A Time of Testing...

Our clothing shops all have fitting rooms. So the "try-before-you-buy" principle is well established in our society. Some have tried to apply the principle to relationships as well, insisting that "living together" is the only the be sure you will be able to make a happy and lasting marriage. But it doesn't work that way - hence the saying that "marriage spoils a good relationship." In reality, the relationship before marriage has spoilt the marriage. A life-long commitment provides the best possible basis for successful marriage - a principle that carries over into other societal relationships as well.

The Twelve

Jesus had called twelve disciples to follow him. What a mixed bunch they were! Peter, Andrew, James and John had been successful fishermen. Peter was rather impulsive and short-tempered. James and John got the nickname "sons of thunder." Then there were Philip and Bartholomew. We don't know much about them. It is possible that the latter was also known as Nathanael - the Bible scholar who was very sceptical at first. Matthew had the dubious reputation of having worked for the Romans as a tax-collector. Thomas seemed to miss the point again and again. Then there was James the son of Alphaeus - but we know next to nothing about either father or son. Simon the Zealot had been part of the Jewish underground resistance movement. There was a Judas the son (or possibly brother) of James - but it's not clear which James. And Judas Iscariot - the man from Kerioth who looked after the money bag and was suspected of dipping into it for personal profit.

Not only had they come from different backgrounds - but significant personality differences were still evident after three years together with Jesus.

But Jesus doesn't call people "on appro." The call was definite and specific. Following Jesus wasn't a temporary matter - the call was for life. In Matthew 26, Jesus was again speaking specifically to them - "As you know, the Passover is two days away - and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified" (v. 2). What would their response be?

The Perfume

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (vv. 6-13)

Simon	It's a bit late now!
Bartholomew	What do you mean?
Simon	It's no use - it's spilled!
Bartholomew	Yes, and...?
Simon	Remember that rich young ruler?
Bartholomew	I get you! He was told to sell all he had and to give it to the poor!
Simon	This woman should have done that too!
Bartholomew	But it's too late - just like you said...
Simon	Jesus has to be consistent!

Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot - went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (vv. 14-16)

Surely not I, Lord?

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." (vv. 20-25)
Surely not, Lord!

Follow, follow, follow Jesus -
all the way I'll follow him!
Hear him teaching,
see him healing -
surely Christ the Son of God!

Someone here will soon betray you?
Surely not, Lord! No one here!
You can trust us
to be with you -
you are Christ the Son of God!

Follow, follow, follow Jesus -
all the way I'll follow him!
Hear him teaching,
see him healing -
surely Christ the Son of God!

People out there want to kill you?
Surely not, Lord! Not out there
when the people
really know you
as the Christ the Son of God!

Follow, follow, follow Jesus -
all the way I'll follow him!
Never killing,
only thrilling
to the Christ the Son of God!

Who is he who will betray you,
or deny you, or forsake you?
Who is he...
or is it me?
Surely not, Lord! Is it me?

For them all, the issue of betrayal, denial and forsaking Jesus would force them to reconsider what it meant to follow Jesus. Not one of them would follow him to the cross - at least not yet, and not that cross. There was something unique in his dying. It was for them in a profound way that they could never understand until they had denied, forsaken - and been restored.

As You Will, Father

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" (vv. 36-46)
Gethsemane

He came
to do the Father's will,
yet still
he faced
the pain and shame
and killing
of his mortal frame.

This cup
he'd come to drink -
uniquely his
since e'er the fall
of humankind.

To die is human.
But to die
for all of human sin
is for the one
both human
and divine.

No weightier load
could break the power
of sin and death.

My Father,
there is no other way!
I'll drink the cup -
your will be done!

The call to follow Jesus seemed so simple, appealing and challenging. How can this lot truly engage the will of the Father - and truly live that will?

They do not understand it yet. But this can only be as Jesus takes the cup of suffering and death. Following Jesus may well lead them to a martyr's death, but not to this daunting Redeemer's death which Jesus is now facing for them and for all humankind. He had asked their human support and comfort, and they had failed him.

The Betrayal

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (vv. 47-56)

Betrayed by the sign of friendship, Jesus refused either an earthly sword or a heavenly army in his defence. He has accepted the cup of suffering and death - the cup of the divine wrath against sin - he moves and acts out of commitment to the Father and commitment to fallen humanity. Betrayal by Judas and desertion by the rest of them is the beginning of his path of suffering.

The Denial

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome...
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.
But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."
He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."
Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. (vv. 57-58, 69-75)
Have Mercy!

Dear Friend,
I sensed
the stabbing pain
of the betrayer's kiss -
the sign of love
that condemned you.

And here am I -
so sure and strong -
I said
I didn't know you!

And it was true
in a way -
I don't understand
your love
that healed the ear
of one
who meant you harm!

I didn't know you,
nor did I know myself!
And yet my life
is bound up with you,
and in denying you
I have denied
myself.

I cannot undo
my frightened words,
and now you go
the way of wicked
wilful
human whim.

Or can it be
the Father's will?
Lord, have mercy!
Have mercy on me!

Judas had now fulfilled the words of David, "Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Ps. 41.9). But had the others been "protected", "kept safe"? They had failed, but God's grace is for failures, God's forgiveness is for those who sin.

As we noted before: For them all, the issue of betrayal, denial and forsaking Jesus would force them to reconsider what it meant to follow Jesus. Not one of them would follow him to the cross - at least not yet, and not that cross. There was something unique in his dying. It was for them in a profound way that they could never understand until they had denied, forsaken - and been restored.

What about us? What are the points at which we betray him, deny we know him or even forsake him? Jesus loves us! He didn't call us "on appro" - to withdraw from us if we didn't suit him. Our betrayals, denials and forsaking aren't the end of the road in our relationship with Jesus. He died for us! Accept his forgiveness! Receive his grace!

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