While in the upper chamber, just previous to his betrayal, Jesus poured forth the burden of his soul in words of comfort, of counsel, and of prayer which would ever remain imprinted on the hearts and minds of his disciples. But throughout his whole discourse, he made no mournful allusion to his own sufferings and death. The Shepherd knows he will be smitten, that the rod lifted in his Father's hand will fall heavily upon him because of the law transgressed, but he thinks only of his followers. His heart of tenderest love is ever seeking to cheer them, and to prepare them for their disappointment and his absence. Looking around upon the little flock so soon to be left without a shepherd, he tenderly said: “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
(ST November 4, 1897, 1)
Christ longed to have his disciples understand the privileges and advantages coming to them through his death upon the cross. If they had heeded these last lessons, what instruction they would have received! One who loved them was seeking to give them special instruction. He was thinking of them, praying for them. His eye read every phase of their experience during the terrible ordeal through which he was about to pass. O, if they could have looked into that heart of infinite love! If they could only have seen how sorry he was for them! Had they known more of Jesus, more of the deceptions of the human heart; if they could have known of the sorrow of Christ's heart, that the Shepherd was to be smitten and his sheep scattered; had they but comprehended that he was to gather them again, to speak to them with comforting assurance, they would have known more what his great sacrifice meant.
(ST November 4, 1897, 2)
The last supper ended, Christ bent his steps toward the place of his severest suffering in humanity. Jesus had often resorted to Gethsemane with his disciples for meditation and prayer; but never before had he visited the spot with a heart so full of sorrow. In tones of deepest anguish he addressed his disciples: “All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”
(ST November 4, 1897, 3)
The period that is to answer to the prophetic past has come, and Jesus takes his disciples over the terrible scenes about to be enacted. He speaks of their scattering and forsaking him at the very time when he most needs their sympathy and their prayers. But he does not allow this thought of sadness to leave a depressing gloom upon them. He wants their hearts to know no fear, but to trust in him. He revives them with hope, assuring them that he will break the fetters of the tomb. “After I am risen,” he says, “I will go before you into Galilee.”
(ST November 4, 1897, 4)
But now Peter feels that he must speak, and assure his Master that he will never be guilty of forsaking his Lord. “Tho all men should be offended because of thee,” he says, “yet will I never be offended.”
(ST November 4, 1897, 5)
Peter did not realize that in this very assertion he was refusing caution and reproof from Christ. The time had come when silence was eloquence, when to think in quietness was far better than any speech he could have made. But Peter knew so little of his own heart that he denied the truthfulness of Christ's statement.
(ST November 4, 1897, 6)
In answer Jesus said, “Verily I say unto thee, that this night before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Jesus could see the future. He could read even the thoughts of the heart. He knew that Peter's first denial would not stop there. His first denial would give occasion to deny again, and the second brought circumstances in its train to lead him to deny the third time, and that with cursing and swearing.
(ST November 4, 1897, 7)
On one occasion Christ had declared to his hearers: “Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that heareth me, even he shall live by me.” These words were spoken to test them; and when they heard them, many of his disciples said among themselves, “This is an hard saying, who can hear it?” The spiritual perception of these followers could not grasp Christ's words, and “from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Turning to the twelve, Jesus said, “Will ye also go away?” But Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
(ST November 4, 1897, 8)
What honor Peter might have done his Lord had he received his words. When tempted to deny his Lord it was his privilege to solicit Christ's help as earnestly as when, ready to sink beneath the tempestuous waves, he cried, “Lord, save, or I perish.” Then his cry for help brought him a hand that grasped his own; and now, had he said: “Lord, I receive thy word; altho I can not see that it is possible. I love thee, but I do not know myself; and I ask thee to save me from denying thee, whom I so love,” Christ would have saved him from himself. He would have asked for him help of his heavenly Father. He would have prayed that Peter might have been made watchful over his temper, vigilant when most strongly assailed by the enemy, wide-awake to Satan's wily assaults. Then how watchful Peter would have been to maintain his loyalty to Christ! While others might deny their Lord, he would have remained steadfast. He would have listened silently, and learned of Jesus how to conduct himself under charges and provocation, and in the darkest hour. Then he would have come close to the Saviour, and would have done honor to Christ.
(ST November 4, 1897, 9)
But he proved unfaithful, unworthy of being the depository of the rich treasure of God's grace. At this time Peter should have been examining himself. How distrustful of self should he have been! But he refused to admit that the picture presented before him was correct, and in the place of inviting research, altho the Holy Spirit of God had revealed to him the character he would manifest under test and trial, he refused to accept it.
(ST November 4, 1897, 10)
Peter should have taken it for granted that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. He should have humbled his heart, and asked for special grace that this thing might not be. But this opportunity presented to him he lost by not heeding or believing the warning given. In a most decided manner he declared, “Tho I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.” Peter was thoroughly honest in this assertion, but he was not half as wise as he thought himself to be. He was ignorant of himself. He did not realize his own weakness. He needed a distrust of self, and deeper views of God. If he had humbled his soul before God, in the place of denying the searching and reading of his inmost soul, he would have said with the prophet, “Woe is me; for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips.”
(ST November 4, 1897, 11)
And so it is today. The reason why so many of Christ's professed disciples fall into grievous temptation, and make work for repentance, is that they are deficient in a knowledge of themselves. Here is where Peter was so thoroughly sifted by the enemy. Here is where thousands will make shipwreck of faith. But, altho we may have temptations, altho we may be beset by the wily foe, yet if we have the fear of God before us, angels that excel in strength will be sent to our help, and we shall be more than a match for the powers of darkness. Jesus lives. He died to make a way of escape for a fallen race, and he lives today to make intercession for us. As we travel in the narrow way, and have to contend with principalities and powers and meet the opposition of foes, we should bear in mind that provision has been made for us. Help has been laid upon One that is mighty, and through him we may conquer.
(ST November 4, 1897, 12)