Today we are reading from Mark 14: 26-31:

26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” 30 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same.

One of the things you learn pretty quick as a parent is to never say “my kids will never.”  It’s easy when you don’t have kids to project how great a parent you’ll be and how perfect your kids will be.  And then you have kids and you learn, no, our goal is just to survive and all com of out this being halfway decent people.  

So, you should never, as a parent say, my kids will never. Because, yeah that will. 

Today, we see Peter basically do just that. But instead of my kids will never, Peter says, “I’ll never.”  I’ll never betray you, Lord.  Everyone else may leave you, but I’ll never.  I’ll never leave you. I’ll stand there, even if it’s just me.  

Peter is very confident that he’ll never do that.  He says it. He means it.  He’ll never do it.  He means it.  He will never do.  

It will never happen to me.  Do you know how to make it more likely you’ll make a mistake or fall in some way?  Say just that. It will never happen to me.  I’ll never fall like that.  I’ll never mess up. Not me.  Not going to happen.  I’ve got this. I will do it.  I’ll never.  

I’ll never do that. I’ve got it.  It will never happen to me. That’s what Peter was saying today. That’s what he believed as well. But Jesus knew better.  He knew Peter was a human, and all of us as humans mess up and blow it.  Me, you, Peter, all of us.  Be careful. There but by the grace of God go you and me.  It’s the pride that goes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18).  

Let’s remember that today.  Let’s walk with humility. Let’s understand our weaknesses and frailty.  And let’s lean not our strength but on His.  There but by the grace of God go I.  

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