the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
John 18:12-27
In standing there and warming himself with those who had seized and bound his Master, Peter had already, in effect, denied Him. If we wilfully choose our friends from a world which crucified the Lord Jesus and if we share in its pleasures, in one way or another we are in danger of dishonouring the Lord. For we cannot count on being kept (in answer to His prayer of John 17:15-17) if we do not carry out the separation of which He speaks in those same verses (John 17:16). By his unfaithfulness, Peter escaped shame and persecution for a time – as if he were "greater than his lord" who Himself openly met the hatred and contempt of men (John 15:20). The Lord Jesus answers nothing to the hypocritical questioning of the high priest. He had already borne witness publicly. It is now up to the judges to prove Him guilty – if they can do so!
This gospel emphasizes more than the other three the dignity and authority of the Son of God. In spite of the humiliation which He has to bear and the way they treat Him, He is the absolute Master of the situation, as the One who has "given himself . . . an offering . . . to God", the perfect sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2).
