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“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”
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own thoughts. As they began to descend toward the mount, Jesus
said, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is
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written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be
scattered abroad.”
Matthew 26:31
. In the upper chamber Jesus had
said that one of the twelve would betray Him and that Peter would
deny Him. But now His words include them all.
Peter’s Buried Sin
Now Peter’s voice was heard, protesting, “Although all shall be
offended, yet will not I.” Jesus had warned him that he would that
very night deny his Saviour. Now He repeated the warning: “Verily
I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow
twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” But Peter only “spake the more
vehemently, If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any
wise. Likewise also said they all.”
Mark 14:29-31
.
When Peter said he would follow his Lord to prison and to death,
he meant every word of it, but he did not know himself. Hidden in
his heart were elements of evil that circumstances would fan into
life. Unless he was made conscious of his danger, these would prove
his eternal ruin. The Saviour saw in him a self-love that would
overbear even his love for Christ. Peter needed to distrust himself
and to have a deeper faith in Christ. When on the Sea of Galilee he
was about to sink, he cried, “Lord, save me.” So now if he had cried,
Save me from myself, he would have been kept. But Peter thought
it cruel that he was distrusted, and he became more persistent in his
self-confidence.
Jesus could not save His disciples from the trial, but He did not
leave them comfortless. Before the denial, they had the assurance of
forgiveness. After His death and resurrection, they knew they were
forgiven and were dear to the heart of Christ.
Jesus and the disciples were on the way to Gethsemane, at the
foot of Mount Olivet. The moon was shining brightly and revealed to
Him a flourishing grapevine. Drawing the attention of His disciples
to it, Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” The vine with its clinging
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tendrils represents Himself. The palm tree, the cedar, and the oak
stand alone; they require no support. But the vine entwines about the
trellis, and thus climbs heavenward. So Christ in His humanity was