One walked alone in the darkness. The last seventy-two hours had been the most grueling period of his life — a constant barrage on his belief system, his integrity, his honor. There had been no sleep, no food, no comfort in the last three days, only loss. As he made his way through the narrow streets, his head and heart aching, his bowels churning, he had only one goal: to be among his own, to be with those who shared his loss.
He came to his friend’s home, the one that the Lord had called “Beloved.” At the door he stood motionless, unable to knock, unable to turn away; scenes from the last three days showering the eyes of his mind: “When the cock crows, you’ll deny Me”; “It’s him — he’s one of His disciples”; “no, No, NO!”
Tears began to form in his eyes. The Master was gone. There was no taking his own denial back. Once more he reached for the door only to realize the door opened to him.
“Peter.”
“John — please.”
His friend touched his shoulder. “Peter.”
Peter looked at his friend, the one closest to the center of their universe. There was no betrayal in his eyes, no judgment, no anger. He wanted to tell John all things, all his sins, his feelings of loss and missed opportunity.
“John! Peter!” The voice was familiar, and as Peter turned and looked back into morning’s first light, he could see Mary Magdalene running toward them. Breathlessly, she cried, “They’ve taken my Lord! His tomb is empty!”
“He’s gone,” John muttered.
“No,” Peter replied. And with a certainty not his own — another gift from his Master — he shouted, “He lives!” and taking John by the garment, he bolted for the tomb.?UC?
Text 1 John 2:20–29
You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
Therefore, as for you, let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son, and in the Father. This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life.
These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray. As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.
Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.
For Thought
- John states that we have an anointing and we all know the truth. But sometimes we forget that anointing and truth. Does that make us liars and deniers of Jesus Christ? Let’s look at some believers who “forgot” the Lord.
- David (Psalm 42, 63).
- All of Jesus’ closest circle (John 16:32).
- Peter (Matthew 26:75; Luke 22:61)
- John states: These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. He’s not trying to frighten or discourage us — he’s trying to build us up against those who would tear us down. How does the world attack our anointing from the Holy one?
- More absolutes from John: If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. How do we reconcile this statement with our belief systems? Can we devalue John’s words or put too much value into them?
Water to Wine
- See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised — even eternal life. Eternal life…is it worth hanging on to what you heard in the beginning? Is it worth rekindling that fire that attracted you to the Christ every day? And what about remaining in the Son and in the Father? We’re a society that thrives on insurance — in this country alone it’s a multi-trillion dollar business. What better insurance can you have than remaining in the Son and in the Father? Think on these things this week and when the world threatens to coax you from your Father’s hands, remember the prize!
- Confident and unashamed before him at his coming…think about that for just a moment. Can you imagine standing before the ultimate judgment confident and unashamed? It’s worth it, folks. Keep fighting the good fight. Keep on keeping on.
