#44: Thursday, 18 April 2019

**Luke 22:39-65**

Following the fairly grim Passover meal that the disciples experienced that evening, with talk of betrayals and the coming death of Jesus, they were understandably stressed. Luke says that the reason they fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus was praying, was that they were 'exhausted from sorrow'.

There are three kinds of betrayals in today's reading; three ways that people can fail their Master, Jesus.

The first is the kind I commit most readily. How often have I fallen asleep while praying, or worse, been too tired to really even begin! But perhaps we should not be too hard on ourselves; praying is not an easy business.

I have a friend who finds it easy to pray for long periods of time. But he also finds it easy to hold up a conversation for hours at a time. I'm a poor conversationalist. So with prayer. I find I can pray for only short periods of time. It's one reason I like prepared prayers. They give me the opportunity to pray more broadly than I might on my own.

What might you do to improve your prayers, taking into account your own personality?

The second type of betrayal is the direct, deliberate betrayal that Judas performed. He planned it, negotiated a deal with the chief priests and coldly executed the plan. Perhaps this is most like those who were once people of faith, but who have turned their back on God, and quite deliberately deny and speak loudly against him.

It is certainly a reasonable prayer that we may ask for others. My wife and I pray just this prayer almost every night for our children and grandchildren -- that God will hold them secure against falling away from his kingdom. This is a deep ministry for grandparents. We often feel as though we have little influence over our adult children and grandchildren. But in fact, we have enormous influence. We have the power of prayer. And that is not nothing.

The third type of betrayal is the one that cuts me most to the bone. Peter, full of good intentions, hangs around the outer courts of the high priest's house where Jesus was being interrogated.

He was undone by a servant girl. How ridiculous for the brash Peter who had, earlier that night been warned by Jesus of this very possibility, and who had rashly rejected any idea that he would succumb to such a temptation. 'I will follow you to prison and to death!' Peter had boldly declared.

And now a simple servant girl destroys his cover and plunges a sharp needle into the bubble of his bravado. Few of us (by God's grace!) will ever have to face the iron-faced interrogator, the torture chamber, or the firing squad to defend our faith. But how easily we can be undone by the blasphemous shop-girl at the checkout, or the ignorant but opinionated cynics at the neighbourhood barbecue or on social media!

As I read today of Jesus' willingness to stand up to the very worst that human beings can inflict upon him -- Oh God! For my sake! -- I feel again my shame at being unwilling to suffer even a slightly embarrassing moment for him.

Back in 21:12-13, Jesus foretold the necessity of his disciples being made witnesses for him. The Greek word we translate as *witness* is *marturion* -- the same word as we use for martyr. We may never be called to give our lives for him. But we are called daily to give up little pieces of our dignity, our self-importance, our public face, for him. Each act of witness is a little martyrdom. It does not go unnoticed by the King.

**Prayer:**

I am so sorry, my Lord Jesus Christ, for the times when I have failed to honour your name; when I have allowed someone near me to curse your name without pointing out that you are my Friend; when I have turned away rather than stand up for you.

Please help me to be bold enough, and confident enough, to be your witness in the future. Even today. Whether to strangers or to my family or friends. Amen.