I don't get it.
Jesus tells them that one of them will betray Him. They must've thought He knew what He was talking about. They didn't doubt the veracity of what He said; they apparently assumed they were capable of such treachery: they all asked, "Is it I, Lord?"
An hour or so passes. Judas left to fetch the soldiers. Jesus is teaching the others. He says that Peter will deny Him. Peter says "no way; ain't gonna happen." And "they all said likewise." In other words, they thought Jesus was completely off-base about this.
Why? If they thought they were such staunch followers that nothing could make them deny, then why did each one ask if he were the one who would betray the Lord?
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It might be the *timing* here... At first, the disciples may have been a bit *shocked* that such a thing could happen. (going against Jesus after following Him for all this time)
ReplyDeleteI don't imagine that they were able to wrap themselves around any distinction between denial and betrayal. Both sounded equally bad to such loyal followers.
After some time passes for them to inwardly digest Jesus' words, their reaction may well have changed from *shock* to more clear thinking. Perhaps they've "thought through it" a bit, and now come to the conclusion that they would never want such a thing to happen.
Anyway, that's my take on it. Others will no doubt correct/clarify...
So they could assure Jesus He was wrong if they said them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, so they'd know who it was. No one ever asks a question like this thinking the answer is them. It always has the ulterior motive of getting someone to reveal who the real bad guy is.
Thanks, John and Jeff. That's something to think on: "nah, not really ... couldn't possibly be me, reeeeally."
ReplyDeleteCould it just be that the disciples' reaction is a reflection of how each of us is simultaneously saint and sinner--how we can go from belief to doubt and back again in the blink of an eye?
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