#28 FORSAKEN

40 DAYS WITH JESUS

#28  FORSAKEN  "And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, for it is written, I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."  Peter said to Him , "Even though they all fall away, I will not."  And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I will tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."  But he said emphatically, "If I must die with You, I will not deny You."  And they all said the same."  Mark 14:27-31  "And after they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them.  And a certain servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, and looking intently at him, said, "This man was with Him too."  But he denied it, saying "Woman, I DO NOT KNOW HIM."  And a little later, another saw him and said, "You are one of them too!"  But Peter said, "MAN, I AM NOT"  And after about an hour had passed another man began to insist, saying "Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too."  But Peter said, "Man I DO NOT KNOW what you are talking about."  And immediately, while he was still speaking a cock crowed.  AND THE LORD TURNED AND LOOKED AT PETER.  And Peter remembered the word of the Lord how He had told him "Before a cock crows today, you will deny me three times.   And he went out and wept bitterly."  Luke 22:55-65 "He was despised and FORSAKEN of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;" Isaiah 53:3

Definition of FORSAKEN

 : abandon : forsake 

Jesus, You knew.   You knew that You would be FORSAKEN. Honestly, to me, this is one of the most piercing stories in all of the Bible.  It says JESUS TURNED AND LOOKED at Peter as he denied Him. Peter realized what he had done - but the words had already come out of his mouth.  You told Peter that he would deny You - and now Peter could see himself for who he really was.  A friend who would FORSAKE You in Your time of need.  Jesus, You can see right through to my heart.  You know that I will fail You - and yet this does not stop You from loving me.  Oh Jesus, how often I have failed You. How often I have FORSAKEN You. But that does not stop You from loving me.    You knew that Peter was going to deny You - and You know that I will fail You. But You still died for  for me. My love and forgiveness is not EARNED - it is a GIFT. (Eph. 2:8-9). You gave your life to pay for my sin - even though You were FORSAKEN. 

(How have you denied Him? Worship Jesus, who was FORSAKEN for you!)#7daypathwaytothecross