by Sharon O | Apr 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
Luke 22:32-62
“Simon, Simon, Satan asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Then Jesus moves on into more instructions and teachings to the crowds.
I wondered what Simon felt like after he was told that.
Did he just stand there shocked after hearing that?
Did he question Jesus?
Did get mad… what was his reaction?
It doesn’t look like his thoughts are recorded.
We can only guess.
What would I think?
If Jesus said to me… You think you are faithful and you love me
with everything inside you…but I know your heart
and I know you will fail a powerful test very soon.
What would I feel? What would I say to him?
Then to hear Jesus say “I have pleaded for your faith to be strong.”It’s a concept that cannot be fully grasped. Jesus pleading for Simon’s faith and our faith so we can be strong enough to withstand the attacks of the enemy.
Intercessory prayer for us from Jesus to the Father.
Satan wanted to take them down and Jesus said he pleaded… that is more than just prayer… it is an earnest prayer an intense powerful presentation of hope.
It also seems to be a prophecy of what was to come for Simon after the denial.
As we read further into the chapter it gives us the full report of how he did indeed deny Jesus.
vs 61. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
vs 62. And Peter left the courtyard weeping bitterly.
He realized that Jesus knew or heard or saw the denial.
Can you even imagine looking across the courtyard after saying, “NO I don’t know him” and then there is Jesus. Looking at you.
Simon was caught.
In the moment of denial when the pressure was on him. He rejected the one whom he passionately said he loved.
Your heart would hurt just as his did.
Simon wept bitterly because of a grief deep within him.
Lord, how could I do what I said I would not do?
I am sorry Lord. Forgive me… I don’t know my own heart.
I can’t believe I did what you said.
This was the repentance Jesus spoke of in the beginning.
Repenting and turning back to him so that Simon could be strength for the brothers later on.
When I read this it shows me how unstable we all are in our walk with God.
We may say…Lord I would die for you. But in reality would we?
One would hope so. But if the one who walked with him, talked with him, shared with him, ate with him, had a real friendship with him, could deny him not once but three times.
How can we be so confident in our own hearts?
I pray this to be a lesson for each of us.
That although we can fail the Lord miserably just as Simon did. He gives us a second chance. Later on he is given a powerful new name Peter and Jesus reinstates him into a position of leadership.
John 21:15-20
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him,”Follow me!”
I pray that this brings encouragement.
Jesus does not give up on us even when we commit the most evil sin.
For Simon to deny him and then for Jesus to return to him and say… “Please take care of those left behind. I am entrusting you with a responsibility. Take care of the ones whom I love.”
It shows me, Love, Acceptance and forgiveness.
How thankful are we as people to serve a God who doesn’t give up on us.
by Sharon O | Apr 8, 2010 | Uncategorized
Sometimes life’s moments come in and interrupts our day.
We get out the calendar and focus on our ‘to do’ lists for the week.
Planning menus and shopping trips, work days and play days, what we need to prepare to get it all done.
Then a child will get sick. Or we get sick. Or the dog gets sick.
Or the car won’t start.
Or …. you fill in the blank.
We all have had those times of frustrations and disrupting moments.
Interruptions can rearrange our agenda and goals.
My question for us is how flexible are we?
If I have a plan … and another need ‘is more pressing’.
Do I grasp it with enthusiasm and an earnest desire to do what needs to be done?
Or do I grumble and complain and gripe
and have a bad attitude?
I have to admit I am sure I have done both.
Jesus was interrupted.
Throughout the New Testament he always had others rearrange his day. People with needs would come to him for healing and for teaching.
He accepted the interruptions as a time for ministry.
He healed others when it was not convenient or acceptable in the laws of the people.
He performed miracles when others could not provide.
It was all for a purpose.
When he took the fish and bread and made so much that there were buckets of left overs. He was glorifying the Father.
Everything He did… gave glory to the Father.
So for us… how does that move into our lives?
Can we examine our hearts and ask how well we receive interruptions.
It is not about me. It is about who I serve.
It is not about my selfish need to get MY things done first.
It is about my friend who is hurting and needs time to talk.
It is not about my selfish need to have quiet time alone.
It is about the child who wants to come see grandma and have quality time together.
I pray this writing challenges us all to be more ready for interruptions.
For it might be ‘that’ phone call…that is life giving to a soul,
or that smile, or that note in the mail, or that email.
It is taking time for others.
It is taking time for God.
It is Praying without ceasing for the endless needs around us.
