Loyalty is costly

Loyalty is costly.  John 13.33,36-38                                                              

Click to read         : http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013.33,36-38&version=NIV&interface=print                       

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer... Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”  Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”  Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”

Greetings ...

It is a night of revelation for the disciples.  They think they are just sitting down to share the Passover meal with the Lord, but much takes place that memorable night.  With no servant to wash the dirt from their feet, Jesus takes up the basin and towel and washes each of their feet.  He warns that someone will betray him—though they do not guess who it could be—even as Judas suddenly leaves after the warning. 

Our Lord’s head is full, as is his heart that night. 

He tenderly tells them he is about to leave them, but they do not understand.  Illustrated by Peter’s question, the disciples think Jesus is just going to another town, and Peter asks to follow.  In response, Jesus tells him he cannot go with him now, but later.  ‘But Lord, I want to be with you!  I want to be where you are—why, I would even die for you!’

Not so fast, Peter … Jesus warns that before the next day, he would deny him … The very Lord to whom he is pledging his troth, he, Peter would deny. 

Was Peter stupid?  Was he insincere about his fidelity to Jesus?  Not at all.  However, his loyalty seems to be limited to that which he understands.  Though Jesus warns that he is about to leave them, the disciples are not expecting him to be arrested!  That did not figure into their plan about how life is going to continue and their people to be rescued by the Messiah—arrested right before their eyes?! 

Here’s the question:  Christian, even when life throws a curveball, can we be loyal to Jesus?  And when we struggle to understand a precept from God’s Word or something about his ways, can we be loyal to who Jesus is, rather than what we would like him to be?  Loyalty ~ might be costly sometime … and it might be what is required …

Christine

 PstorWoman.com