The Betrayer, the Accuser, and the Denier...

Mark 11:4-11

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Mark 14:17-21

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.” They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?” “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with 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.”

Luke 22:34

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Greetings my beloved!

I hope you are having a fabulous week! The week is almost over, and it puts us that much closer for us to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord in Savior. As Passover approaches, followed by Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, I can't help but think of the Father's love. Yes, the Father loved us so much that He gave us His only son. And what do we give in return? I love the story of Palm Sunday - can you just imagine the energy in the city as people heard that Jesus was coming to town. They had heard about all of the marvelous things he had done, and couldn't wait to see Him. The joy and excitement carried over, as they shouted, “Hosanna,” welcoming Jesus into the town. Can you recall when you first met Jesus? Did you have so much joy and excitement that you couldn't wait to learn more about Him? How do you think the disciples felt when they first met Jesus? They dropped everything to follow Him. So, you can imagine how they felt when Jesus said one of them would betray Him. How do you think Jesus felt that the same people that welcomed Him will be the very ones that order Him to death to fulfill the prophecy? How do you think He felt knowing that one of His closest of friends would betray Him, and yet another deny His very existence. Let's see what the scriptures say:

Mark 14:43-46

Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him.

Mark 14:66-72

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Mark 15:6-15

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Do you still feel the same excitement for the Lord, as you did when you first met Him, or have you fell in a comfort level? Spend a moment to seek inwardly. Have you been the betrayer, the denier, or the accuser? Have you allowed sin to enter into your life, and even after confessing that sin, continue in it? Do you ever wonder if you really meant it when you sought forgiveness? Doesn't the Lord deserve so much more - more than Sunday Morning Christians? Let's look for transformation in our lives - transformation should go beyond our salvation experience. We should continually be transformed to the renewing of our minds: Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Why do we, as Christians, turn so quickly to the world's way of thinking? Or how come we get so upset when the world doesn't think the way we do? Is it perhaps that we haven't allowed God to transform our minds? Let's live beyond our worldly way of thinking. If we keep falling to the way of sin, is it because we haven't allowed God to transform our mind? Repentance only comes from God, so maybe just maybe; the only way to live out true repentance is through God. How do we do that? We do that by allowing God to transform us from the inside out. The beauty of our salvation does not end the day you accept Christ into your life - that is just the beginning. Seek God out to receive a new transformation today. That way, we no longer have to fall prey to the betrayer, denier, or accuser - we can be the victorious over-comers that the Bible talks about.

Blessings!
-Christina