IT WOULDNT BE THE SAME
Posted by: bhfbc <bhfbc@...>
April 11, 2004
Text: Matthew 26:69-75; John 21:15-19
In 1980, I became familiar with the songs of a Christian musician named
Don Francisco. One of his ballad-type of songs that became popular and
widely known then is entitled "He's Alive." Because of its powerful
lyrics and tune, it has remained a favorite of mine over the years. The
lyrics of the song are center around the events of those dark hours of
uncertainty following the death of Jesus. Don Francisco sings of the
events through the feelings and thoughts of Peter. It is certainly not
impossible to empathize with the feelings Peter would have likely
experienced following the cruel suffering and death of his beloved
leader, teacher, and friend.
Imagine with me how it could have been in that room to which they
retreated. It is early in the morning. The sun is just beginning to peak
over the edge of the earth as a new day begins. Some of the women,
followers of Jesus, have raced back from the tomb with the breathless
proclamation that it was now empty. Peter and John have run to the tomb
to verify the story and, having found it true, have returned to puzzle
over this new mystery. Peter is still in deep anguish and despair from
all of the events. John speaks with a new, although reserved, hope. But
Peter cannot indulge in such hopefulness. His world crashed about him
when he denied - yes, actually lied about it - his relationship with
Jesus. Even if John was right - even if Jesus was alive - as Don
Francisco puts it: "it wouldn't be the same."
For about three years prior to the crucifixion, Peter's life had not been
the same. Since the day he left his fishing nets to follow Jesus - to
become a fisher of men - Peter had witnessed some of the most
breath-taking events the world had ever known. The miracles that he saw
his Master perform were accompanied by mind-boggling stories of
instruction, application, and prophecy. I wonder how many times Peter and
the others were awe-struck by their leader's miracles, instructions, and
audacity.
It was certainly not only Peter who wouldn't be the same because of
Jesus' life and ministry. Never before had the world witnessed such a man
as this, for he did not merely teach the Law of God - he fulfilled it. I
have yet to meet anyone who is not challenged by reading that portion of
the Scripture known as the Sermon on the Mount. I can imagine what it
must have been like to have been there. "You have heard it said... but I
tell you..." Jesus spoke with an unexpected authority. Not only are we
not to murder, commit adultery, seek revenge; now we are not to even
harbor such thoughts in our hearts. What kind of teaching is this? It can
be hard enough to not participate in certain sins, but to not even think
them? Jesus knows, though, how often thoughts can turn to action. Those
who heard Jesus would never be the same; we would never be the same.
Imagine the people whom Jesus encountered. The ruler Jairus came to the
Teacher in sorrow and despair. His daughter - his beloved child - was
dying. He urgently requested that Jesus come to his house and heal his
daughter, as he had healed so many before her. Yet, even as they
approached the house, news reached them that the daughter now lay dead.
"Why bother the teacher any more?" But Jesus ignored the news and
proceeded with his work. With a touch and a spoken word, the girl raised
from the death bed and walked around. "At this they were very
astonished." They would never be the same.
The woman had been caught in adultery and the Law was very clear: death
by stoning. That's what she deserved, for such licentiousness could not
be condoned. "But first," said her accusers, "let's test the Teacher. We
can get him on this one. Let's hear what He has to say about this." So
she was presented to him. "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of
adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do
you say?" "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to
throw a stone at her." They would never be the same. "Woman, where are
they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir." "Then neither do I
condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." She would never be the
same.
On his way to Judea, Jesus was persuaded to stop at Bethany after
learning of the death of His friend Lazarus. Mary and Martha were in
anguish over the death of their brother. Jesus himself was moved to tears
with compassion and love for his friends. The crowd saw how he cared for
them, and thought that all would have been well had he only known about
Lazarus' sickness ahead of time. Then Jesus could have made him well. But
now... now it was too late and the only thing left to do was grieve.
However, Jesus approached the tomb and said, "Take away the stone."
Moving up to the entrance, Jesus gave thanks to his Father, and then
commanded: "Lazarus, come forth!" And there he was, grave clothes and
all. None of them there that day would ever be the same.
