“…Peter denied again; and just then a cock crew.”
(John 18:27).
“Let us not give up meeting
together…..” (Hebrews 10:25).
"...Pierre le nia de nouveau, et aussitôt, un coq se mit à chanter." Jean 18:27
Ne prenons pas, comme certains, l'habitude de délaisser nos réunions... Hébreux 10:25
Both
the gospel passage and the section from the Letter to the Hebrews talk about
abandonment and desertion of both our faith and our Saviour. Yet, looking
deeper and further, there is hope. Peter became the rock on which the church
was built. And the writer to the Hebrews tells his readers that they can “…have confidence to enter the Most Holy
Place by the blood of Jesus….” (Hebrews 10:19).
We
should take the opportunity to read slowly and thoughtfully the full account of
the crucifixion as told by John the Evangelist. We should re-live the horror of
it all. And we should gratefully fall down on our knees and thank Him for
making the perfect sacrifice.
As
I am writing this mediation we are the middle of rehearsals for the performance
of Bach’s Matthäus-Passion: you will be reading it on the day of the
performance. I hope you will be able to come. The first great chorus captures
the message of our guilt and inadequacy but yet our great hope and assurance:
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Sehet! Was? Seht die Geduld.
Seht! Wohin? Auf unsre Schuld.
Sehet ihn aus Lieb und Huld
Holz zum Kreuze selber tragen!
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Behold! What? Behold his patience.
Behold! Where? Behold our guilt.
Behold him, out of love and kindness,
Bearing himself the wood of the cross.
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David Brown
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