“…You will all fall away, because it is written…”
Mark 14:27
Jesus states, “You will all fall away, because it is written….” Peter strenuously objects, as do all the disciples. Nevertheless, as it is written so shall it come to pass. As much as Peter does not like it – and at the moment when he hears it he cannot conceive of it – he will, with all certainty, deny his Lord. It is impossible for it not to happen. It is written – it is in print, the ink has dried. Peter’s refusals and denials do not change the fact. It was ordained by God and recorded in His word. “I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.”
Oh, my soul, be sobered and encouraged. God Himself ordained in writing Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, and His denial by Peter. Yet God’s pre-design of my own sinful failures, betrayals, and denials removes none of my culpability. Nor does it lessen the “punch in the gut” impact of sorrow and shame that comes from my own sin. God can write beforehand that I will be a sinner and that I will sin. He knows and permits every detail of every sin I have ever committed, or will commit. And woe to me when I sin, it is to my awful shame when I dishonor my God.
But be encouraged, O my soul, because God has a superior pre-ordained purpose for permitting my sin – that is Christ, and the blood of His covenant. Those for whom Jesus died have perfect hope that we will be able to stand in the presence of His glory and not be destroyed for our sins. Unlike Judas who was ordained to eternal destruction – rather, like Peter, I have been ordained to repent, be restored, and receive eternal forgiveness. It has pleased our merciful God to lay my sins on Him and cure me of an eternally fatal disease. God’s glory displayed in such mercy is the only way I can understand how God would be willing that sins, such as those that brought Christ to the cross, and mine that dishonor Him daily, should exist. And in my own turning to His mercy, crying out for it in the light of my sinfulness, I discover why God allows, even pre-ordains my sins. If God writes my sins down in a book before they happen, my shame and my disgust of them is no less. Yet in the forgiveness of my sins my self-disgust can turn to Christ’s praise. O Lord, in view of such redemption I see that my terrible sins ultimately exist for your glory as mercy is displayed in and through the blood of Christ.
Lord I do not like the fact that, unless I die quickly, there remain sins that I will commit. Right now I want to cry out like Peter “Never! Even if I have to die with you I will not deny you.” Yet I humbly acknowledge my sin and accept with all the corresponding shame my inclinations toward sin. Keep me, O Lord, and preserve me – make me holy. In your preserving, sanctifying work, help me always confess every sin with sorrow and disgrace – yet also and even more, rejoice that in your mercy you have appointed Christ for my forgiveness and that I have been, and will be, cleansed by his blood. Be glorified in your mercy. In Jesus name. Amen.
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