repent, continue to drink of the cup, knowing that God will do what we can't. We need to always remember the scene in Mark 16:7, when the women could not find Jesus' body in the tomb and the angel said, "He is risen. Go tell the disciples AND PETER that He is going to Galilee."

When we fail, we should never, never despair or lose hope. God never gives up on us!

Forever Promises

 “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” 1 Corinthians 11:25

There is a short book written by Messianic Jew Jamie Lash, which speaks about the “Cup of the Covenant”. It is very interesting that in the first century, when a young Jewish man was of marriageable age, his family would choose his wife for him. After a “bride price” was agreed upon by both families, the young man’s father would pour out a cup of wine and present it to his son. This “Cup of the Covenant” was part of the engagement ceremony. The son would turn to the young woman and offer her the wine cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which I offer to you.” He was in effect saying, “I love you, and I’ll give you my life. Will you marry me?” Then it will be the woman’s choice whether to accept him as her husband or not. 

In the same way, Jesus is offering the “Cup of the Covenant” to us, saying, “I love you and I give you My life.” He is actually, literally, proposing to us. Do we accept His love and His sacrifice? Do we give Him our life in response? Jesus is the only one who can promise forever!

Surely it is Not I, Lord?

 “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Matthew 26:21

As we near the climax of the Lenten season, we accompany Jesus as He journeys toward His crucifixion.

While they were eating the Passover, He reveals, “One of you will betray me.” Judas asks, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Peter then bravely pronounces, “Even if everyone else has fallen away from you, I will never fall away.” Jesus had to disillusion him and reveal to  him, “Amen I say to you, that in this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” (Mt. 26:34) 

Sometimes we are like Judas, betraying Jesus when we sin against Him knowingly. Sometimes we are like Peter, desiring with all our heart to lay down our life for the Lord, and then denying Him to others with our words and actions. Are we brave enough to stand up for Jesus? 

We have to build up our faith because the time is coming when we will have to be brave just to stand on the side of truth and righteousness. During the Holocaust, a Pastor is mentioned in Corrie ten Boom’s story. When the ten Boom family was helping to save a Jewish baby from being killed, the Pastor dissuaded them, asking how could they put their lives in danger for one baby. “You will all be killed!” he warned them.

Corrie’s 85-year old father Casper answered, “It would be an honor to die for God’s ancient people!” Casper and his family continued to aid the Jews to escape until they were arrested. He died in Scheveningen Prison 10 days after his arrest. Casper ten Boom and his family had a faith that sees beyond suffering, pain and trials. Do we?