I hope you never did to your mother what I did. You see, there was that period when, as a teenager, I didn’t want to be seen with her. I’d do anything to avoid, say, walking into a store at the same time. I don’t even remember why. And while I’m sure she understood at the time that it was just a phase, it still grieves me. Especially now. Because I’ve been in her place. I’m sure you know someone who’s been both betrayer and betrayed, too.
It also gives me some empathy for what Jesus must have gone through.
Remember the story about how Peter denied knowing Jesus? Jesus and the disciples are in Jerusalem, and they’re sharing their last meal together before Jesus gets arrested in what will lead His trial before a kangaroo court and His subsequent crucifixion. At that meal Jesus says that one of the twelve will betray Him, and Peter’s all like, “Not me! I’d never do that!” Famously, Jesus responds by telling Peter that he’ll do just that before the rooster crows in the morning.
And you know how that goes. After Jesus is arrested, Peter follows at a distance and, while he’s waiting outside somebody fingers him as an associate – to which he vehemently objects.
More than one of the gospel accounts shares this story, but I’ve always been intrigued by Luke’s version. After Peter does, in fact, deny knowing Jesus the third time, Luke writes that “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”
Can you imagine that moment of eye contact? Jesus wouldn’t have to say anything. I imagine the look on His face said it all. He understood, but that wouldn’t lessen the pain of rejection.
And then there’s Peter, who realizes that he just betrayed the best friend any human could possibly have who, oh, just happens to be Lord of the universe. And as Luke records, he wept bitterly at having so, utterly failed.
I’ve done that – not just to my mom, but to Jesus, too. And it’s pretty sobering to think about Jesus’ own words that Luke captured a couple chapters earlier:
9:23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 9:25 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26, NET)
Jesus didn’t show up on the scene on Christmas morning expecting anything else. In fact, quite the opposite. He is fully God, and He knew that our rejection of Him was so utterly complete that the rescue mission would have to be all His work. But He’s fully human, too, and that means He can totally relate to the pain that you feel. There’s nothing you could feel that He hasn’t been through even more.
How about you? Maybe you’ve felt the sting of rejection. Or maybe you’ve been the one who just caught the glance of a friend who you betrayed, only to realize that you just stuck a knife in the back of someone who really loves you.
Jesus understands. He says, “I knew you would, but I’ve got you covered. I love you. I always have, I always will. Don’t be afraid. I took care of that on the cross, too. Now go and do likewise.”
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in communications, an award-winning author and speaker, and a passionately bad guitarist. ForTheHope equips on-the-go professionals with biblical principles to engage marketplace relationships with competent humility. On Twitter can follow him @RogerCourville and/or his podcast @JoinForTheHope, or get all updates by email subscription at www.forthehope.org.