Peter watches Jesus being condemned and abused from a safe distance. While Jesus stands firm before false accusers, it takes only the questions of two servant girls and a few people to provoke Peter’s vehement denials. Earlier that night, Peter had insisted he would rather die with Jesus than desert Him, but when his loyalty was tested, his best intentions failed. - P152
Our faith is tested not only in hostile circumstances, but also in the mundane moments where living it out openly becomes inconvenient. Yet Jesus succeeded where we fail so that we might be restored and empowered to share and profess our faith again; just as Peter would do shortly after Jesus’ resurrection.- P152
The Christian life can be defined as a life of remembrance, but sometimeswe remember the wrong things. Like Peter, it is easy to focus only on oursin, on how we betrayed Jesus in our hearts, denying Him in momentsof trials and adversity. Such remembrance can bring grief and despair.
- P152
However, Passion Week calls us to remember more than our failures. Itreminds us that Jesus bore the cross to forgive and cleanse our sins. - P152
Whenwe recall our shortcomings, we must also remember that Jesus succeeded forour salvation. We rightly weep over our sins, but Jesus transforms our guiltinto tears of joy because what He has endured has secured our restoration.- P152
Jesus shows us a different way of journeying through Passion Week. Itbegins with remembering that He sustains us, as He instructed us to dowhen we take the bread and the cup. From remembrance flows vigilantprayer which allows us to recognize God‘s authority over all things. Jesus‘
suffering was not accidental; it fulfilled our redemption. - P153
Jesus is the meansof our confession and forgiveness. The best way to go through Passion Weekis by following Him in worship and prayerful remembrance. Only then canwe face our sins with the assurance of His grace and with an ever-presenthope and peace.- P153
Dear God, strengthen me to live out my faith in every place and circumstance. And when I fail, help me to look from my sin to Your unfailing grace. Thank You for Your love that restores me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.- P153
