The Trial of Jesus - Today. by William J. Critchlow
Judas Iscariot not only knew Jesus to be the Christ, he also accepted Him as the King of the Jews. He and the other apostles too expected to hold high places in the kingdom which they believe Jesus had come to establish. Hadn’t Jesus trusted him with the disciple’s money and honored him by making him His treasurer? He had seen Jesus feed thousands of people, merely by blessing a few loaves and fishes and he had seen many miracles performed by His Godly powers. Surely, by the mere wave of His hand, He could, and he was sure he would, rebuke anyone who tried to lay a hand on Him. He could, by merely raising His voice call down legions of angles to help Him establish a kingdom for the Jews. But Jesus crossed him up when He humbly submitted to arrest, and Judas was beside himself. Frantically over and over again, he must have cried, “Why doesn’t He show His might?” The glee that he anticipated in a show of might turn suddenly to despair and gloom, a deep smothering murderous gloom. He had betrayed his king. Not only the king, but himself he had betrayed. It shouldn’t have turned out this way. Because of his act, both died violently- Judas by his own hand, Jesus on a cross before he could wash the kiss of Judas from his cheek.
A Robe, a Ring, and a Fatted Calf by Jeffrey R. Holland
A few years ago President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of Peter’s struggle.
“As I have read this account my heart goes out to Peter. So many of us are so much like him. We pledge our loyalty; we affirm our determination to be of good courage; we declare, sometimes even publicly, that come what may we will do the right thing, that we will stand for the right cause, that we will be true to ourselves and to others. Then the pressures begin to build. Sometimes these are social pressures. Sometimes they are personal appetites. Sometimes they are false ambitions. There is a weakening of the will. There is a softening of discipline. There is capitulation. And then there is remorse, self-accusation, and bitter tears of regret.”
Well, if Peter’s story were to have ended there, with him cursing and swearing and saying, “I know not the man,” surely his would be among the most pathetic in all scripture. But Peter came back. He squared his shoulders and stiffened his resolve and made up for lost ground. He took command of a frightened little band of Church members. He preached such a moving sermon on the day of Pentecost that three thousand in the audience applied for baptism.
Days later five thousand heard him and were baptized. With John, he healed the lame man at the gate of the temple. Faith in Peter’s faith brought the sick into the streets on their beds of affliction “that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them” (Acts 5:15). He fearlessly spoke for his brethren when they were arraigned before the Sanhedrin and when they were cast into prison. He entertained angels and received the vision that led to carrying the gospel to the Gentiles. He became in every sense the rock Christ promised he would be.
Of such a life President Hinckley said: “I pray that you may draw comfort and resolution from the example of Peter who, though he had walked daily with Jesus, in an hour of extremity denied both the Lord and the testimony which he carried in his own heart. But he rose above this, and became a mighty defender and a powerful advocate. So too, there is a way for you to turn about and... [build] the kingdom of God.”
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