Mark 14:27-31
27 “You will all turn away,” Jesus told the disciples. “It is written,
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd down.
Then the sheep will be scattered.’ (Zechariah 13:7)
28 But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter said, “All the others may turn away. But I will not.”
30 “What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “It will happen today, in fact tonight. Before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will say three times that you don’t know me.”
31 But Peter would not give in. He said, “I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don’t know you.” And all the others said the same thing.
For the Adults
Its easy to get on Peter and the fair-weather disciples, but we might be able to cut them some slack by imagining the great loss they were about to face. Jesus was their strong leader, an amazing teacher, and a close friend. One time, on a camping trip, the president of our organization was leading us on a hike wading waste deep through a river. We kept a close eye out as there were snakes all around the banks of the river. For some reason, the snakes, in what looked like a coordinated movement, all dove into the water at the same time. We cried out, “Mark, what do we do?” Our fearless leader responded, “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting out of here.”
The point of that silly story is that in fearful times when we don’t know what to do, we look to our leaders. The disciples were about to lose their leader. Without Jesus, they didn’t know what to do. Their world was crumbling around them. Their faith was tested. And like many times before, they failed. Yet, it could be easy to miss the positive part of Jesus’ prediction: He says he will meet them in Galilee! They will fall away, but Jesus has already made plans to forgive them!
These guys who had spent so much time with Jesus didn’t really understand who Jesus was or what that meant. They thought they understood; they talked a big talk; but when times got tough, they fell away anyway. But Jesus didn’t just restore his relationship with them, he met them in Galilee to send them on a mission to further the Kingdom of God here on earth! That’s good news for the pastor who occasionally forgets to spend time reading the Bible with his kids, the teacher who has trouble making Wednesday night Bible Studies because of papers to grade and the business person who takes their only day off on Sunday to rest at home instead of go to church. It’s good news for anyone who has failed to keep God first in their life. There was grace, forgiveness and restoration for the disciples, and when we fall away, it is there for you and me too!
For the Kids
Enter:
What was your favorite part of the weekend?
What was your least favorite part of the weekend?
Where did you see God moving this weekend?
Hear:
Read the passage.
Pause:
Sit still and meditate on the passage. What might God be saying to you?
Wonder:
What is interesting about this passage?
Do you think the disciples are going to fall away? Why or why not?
How might this passage apply to our lives?
Bless:
Recall the things children brought up as you pray.
Example: Thank you for your grace and forgiveness. Thank you that you forgave your disciples for making mistakes. Thank you for the reminder that I can be forgiven and I can forgive others. Help me to forgive others who have done wrong to me.
Don’t forget to send in videos of your kiddos saying Proverbs 3:5-6 by this evening so they can make it into the Treehouse Club Episode 3.