The New Covenant

Receive Hope, Receive Him Written By: Bekah Rooker

Matthew 26:31-35

English Standard Version

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus told His disciples that they would fall away? Why did he tell Peter about the rooster crowing after his denial? May I submit to you that it was to give them HOPE in the midst of the hardest time of their lives. 

Let’s take a deeper look: 

Judas has already left to complete his betrayal. They’ve eaten the Passover meal and He has served them Communion or the LORD’S supper. They sang a hymn and got up from there to the Mount of Olives.

 It is here where He begins to prophesy or show them things that would take place in just a few hours from then. “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  Jesus knew not only because He was God but because it had been prophesied before in Zech 13:7. 

Then Peter lets it be known that he would NEVER fall away. Jesus then gets more specific and lets Peter know exactly what will happen for him. He didn’t start out with that but again I believe it was to show Peter later that Jesus knew it was coming. 

Many times I have been on the other side of a warning and have been filled with shame and anger. Shame because I messed up and angry because I knew better or I could have…should have…etc… The rooster crows and it signals a wake up of one downward spiral and it can lead into another if I don’t catch myself. 

Sometimes I wonder why if Jesus knew Peter and the gang were going to deny Him why didn’t He tell them not to or why tell them at all? 

I believe that He told them because He wanted them to know first of all that it was going to happen but secondly that He KNEW it was going to happen. Not in a prideful way. That is not how Jesus operates at all. It is for YOUR betterment that He shows you what will come. For you to be prepared. 

There was actually little time for the Jesus followers to prepare that night but  I’m sure His words stung in their hearts as the terrible evening unfolded. Yet He still wanted them to know. To remember…

It wasn’t just that Jesus was aware that they would all scatter and deny Him but He gave them a promise in the middle of His warning. Vr 32 “ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”  After I am raised up…what a minute?!? If what He said about the disciples scattering and Peter denying Him is true then this MUST be true also. He will be raised up and waiting for them in Galilee. That was the silver lining. That was the part of the warning or knowing about the rejection Christ would receive. But Jesus knew and Jesus FORGAVE them before they did it. He was going to be waiting for them. They did not see the full reason for His death until they experienced the resurrection and even then Peter did not feel released from His guilt until he met up with Jesus in Galilee. 

For us today, we need to understand that Him knowing about what we will do wrong and hard times that befall us, is not a negative thing. In fact, all that I have ever done or will do right or wrong is under the blood of Jesus. He cleansed me from all the stains of sin. He also has forgiven me from all I have done and all I will do. He is waiting…He wants us to come to Him no matter how guilty we feel. No matter the ways we feel we have let Him down or caused Him embarrassment, He is still waiting….receive that hope. Receive Him.