Suddenly, events began to turn for Jesus and his followers. Although they
had been welcomed to Jerusalem by a tumultuous throng, they now found
themselves at the wrong end of a devious and treacherous plot. In the
darkness, the deal is sealed with a kiss. Jesus is led away, and the
disciples are scattered.
Peter followed cautiously to see what would happen. He must have felt
helpless in the face of so many armed enemies. He stopped in the
courtyard in order to find out the results of the trial as soon as
possible. Suddenly he is approached and asked if he is not a disciple. "I
don't know what you're talking about!" A little later, someone else
pointed him out as one of those with Jesus of Nazareth. "I don't know the
man!" All Peter wanted right then was to be left alone. He did not want
to be pointed out. I remember when I got my first pair of eyeglasses. I
was a third grader. Wearing them to school for the first time one
morning, I entered the classroom with hesitation and anxiety. I hoped
desperately that no one would pay any attention to me or to the specs.
Yet, suddenly, I was surrounded by my classmates after someone noticed my
new look. I know that I didn't deny that I had on a new pair of glasses,
but I did wish that everyone would leave me alone, or that I was
somewhere else. So it must have been with Peter when he was approached a
third time. "Surely you are one of them." "I don't know the man!" Then
the rooster crowed. Peter - the Peter who, only hours ago, had
boisterously declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never
disown you" - realized what he had done. And he fled and wept.
Shortly after that, Jesus was led to Golgotha and there crucified. Yet,
even as he hung there on that cross, Jesus continued to change lives. One
of the thieves hanging next to him met him there. In spite of the others
who hurled insult upon insult, this criminal saw Jesus for who he was.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Even a centurion,
noticing all that happened as Jesus sighed His last, was compelled to
say, "Surely, this was the Son of God." No one had ever before seen a
perfect man executed. They would never be the same.
Peter and the others now huddled together in fear, despair, and
disbelief. Jesus had claimed to be the prophesied Messiah, but now he was
only a corpse. They had seen them crucify him, then they saw him die. In
addition to all of this, Peter - impetuous Peter; indomitable Peter;
Peter the rock - had disowned Him. It was no longer proud Peter; it was
broken Peter. "Maybe if I had stood up to them in the courtyard, they
would have let Jesus go. Maybe they would have taken me instead. But no,
I told them that I didn't know the man! What kind of man am I?"
It is small wonder that there was not much to hope for even on that
confusing Sunday morning. Jesus was dead, and now the body had been
desecrated. It was just one more humiliation on top of all the other
humiliations. "Leave me alone, the rest of you! All of this talk of
promise is nonsense! Besides, what if it were true? What would that
matter to me? I turned my back on him in his very hour of need. I am a
worse traitor than Judas! So, even if he was alive, it wouldn't be the
same. It just wouldn't be the same."
In the words of Don Franciscos song, the very air in the room began to
change. Something was happening. A light, one they had never before seen,
appeared to drive the shadows out of the room. There, in their midst,
stood the Jesus who they had watched die. Amazed and speechless, those in
the room could only drop to their knees. Jesus was among them; he was
still alive! Standing before them, Jesus stretched out His arms and held
them open wide. Peter - despondent Peter, anguished Peter, fearful Peter
- gathered up his courage and looked into the eyes of his Master. At that
moment, Peter met Jesus. My guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet
release; every fear I'd ever had just melted into peace."
Peter had lamented that, even if Jesus was alive, it wouldn't be the
same. He was right. It wasn't the same. It was better. In fact, it was
perfected. For Peter experienced grace, love, and understanding. The
despair was replaced with relief; the fear, with courage; the guilt, with
forgiveness. Many scholars of the Bible believe that Jesus expressed his
forgiveness to Peter when he gave him the charge to take care of his
sheep as recounted in John 21:15-19. The resurrected Jesus gave Peter the
power that he later used to preach and heal in the face of many personal
trials and tribulations. Peter wouldn't be the same.
Nor would the world be the same. As the apostle Paul was to later write
to the Colossians, "God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our
sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was
against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to
the cross." When we encounter Jesus Christ, we must set our face against
the old life and turn it toward the new. When we do this, we can rejoice
alongside Don Francisco and proclaim: "He's alive! He's alive! He's alive
and I'm forgiven; Heaven's gates are opened wide!" We will never be the
same.
Rev. Charles A. Layne, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bunker Hill, IN
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