Matthew 26:31 - 35
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me,for it is written:
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Question:
ReplyDeleteWhy did Jesus tell the disciples that they would fall away and why did Jesus tell Peter that he would disown Him?
http://www.scripturestudies.com/Vol15/O2/nt.html says:
ReplyDeleteDuring the evening and night of the Last Supper, Jesus was to spend His time in prayer at Gethsemane, to prepare for the suffering He was about to endure. Before that, Jesus wanted to apprise the disciples of the trials they would face, presumably so that they also would spend the time in prayer
The intimacy of the Last Supper is shortly to be replaced by disloyalty and cowardice
On this occasion, Jesus is very specific about the time of the suffering; it is “this very night.”
Jesus’ charge is serious; they would “fall away”. The Greek words here used suggest a forsaking of Christ, possibly even an apostasy or renunciation of one’s belief.
Jesus was certain this would occur. In fact, the isolation and forsaking of the Messiah during His sufferings was predicted in the Old Testament. Jesus cites one of the prophetic statements: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” (vs. 31, taken from Zech. 13:7).
By citing the prophecy of the “striking” and the “scattering”, Jesus is letting the disciples know that the horrible things that were about to occur, were to be all part of God’s plan, foreknown to Jesus Himself. “What the Lord knew by immediate prevision, He nevertheless connects with a prophetic word: partly for the sake of the disciples, partly on account of His relation to the law; and further to prove that the course of His suffering was not contrary to Old Testament predictions, but that the carnal notions of the Jews as to a Messiah exempt from suffering were in direct contradiction to the Old Testament” [Lange, 478]. “In laying out in advance much of the tragedy of the coming hours, [this passage] shows that Jesus is not a blind victim of fate but a voluntary sacrifice; and simultaneously He is preparing His disciples for their dark night of doubt” [Carson, 540].
To console them, Jesus lets the disciples know that all will end well: “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (vs. 32). Despite the predicted “falling away”, Jesus, in His grace and forgiveness, says that He will meet them after His death and resurrection.
The exactitude, and imminence of their Lord’s prediction of their “falling away” should have put the disciples on guard, and should have incited the disciples to prayer and deep reflection. Instead, they rejected that what Jesus prophesied would occur.
The specificity should have given Peter pause, and caused him to stop and reflect. Instead, Peter doubles down: “But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’” (vs. 35).