Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 1 July 2015 - God’s Restoring Truth" Scripture: John 18:1-18, 25-27

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Wednesday, 1 July 2015 - God’s Restoring Truth" Scripture: John 18:1 After Yeshua had said all this, he went out with his talmidim across the stream that flows in winter through the Vadi Kidron, to a spot where there was a grove of trees; and he and his talmidim went into it. 2 Now Y’hudah, who was betraying him, also knew the place; because Yeshua had often met there with his talmidim. 3 So Y’hudah went there, taking with him a detachment of Roman soldiers and some Temple guards provided by the head cohanim and the P’rushim; they carried weapons, lanterns and torches. 4 Yeshua, who knew everything that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Whom do you want?” 5 “Yeshua from Natzeret,” they answered. He said to them, “I AM.” Also standing with them was Y’hudah, the one who was betraying him. 6 When he said, “I AM,” they went backward from him and fell to the ground. 7 So he inquired of them once more, “Whom do you want?” and they said, “Yeshua from Natzeret.” 8 “I told you, ‘I AM,’” answered Yeshua, “so if I’m the one you want, let these others go.” 9 This happened so that what he had said might be fulfilled, “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

10 Then Shim‘on Kefa, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the cohen hagadol, cutting off his right ear; the slave’s name was Melekh. 11 Yeshua said to Kefa, “Put your sword back in its scabbard! This is the cup the Father has given me; am I not to drink it?”

12 So the detachment of Roman soldiers and their captain, together with the Temple Guard of the Judeans, arrested Yeshua, tied him up, 13 and took him first to ‘Anan, the father-in-law of Kayafa, who was cohen gadol that fateful year. 14 (It was Kayafa who had advised the Judeans that it would be good for one man to die on behalf of the people.) 15 Shim‘on Kefa and another talmid followed Yeshua. The second talmid was known to the cohen hagadol, and he went with Yeshua into the courtyard of the cohen hagadol; 16 but Kefa stood outside by the gate. So the other talmid, the one known to the cohen hagadol, went back out and spoke to the woman on duty at the gate, then brought Kefa inside. 17 The woman at the gate said to Kefa, “Aren’t you another of that man’s talmidim?” He said, “No, I’m not.” 18 Now the slaves and guards had lit a fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it warming themselves; Kefa joined them and stood warming himself too.

25 Meanwhile, Shim‘on Kefa was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “Aren’t you also one of his talmidim?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” 26 One of the slaves of the cohen hagadol, a relative of the man whose ear Kefa had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the grove of trees?” 27 So again Kefa denied it, and instantly a rooster crowed.

RG AUDIO 070115

"God’s Restoring Truth" by Author: Jennifer Woodard
In John 18 we read of Jesus’ arrest. In the fear of the moment, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. Jesus restores the servant’s ear and commands Peter to put the sword away. Jesus is taken away for trial. As the fearful night proceeds Peter denies Christ three times. When the rooster crows, he snaps out of his shock and is thrust into the reality of his own helplessness, imperfection, and failure.
Thankfully, there is something redeeming about this moment: Jesus had told Peter that this moment would come (John 13:38). Jesus had told Peter the truth about himself. This truth helped Peter to understand a greater truth: that perfection and strength are only found in the person of Christ.
In the garden, Peter had been sleeping when he should have been praying. He was taken off guard, literally. His spirit was not attuned to Christ’s. We cannot will ourselves to be faithful to Christ. We must remain in his truth. “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5).
Hymn for Today: "I Know Whom I Have Believe" by Daniel Webster Whittle

1. I know not why God's wondrous grace 

to me he hath made known, 

nor why, unworthy, Christ in love 

redeemed me for his own. 

Refrain: 

But I know whom I have believed, 

and am persuaded that he is able 

to keep that which I've committed 

unto him against that day. 

2. I know not how this saving faith 

to me he did impart, 

nor how believing in his word 

wrought peace within my heart. 

Refrain: 

But I know whom I have believed, 

and am persuaded that he is able 

to keep that which I've committed 

unto him against that day. 

3. I know not how the Spirit moves, 

convincing us of sin, 

revealing Jesus through the word, 

creating faith in him. 

Refrain: 

But I know whom I have believed, 

and am persuaded that he is able 

to keep that which I've committed 

unto him against that day. 

4. I know not when my Lord may come, 

at night or noonday fair, 

nor if I walk the vale with him, 

or meet him in the air. 

Refrain: 

But I know whom I have believed, 

and am persuaded that he is able 

to keep that which I've committed 

unto him against that day. 

Thought for Today:

"Faithfulness and betrayal is not an inescapable cycle for Christians. It is possible to live fully for Christ, putting sin behind"[Kerry Willis].

Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Guinea-Bissau.
____________________________