WOUNDS OF DENIAL (John 18:15-27)

The Docetists - heretics who rejected the traditional understanding of the Incarnation. The Docetists taught that in the incarnation, the second Person of the Trinity did not take upon himself human flesh: he only appeared to have become a human being. The Docetists therefore affirmed the deity of the incarnate Son, but rejected his humanity. Because they believed that God could not suffer, the Docetists also rejected the claim that the Son suffered for humanity on the cross. It is to combat this false teaching that the Apostle Creed was born to bear witness that believers believe in the deity and the humanity of Christ. That he indeed can be wounded, not just physically, but inwardly as well.

John 18 is a chapter shrouded in darkness, Judas had come with a bunch of people in the cover of the night to arrest Jesus with a kiss. Disappointed with the Kingdom Jesus had come to bring, he was willing to betray him. In addition, despite his many protestations of his loyalty to Jesus, Peter was to fail the Lord in the High Priest's house. All the disciples deserted the Lord, all equally cupable to inflict wounds of betrayal on Jesus. In particular, the betrayal from Peter was hard as he had made promises to the Lord that he will stand firm even if everyone should fall away. So Peter's denial was to hurt Jesus so much more. Would you inflict wounds on Jesus?

Palm Sunday reminds us of the fickleness of man. The crowds that welcome Jesus into the city who utter "Save, help us!" was to be replaced by the same crowd who would later shout, "crucify him."

We are quick to say we will not deny Jesus. But we actually do the opposite when we:

• are fearful to offer a meal prayer with our colleagues at lunch
• driving on the expressway and are filled with a spirit that is not of God
• worship and preach only about Jesus' resurrection but neglect the fellowship of his sufferings (Phil 3:10-11).
• emphasize his divinity and reject his death. "While i  understand that each Sunday is a mini-Easter of sorts, but the choice of the songs reflects (to me) a deficient Christian hymnody and a somewhat lopsided triumphalistic emphasis on the resurrection that relegates the passion, suffering and death of Jesus to a footnote!" We must remember not to eclipse the sufferings of Jesus, his crucifixion and his death and simply focus on his triumph, his resurrection in our observance of Lent. There can be no resurrection
• without the passion and suffering of Jesus,
• without the death of Jesus
• without Good Friday.

Let's not deny Jesus in all we do and sing. Ray Boltz has a song where he muses on the suffering wounds of Jesus:

If Jesus suffers on Calvary's tree, can he still feel the nails every time we sin? The events of the passion week is not to be repeated but the song writer writes about the gravity of sin and one's desire to make changes in response so as not to cheapen his sufferings and what he has done for us at Calvary.

Let us live each day under the shadow of the cross.

Reflection Questions:

1. How have I been fickle in my devotion to the Lord Jesus?
2. How have I continually wound Jesus in my relationship with him?
3. What are the changes that I will make in response to the sufferings of Jesus?