Introduction

Think back to Bible times and remember some of Jesus’ encounters with His disciples. Imagine what each one might have been thinking, feeling, experiencing…

Encounter #1: It was a hot, sultry afternoon in Palestine. Jesus and His disciples trudged along the path, weary from their journey. Soon, the disciples realized they were not alone. “Someone’s following us!” they hissed to one another. Looking back, they knew with one glimpse they wanted nothing to do with this person. They strode ahead, determined to ignore the woman running up behind them. Her eyes a silent plea for help, the woman came to Jesus, begging Him to listen and heal her daughter. The disciples couldn’t believe Jesus was talking to this Gentile—let alone helping her! He had spoken of love, saying, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34, 35). They still hadn’t understood…

Encounter #2: “What were you arguing about on the road?” Jesus tenderly asked His disciples. They looked at each other, embarrassed. The constant rivalry between them was a continuous ache. Their open animosity saddened His heart. When would they learn?

Encounter #3: Tears streamed down their faces as they saw their Master, Teacher, and best Friend of three years suffer the cruelest death imaginable. “Why? Why is He letting Himself go through this?” they questioned. “Where is the kingdom He was supposed to set up?” Jesus watched them in agony—not only from the physical pain He was experiencing. He had tried so hard to open their eyes, to help them see…

Sometime after the crucifixion of Jesus, Peter stared in shock at the scene in front of him. What was happening? Everything he had been taught his whole life rebelled at what he saw and heard. Peter had felt Jesus’ love, but until now he hadn’t fully understood what it meant to love others. Jesus was about to teach Peter something very important—something He had tried to show him all along.

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 610