Daily Dose of the Word of God - John 18: 12-18

Rachel Klooster & Billy Heschl

Transcript

Rachel Klooster 0:07  

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. It’s Tuesday, March 3. We are putting the spotlight on Jesus, and with the Apostle John as our guide. This is Billy Heschl reading for Rachel Klooster. Today’s reading is from John 18:12-18

Rachel Klooster  0:25  

Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in. The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “No, I’m not.” The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.

Rachel Klooster  1:27  

Picture the scene: a bustle of people. People being allowed in and out and some not being let in. Others being let in because they knew people who knew people. And let’s look at the young woman who was the doorkeeper. Did she know what was going on? Did she know who this guy Jesus was? And even if she had heard of him, did she understand why he was being brought to the Chief Priest’s courtyard? As we heard in my last devo…the people of Jesus’ day talked and gossiped about what was going on with people. So we would think that this doorkeeper had heard something about Jesus. Maybe rumors of him healing people, maybe rumors of the Jewish leaders trying to eliminate him from the religious scene. But I bet she was curious about it all, because this girl was paying attention! “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?” she says. Maybe her question was more about her trying to find out info from Peter on what exactly was going on. But Peter took it as her questioning his motives. Either way she didn’t get very far because Peter said “No I’m not his disciple.” And let’s look at Peter. He thought he was in, then he was out, then he did get into the courtyard afterall. Is this detail about the other disciple getting Peter in a way of John demonstrating the ambivalence of Peter at this point? Maybe Peter was purposely hanging back but then John stepped in to make sure he was involved in what was going on. And the last sentence: “Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.” Buddy, you’re not going to be warm for quite a while (unless it’s the heat of shame you may feel). All these details are in this story to help us look at ourselves. Are we approaching the story of Jesus with: Curiosity? Doubt? Denial?

 
Rachel Klooster  3:39  

So in this season of Lent, let's bring it all to him. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for meeting us where we are. Amen.