The Spectre of Death.

Every morning I wake to this thought – “Amazing love, how can it be that thou my God should die for me?”

“Maybe it is especially amazing that the thought of love should be centred on the whole concept of death. However, consider this – after the curse I passed on the world, every human’s mind is focused, if not all the time, at least some of the time on death. Death is the greatest enemy to each one of you. That is why I chose to come and taste it, after that, pass through it opening the way to My glory through My resurrection. So as you focus on your reading today the spectre of death becomes greater and greater, but at the same time it is not the end – just as your death is not the end– rather see it as a gateway to glory – the golden light shines beyond the Gateway, lighting up My glory which you will share in.”

As we continue reading in John’s gospel we are immersed in the final climax as Jesus’s death looms larger and larger. Today, as we read John 18:12-27, I invite you to allow your imagination to take you into that scene. Feel the anticipation, the fear, the darkness still enveloping, the smell of terror and experience the violent antagonism. And most of all the additional loneliness as one by one all Jesus’s friends and followers desert Him and everyone around Him is focussed on doing Him the utmost harm, even to death.

As the officials take Jesus to Annas there is a verse which reminds us of the whole purpose of what is going on. It is slipped in, almost unseen, but should be a reminder to the reader of what this happening is all about. Vs 14 “ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for all the people.” His words, so prophetic were obviously meant in a different way by him, yet is a summary of what Jesus was going through.

Today’s section is dominated by the description of Peter’s denial. Jesus had warned him earlier, after he had insisted on his eternal allegiance, that he would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed (John 13:38). While much of the rest of what was happening is dealt with quite succinctly, the three denials of Peter are described in graphic detail.

Now I have heard a number of sermons where Peter is used as an example of unfaithfulness and desertion. However, I want to suggest that we should not be too hard on Peter. Firstly, Peter was the only disciple that did not run away completely. Why are the rest of the disciples not equally criticised? Secondly, may I respectfully ask you, dear reader, whether you too have not at some stage effectively denied your relationship and love of Christ? Maybe in a general discussion or even in a one on one conversation? The moment is there for you to speak up, but your courage just fails you in that instant.

Maybe we should see this denial in a broader picture. The intense pressure on the disciples with everyone turning on Jesus and the natural tendency of us humans to flee from that. The important thing is that the story does not end here. As much detail that is given here to Peter’s actions, the gospel will end with the restoration Jesus offers him, which is dealt with in just as much detail.

So even when we do drop Jesus by not speaking up at a specific time, He will not condemn us for that and will keep restoring us. Then, of course we are in a period of time when the Holy Spirit had not yet been given to the world, so Peter was operating in his own strength. Later He became the chief spokesman for the disciples for instance in Acts ch 2. And then tradition has it that he died by being crucified himself, asking to be done upside down because he did not want to take any of the glory of Christ’s death away from Him.

In the centre of this description of Peter’s denial, we return to the farce of a trial that Jesus is going through. As you read those verses 19-24, what is your instinctive reaction? The sense John is building is the extremely unfair way Jesus is being treated. Above all that He is completely innocent of the charges being put to Him. At the same time, His calm reaction to these accusers. It is so important that the reader not be confused into thinking that He deserved this punishment, because the whole gospel pivots on the fact of His innocence so that His death on our behalf could be effective.

I hope that as we read these last chapters in John’s gospel we will be captivated afresh by this amazing story about such an amazing love that He should die for you and I.

God bless till next week.