Matthew 26:31-35 | Zechariah 13:6-9 | Gospels in Lent Track: Matthew 4-6
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
It’s a song title, a phrase, an assumption. You can probably think of times when humans have certainly been capable of such resilience. But we also know that more often, various pressures related to fear win out. Especially when the risk seems to have little to no possibility of reward, humans will resort to the safest route possible.
But that’s the problem: humans rarely have the foresight to see beyond the difficulty.
Jesus knows the cross is coming, but he has faith beyond the risk.
As for Peter and the disciples? Who can blame them? But we can learn from their example.
Matthew 26:31-35
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Tonight you will all fall away because of me. This is because it is written, I will hit the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will go off in all directions. But after I’m raised up, I’ll go before you to Galilee.”
Peter replied, “If everyone else stumbles because of you, I’ll never stumble.”
Jesus said to him, “I assure you that, before the rooster crows tonight, you will deny me three times.”
Peter said, “Even if I must die alongside you, I won’t deny you.” All the disciples said the same thing.
Zechariah 13:6-9
Someone will say to him,
“What are these wounds between your hands?”
And he will say, “These happened when I was hit in my friends’ home.”
Sword, arise against my shepherd,
against the man responsible for my community, says the Lord of heavenly forces!
Strike the shepherd in order to scatter the flock!
I will turn my hand against the little ones.
Throughout all the land, says the Lord,
two-thirds will be cut off and die;
but one-third will be left in it.
I will put the third part into the fire.
I will refine them like one refines silver;
I will test them like one tests gold.
They will call on my name, and I will respond to them.
I will say, “They are my people.”
And they will say, “The Lord is our God.”
Prayer
God,
Thank you for this new day! For the promises of the sun rising, the spring forthcoming and all that comes with it: birds singing, shoots sprouting, buds growing, and warmth replacing the cold. This is good and we thank you.
As we move forward, give us the fortitude to live through the difficulties that may come our way. Help us see through the risk. Of course, if trying to do so is stupid, let us know! We also don’t want to be reckless. But do give us courage, Lord.
We offer our lives to you today.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.