Central Truth

Reconciliation to God is possible even if you've sinned flagrantly.  When you repent from your sins, God is faithful to forgive your sins.  No matter what is in your past, there is hope and forgiveness and lasting change available through the blood of Jesus Christ. 

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Reflections

Mark 14 offers a vivid comparison between the stories of Judas and Peter.  Both disciples have spent an equal amount of time with Jesus learning about the Kingdom and hearing that earthly things have secondary importance to heavenly things.  Jesus taught mercy, humility, peacefulness, and purity.  Yet Judas was greedy.  Judas ended his relationship with Jesus by plotting with the priests to betray Him in order to gain money.  His greed took root in his heart and he handed his friend over to be killed.  Eventually, he couldn't bear what he had done so he hanged himself.  

Peter messed up big time too.  When Jesus foretold everyone deserting Him, Peter boldly proclaimed, “Even if everyone else deserts You, I never will.”  Yet despite Jesus' warning, hours later when asked by a servant if he was a follower of Jesus, he denied it.  When the other bystanders asked him if he was a follower, he emphatically stated, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”  Almost immediately he was remorseful.  He repents of his sin.  Jesus forgave him and he was reconciled to God and he worked the rest of his life establishing the church.  He brought the Good News to the Gentiles.

Judas succumbed to greed.  Of the seven deadly sins, four are about selfishly wanting more.  More stuff (greed), more pleasure (lust), desire for other people's stuff (envy), and more food and drink (gluttony).  Jesus teaches us to have faith in Jehovah-jireh our Provider to fulfill all of our needs.  We will have enough and we can be content.  Peter was motivated by fear and he lied to protect himself.  He didn't trust God and denied his faith.

When we sin, we are separated from God.  We must confess our sins and He is just and faithful to forgive our sins.  When we ask for forgiveness, He welcomes us back with open arms.  If we let sin take root, we become desensitized to the voice of His Spirit.  His peace is not with us and we drift farther away from Him.

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Discussion Questions

1. Do you have faith that Jehovah-jireh is going to provide for all your needs?
  
2. Has God provided enough for you in this past year?

3. Are you content with what God has provided or are you consumed with the desire for more?

4. Are you truly convinced that you are forgiven or do you harbor guilt and low self-esteem for past failures?

5. Is there something in your life the Holy Spirit is trying to help you with?  Is there sin in your life you need to confess?

6. Are you living in fear?

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