Title: The Suffering Lord (Matthew 26:69-75)
The suffering Lord (Matthew 26:69-75)
The story of today's text is a very famous event that all four Gospels tell about. In other words, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Just before today's text, when Jesus was arrested by Caiaphas the high priest, people spit on Jesus in the face, beat him with their fists, and beat him with their palms, saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one who struck you?" and harassed him (Matthew 26:67-68). Jesus did not respond to this, but the events that immediately followed, namely, Peter's three times denial that he did not know Jesus as today's text shows, is silently proving that his prophecy had come true. Because Jesus had prophesied earlier, "Even if all of them forsake you, I will never forsake you" when he promised, "I tell you the truth, tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times" (Matthew 26: 33-34).
However, the climax of the history of all these betrayals was the betrayal of Peter seen in today's text. This is because he is a disciple who has received a lot of love and trust. It was because he was the one who always pledged his faith and loyalty to the Lord. His betrayal and disloyalty must have inflicted not only pain on Jesus, but also a tremendous sense of human disappointment. It is a feeling of disappointment to see all the sharing and teachings of three years of life turned out to be in vain. Not only Peter, but all the disciples forsook Him and suffered the heartache of being scattered. Jesus had to be put on top of His disorganized body.
This Lent, and this Palm Sunday, we will have to look back on ourselves. Aren't we the ones who once enthusiastically cheered and cheered for the Lord and soon turned into crucifiers? Aren't we under the overflowing grace, receiving all kinds of love, yet forsaking the Lord and scattered? Are we not afraid and trembling in front of the trivial powers of this world, denying the Lord and preparing to flee? Jesus told his disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross if they want to follow him, but aren't they living a life of betrayal and disloyalty in which they deny themselves, deny the Lord, do not take up their cross, but crucify the Lord again? We must not become the ones who give the Lord the pain of being betrayed and denied. It must be us who have already brought such suffering to the Lord in abundance. Now, we must be the ones who vow not to live such a life of betrayal anymore. It should be our life that welcomes the Lord with thanks, joy, and loyalty.