“And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” – Matthew 11:6

John the baptist lands in prison. Not exactly the platform he had envisioned when God put it in His heart to take up public speaking. God gave him a message to preach, and now he could only share it with the rats and cockroaches. Not the destiny any preacher would choose. From his prison cell, the thought crosses his mind… “did I miss it?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. – Matthew 11:4-5

Judas, one of Jesus’ hand-picked inner circle is going along pretty well. One day the whole bunch of them are invited to the home of a prominent local leader. It feels so–right–to be on this path to promotion. It’s about time, too. So much of Jesus’ time is spent with the down and out–the wrong side of the tracks–the broken people. Now it looks like we’re getting somewhere, finally moving up.

Then it hits him. “That smell! What is it? It’s overwhelming. Fragrant? Pungent?” He sees her. “What is she doing here? I thought we were moving away from her–from them–from that kind of person. Doesn’t Jesus sees what this will do to His reputation? If Simon and his prominent guests see this display of waste–such waste–what will they think? How can she just throw all that perfume…all that value…all that potential income down the drain? Why doesn’t He stop her?”

Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” – John 12:7-8

Peter drew his sword. “I said I’d die with Him and I meant it! If it means prison, the stocks, even death, I’m in. I’ll defend Him no matter what. I’ll fight to make Him king, even if I never see Him on the throne. Some things are worth dying for!”

Off comes Malchus’ ear, dropping to into the dew moist dust.

So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” – John 18:11

Peter stumbled back in stunned silence and watched as Jesus just surrendered. “He knows they want to kill Him. We’ve talked about this, staying out of the middle of town, waiting for His time. He even said it tonight, when He sent us to ready dinner.

And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”‘” – Matthew 26:18

“He told us to bring the swords to the garden. Now they’re just taking Him away, without a struggle? This isn’t the path to the throne, it’s the path to the dungeons.

“From the day I met Him, I was convinced He was the One, the Messiah. That sense grew stronger with every miracle, with every message.” These memories flooded Peter, as he followed as far back as he could and still see where they were taking Jesus.

“What was all that about My kingdom this, and My kingdom that. We’ve been dreaming of sitting in his court. Is He just another pretender? Another zealot, bait for the hungry prisons of Rome? What was I thinking? Did I have it all wrong?

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”

But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”

A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.”

Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. – Matthew 26:69-75

Offense

To cause a person to feel hurt or anger
To cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey
To cause to fall away

These three men faced a trial of their faith as they watched Jesus walk in the path set before Him. Each one started out sincere, I believe. Of course, I can’t prove it with Judas, but we know for sure John the Baptist and Peter were the real deal. Yet each faced times when they pulled back when they wondered if they had missed the boat with Jesus.

They heard the voice of the enemy… “how could this be the One?”

They all had a clear path in mind. Today we might call it a dream, or a vision–a life plan. Maybe it was about their own comfort, their own influence, or maybe it was about seeing Jesus where He belonged–in charge.

They all were disappointed. Saw their plans crumbling before them. Watched as Jesus didn’t fulfill their visions, didn’t answer their prayers, didn’t “come through” the way the expected.

Each one of them was offended.

John never left that prison.

Judas walked away and soon thereafter killed himself.

Peter walked some dark and lonely days, angry, sad and broken.

Mary and Martha faced it when their brother died in John 11.

We all will have our faith tried.

There are times in every believer’s walk when they stand before facts that just don’t line up with what they believe God said, or with the way they read this or that passage. There will be a day in your walk of faith when circumstances scream “it’s all a lie! All a hoax! You’re a fool to believe!”

Blessing awaits the one who is not offended with Jesus.

Hold on!

Know that God is good, even when everything else in the world seems to say otherwise.

Know that Jesus is the One, even when every sign you pass on the road says run away.

Hold on!

Thanks for reading

Walk in the light

Ben