Now that Judas has gone Jesus starts to speak intimately with the remaining disciples. Both the Father and the Son would be glorified. Jesus is referring to both the cross and the resurrection, the two go together. Together they were the most significant event in history. On the cross Jesus paid the price for all our sins, He broke the barrier between man and God. The resurrection showed that death had been conquered, and that new life had arrived.
This was something that only Jesus could do, the disciples could not follow Him at this point. No one else could pay the price that Jesus was about to pay. Yet what Jesus was about to do has a crucial lesson for our lives. We are to love each other as He has loved us. Ie we are to be ready to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. This self-giving love is a key part of our witness to the world.
Peter wanted to know more, and in particular why he could not follow Jesus on this journey. Jesus replied that although Peter could not follow now, he would do so later. This can be taken both as referring to life after death, but also to a life of sacrifice. Peter's response indicates that he clearly understood it to be the latter. Peter would indeed one day lay down his life for the Lord and live a life of sacrifice, but in the immediate future he would deny Jesus three times. We need the resurrection life in us to enable us to live the life that God desires. We need the cross and resurrection in order to be the people God wants us to be.
This was something that only Jesus could do, the disciples could not follow Him at this point. No one else could pay the price that Jesus was about to pay. Yet what Jesus was about to do has a crucial lesson for our lives. We are to love each other as He has loved us. Ie we are to be ready to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. This self-giving love is a key part of our witness to the world.
Peter wanted to know more, and in particular why he could not follow Jesus on this journey. Jesus replied that although Peter could not follow now, he would do so later. This can be taken both as referring to life after death, but also to a life of sacrifice. Peter's response indicates that he clearly understood it to be the latter. Peter would indeed one day lay down his life for the Lord and live a life of sacrifice, but in the immediate future he would deny Jesus three times. We need the resurrection life in us to enable us to live the life that God desires. We need the cross and resurrection in order to be the people God wants us to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment