QT 1/31/2024 Mark 14:66-72, The problem of injustice

Mark 14:66–72 (ESV) —

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

 

NOTE: Technically, Peter had broken no laws by being with Jesus. In fact, as the trial was going on, no laws were found that Jesus broke, except at the end -- he claimed to sit on the right hand of the Father. But as is typical of injustice, association makes you guilty even when people espouse "innocent until proven guilty." Not only is an injustice occurring, it is extending to others who haven't even been accused, except for association. Why is there this desire to hold an axe over an innocent person's head? What was the servant girl desiring? Was she ashamed of her own knowledge of Jesus since she recognized Peter, and this was a way to deflect association to another?

 

We are such a sinful people. We were not created that way, but we have twisted the creation into an evil thing. We all desire justice, but not really. We take "joy" in seeing certain people suffer. Is that not proof enough of our sinful nature?

 

PONDER:

1. Do we recognize our sinful nature?
2. Do we understand that there is nothing good we can do that can make us right before God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray you would help us to see our sin and repent of it. I pray that we would desire real justice, your justice, not ours.