126. Monday after First Sunday in Lent.
The Lord’s truth is a shield and buckler.
Mark 14, 26-31. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
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Satan desired to sift them as wheat; but the Lord prayed for them, that their faith might not fail. Himself was strengthened by the scripture, and thereby he was their strength. The words of the prophet, “smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” (Zach. 13, 7), are to the Lord as a star shining in the darkness. That which was to happen was necessary; he is taken prisoner, and the disciples are offended; this is the burdensome, but right way, which he must go, in order that the world may be saved. By means of this word of prophecy the Lord here puts the devil to shame. The enemy desires to sift Peter and the others, that they may fall and remain down; but he is only permitted to sift them in such a way that they are purified; for Jesus does not only die, but rises again, and gathers them again; and through the comfort of the scriptures Jesus is able to explain this to them in advance, with the result that they are strengthened and do not wholly lose their faith under the heavy trial awaiting them. — How entirely incapable Peter and the others are of defending themselves against Satan! Peter loved the Lord, and knew in his own heart that he had this love. But he did not know how deceitful his heart was, nor how dangerous the confidence which he felt in his own love. Neither did he know how dark were to be the days which the Lord was approaching, nor the nature of the trials in which he himself was about to be sifted by Satan. He declares: “If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.” Peter; how little you know what the Lord is to suffer! To die with him, to go to that death which he is to taste; this would have been beyond the power of any man. Not even after the Pentecost would Peter have been able to do it; how much less, then, the Peter that now was. Was his declaration, then, mere lying and levity? By no means. He meant it in all seriousness; but for this very reason his example warns us most impressively against all reliance on self, and exhorts us most solemnly to walk in fear and trembling, and to put all our trust in the grace of God alone. None can by his own strength successfully resist any temptation; if the Lord did not sustain us, we would at once fall into the sin of unbelief, and deny our Savior. But his fidelity is unspeakably great. In the midst of his death agony and deepest distress he holds his protecting hand out over his self-willed disciples, and defends them. “Thou (mine enemy) hast thrust sore at me that I might fall; but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.” (Psalm 118, 13. 14. 16).
Lord Jesus, let me be found alway among them that are thine; and strengthen me, that nor shame, nor fear, nor unbelief, may hereafter cause me to deny thee. Amen.
Let me, till my latest breath,
Christ confess with constant meekness;
Let me faithful be till death,
Strong in him ’mid all my weakness;
Let me live in him, and die
Heir of mansions in the sky.