Lord may we be people who are willing to be rearranged for your purpose
so that we might be able to serve others with a cheerful heart.
by Sharon O | Apr 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
Luke 20:11
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, as she wept, she stooped to look in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” The angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord.” she replied. “And I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener,”Sir,” she said,”If you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go get him.”
“MARY!” JESUS SAID.
She turned to him and cried out. “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”.)
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said. “For I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them. I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
—————————–
WOW… can you even imagine?
Jesus. Saying your name.
He knew her, but she only recognized him after he said her name.
It is relationship.
It is a deep knowing.
Mary… I know you…and you know me.
She was grieving. She experienced his death. A terrible death on the cross.
Her tears wet, dripping down her face from a heart that was broken.
She was hopeless when she looked inside. For he was gone.
Then she saw them.
The two angels who spoke her language and she understood them.
Then she saw Jesus.
What a moment.
What a wonderful experience.
What a glorious reunion.
Go tell… my brothers so they will know too. Jesus said.
I am going to my Father.
He didn’t leave me or forsake me.
I am going to My God and Your God.
Easter is here.
by Sharon O | Apr 3, 2010 | Uncategorized
“[Jesus Again Predicts His Death] Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matthew 20:17-19 (NIV)
I imagine the disciples were listening.
Thinking that they would be a part of something big. To be observers of a significant moment, but not really realizing that this JESUS…
who they have been walking with, talking with, sharing a friendship with, sleeping alongside and sharing meals with…. would be the SON of Man.
They thought they would just go see something deeply moving to the soul.
A significant moment in time that they would be witnesses to.
Can you imagine for a minute…Jesus?
Knowing the cross and it’s terrible torture it holds for the accused.
It was something HE knew. HE KNEW. He knew.
I know a lady right now who is on hospice dying. She knows in her heart she is going to a better place.
Yet she doesn’t fully know the suffering that is ahead.
No one does till we are there in the reality of the moment.
Was it like that for Him? For Jesus.
He knew the task was ahead. That it was going to be hard and painful.
Yet he also knew it had to be done. He knew HE would win. He knew the final outcome.
He wasn’t always willing.
IN the garden he prayed….FATHER is there a different way?…
FATHER are you listening? Can you take it from me?
Silence answered HIS prayer. silence….. answered his prayer.
silence… answered his prayer.
Have you ever been in a a deeply silent moment?
Remember how empty it feels?
Today it rained.
It rained hard and it was cold.
The wind blowing in many directions.
I could see the ladies weeping at the foot of the cross.
Crying as tears mingled with rain falling down faces so filled with sorrow.
Weeping for a loved one.
Clinging to an old rugged cross with drops of
HIS blood dripping down. dripping down….dripping down….
In rain. In sorrow. IN DEEP DESPAIR. dripping down… mingled in rain…
Jesus… now bruised and battered.
Jesus SO loved and so hated in one afternoon.
The agony of death. The agony of ‘the FATHER rejecting the Son.’
The FATHER rejecting the SON. rejecting His SON….. rejecting… turning his back… from the son…who was so close to Him.
Father… why are you rejecting me…?
Daddy…… I need you……bring me comfort…
why are you rejecting me??
Haven’t we all felt rejection some time in our lives?
Father… I ask you to forgive them…
Do we have unforgiveness that needs to be dealt with?
Father Forgive them………Forgive them…..
For they know not what they are doing….
it is a pleading of the heart that is full of agony and pain and love and agony again.
JESUS. Our hope.
Jesus… our peace.
Jesus… our redeemer.
Can you imagine for a minute what it would have been like to have walked with him.
Talked with HIM. Eat with him. Laugh with him and experience the miracles that HE did.
When He prayed… he made demons flee.
When HE prayed it would bring chills down ones back.
Can you imagine the intimacy of prayer for HE knew the Father.
I wish I was one of them. For I know I would kneel at his feet.
I would WASH his feet as the lady did.
I would never leave.
I would weep at HIS DEATH. Just as they did.
I would grieve DEEPLY.
But I would also know… the ending to the story.
Although HE was beaten beyond his capacity.
HE was not defeated.
Sunday is coming.
by Sharon O | Mar 31, 2010 | Uncategorized
A follow up on my last writing.
If you want a reflective writing that stirs your heart and mind with many emotions this Easter week. Click onto the Holy Experience button on my recommended blogs to read. Awesome reading and I noticed she was the writer I borrowed a line from. (sure hope it was ok) Have your sound on. She has beautiful music too.
I pray we can encourage each other as we grow and mature in spiritual wisdom. Help us to have a heart for the Lord and a desire to be deeply committed to His love and His teachings.
