This Week's Story
click here to play audioJesus is deserted and betrayed.
This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.
How could I deny Him? part one
We were eating an important meal. It was part of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Suddenly, we were shocked. Jesus stated, “One of you will betray me.”
I had no idea whom he was talking about. I knew it was not I. All the other eleven disciples asked, “Is it I?” Someone was lying.
He said, “One of you who is eating with me now, is going to betray me. It is true that I must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. How terrible it is for my betrayer! It would be better if he had never been born.”
Jesus said, “Tonight all of you will desert me. But after I have been raised from the dead, I will meet you in Galilee.”
I said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will!”
“Peter, this very night, you will deny me three times, before the rooster crows.”
“No! Not even if I have to die with you! I will never deny you!”
He replied, “Come, we will go to Gethsemane.” There he took James, John, and me further into the olive tree grove. “Stay here and watch with me. I am crushed with grief.” He left us and we fell asleep.
Three times Jesus returned. Each time we were asleep. The first time he asked, “Couldn’t you stay awake one hour and watch with me? Keep alert and pray, otherwise temptation will overpower you. Your spirits are willing, but your bodies are weak.”
The second time that he found us asleep, he repeated his words and left.
The third time was different. He said, “Still sleeping? The time has come. I am going to be betrayed. Let’s be going. My betrayer is here.”
As he spoke, Judas, who usually was with us, arrived with a mob of renegades sent to capture Jesus. The chief Jewish priests and leaders of the people had spurred the mob.
Using a prearranged signal Judas came to our leader and greeted him naturally. “Jesus, it is good to see you.” He kissed him. That was the signal!
Judas was phony clear through!
Jesus spoke steadily, “Friend, do what you have to do.”
People in the mob grabbed him. To prevent the arrest of Jesus, I took my sword and slashed off the right ear of the high priest’s servant Malchus.
Jesus told me, “Put your sword away. “Don’t you know that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them in an instant? But, if I did that, how would the words in the Old Testament be fulfilled? They describe what must happen now.”
He turned to the mob. “Why did you come to arrest me with clubs and swords? You could have easily caught me in the temple. What you are doing is fulfilling the words prophets said many years ago as recorded in the Old Testament.”
Jesus was hustled to leaders who were plotting his execution.
Soon we will follow Peter. Records of his life are found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of the Bible.
Our speaking team is Todd Warren, Katherine Warren, and Scott Thomas with recorder Carlos Gamez, and writer Barbara Steiner.
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