Trust me

“Really Peter? You’ll lay down your life for me? Actually, you’ll betray me three times before morning.  Don’t let it get to you. Trust God- and trust me as well.  I’m making a way for us to be together forever.”

I’ve missed this my whole life. It takes nothing away from the beauty of this passage used so often at funerals, but an entire layer of depth is added, when you read past the chapter division.

This is an emotional time for Jesus, scriptures say. He knows Judas is in the middle of bargaining for his life, and he knows the turmoil he is going to have to endure. And Jesus knows his friends will run away, but he wants to make sure that they know they can come back.

How have I missed this? “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” “Don’t let it throw you.” Jesus says this immediately following his prediction of Peter’s betrayal. His love overwhelms his sorrow, and he wants to make sure his friends hear this- I know you will betray me but I am making a way for us to be together forever anyway.  Trust me.

How precious were these words to the disciples later on, when their spirits were in danger of being crushed by their own cowardice and unfaithfulness? How much did these words add to their love for Jesus, and their understanding of his love for them?

Children, we betray Jesus too.  We forget him, we deny him, we fail to obey or trust him.   But, like Peter and Thomas, we have to keep coming back to him because- well, where else would we go? And he keeps welcoming us back, because he loves us. He understands us, and he loves us anyway.

Father, once again I am overwhelmed by your love for us.  You know we are weak, you know our faithlessness, and yet you love us anyway.  Thank you for this beautiful picture of a home prepared for us all, where your faithfulness conquers our failings, and your love overcomes our sin.  I pray that as these children I love would not be thrown by their own betrayal and sin, but would turn to you in trust and believe that your love endures. Father, we anticipate with joy and hope the time we will all be together forever in the home you are preparing. #prayersformychildren