Before the Rooster Crows - Peter pt.2

Is there anything in your life worth dying for?

Something so important that no matter what the cost, you would never give it up? Well if you flick to Matthew 26 v 31, you'll see that apparently Peter has something in his life worth dying for.

"Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."

Of course you know the story. In the passage we've just read, Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him 3 times before the rooster crows. Then sure enough, that's what happens. In Matthew 26 v 69, we read the account of Peter's denial, which ends with Peter realising what he has done and weeping bitterly.

But I want to draw your focus to the big picture. What is actually what's happening at the same time? When Peter's denying Jesus, where is Jesus and what's going on? If you jump back to Matthew 26 v 57, you'll see that Jesus has been arrested and dragged in before the courts. And that's why Peter has denied Jesus - he's afraid for his own life, for being arrested himself, or worse.

The court is charging Jesus with blasphemy. And they ask Jesus, "Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." The real question they're asking Jesus, is one that is equally as relevant for us today - Who are you?

I don't mean the clichés, what you've heard in church, or what others say about him... But to you, in your life, who is Jesus to you?

 'Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. You must make your choice.'

- C.S. Lewis

We were reflecting on this at Youth Fellowship last night. In a moment of divine wisdom and truth, one of my young people answered poignantly: 

"The greatest miracle to ever happen. My best friend."

Who is Jesus to you?

Surviving Stormy Seas - Peter pt.1

We all know somebody who has been through a hard time. Maybe you've been through a particularly testing time recently. Perhaps, you're reading this and right now you're struggling.

Grab your Bible, and flip to Matthew 14. Or click - right here - to bring up the passage in a new tab. Verses 22 - 33 tell us the account of Jesus and Peter walking on water, which is probably a story we're all quite familiar with. Give it a quick read!

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Peter was loving life at the start, walking on the water to Jesus. But what happened? Why did he start to sink? He noticed the wind and the waves. The storm threw him off. He was distracted. Afraid. Overcome.

Life is hard sometimes. I don't want to be negative, or pessimistic, but I think that's just reality of living in this fallen world. There will be hard times. We're going to struggle. There will be storms. Whether it's relationship problems, dealing with a death, or exam struggles. Unfortunately, hard times are an inevitable part of our lives. But how do we cope with them..?

If you are not strengthening the inner man or woman by daily walking with God now, when a crisis comes you will quake with fear and give in, having no strength to stand up for Christ.

- Billy Graham

1) Be proactive, not reactive! Don't wait until you start struggling with something, start preparing before. It's interesting that it's during the hardest times in our lives that we neglect Jesus - the one who can actually help us, comfort us and strengthen us during these struggles. Seems illogical! Focus on your relationship with God now when it's all plain sailing, before the storms come. If we can't focus on Jesus during the good times, how are we going to draw close to Him during the bad times?

2) If you're struggling with something, remember you're not alone. You have people to talk to, to share the burden with and to pray with. Friends, family, your youth leader. But first and foremost, turn to God. It doesn't matter if it's a big deal, or a small struggle, He's a loving Father who cares for His children.

Remember what happened to Peter when he was overcome by the storm, and cry out to Jesus for help.

A Message Nobody Wants to Hear - John the Baptist pt.2

What do you want first? The good news... or the bad news?

How many times have you heard that, right?! But how many times have you said that you don't want to hear the good news at all? Good news is... well good! We always want to hear good news. So why is it that as Christians we have a message that nobody wants to hear? We have good news, but nobody wants us to deliver it.

John the Baptist had a similar experience preaching repentance in the wilderness. Nobody wanted to hear his message of great news. Jesus was coming back, and John's job was to tell everyone. But nobody wanted to change. They wanted a physical saviour, a great warrior. They didn't want a spiritual saviour, someone to free them from their own sins.

We're living in a time, when we switch on the television and all we see is bad news. Poverty. Famine. Earthquakes. Terrorism. War. Only this week, we were shocked to see the heartbreaking events unfold in Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, Japan, Mexico and so many other places. Even on our own doorstep in Northern Ireland, there's still division, killing, and hatred.

But we have good news. We have light in the darkness. We have hope in the despair. His name is Jesus. The Son of God, who came down from Heaven to die on the cross and save us from our sins. If we turn to Him, then our sins will be forgiven and we will have the hope of eternal life.

Jesus loves you.

If Jesus has changed your life already, then this is good news.
Share it. Get it off your chest.

'You are not only responsible for what you say, 

but also for what you do not say'

- Martin Luther

The Greatest that Ever Lived - John the Baptist Pt.1

Gandhi? Mother Teresa? Nelson Mandela?

Who would you say is the greatest person to ever live?

Automatically, I find myself thinking of Jesus of course. But interestingly enough, Jesus actually pointed to someone else as the greatest person who ever lived... Check it out...

'I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John'

- Luke 7 v 28

That's right. Jesus said his cousin, John the Baptist, was the greatest person to ever live. The guy living in the wilderness. Big bushy beard, scraggly hair. Clothed in animal skin, eating locusts, shouting "Repent!" at anyone who happened to be passing by. What could this crazy guy from thousands of years ago possibly have to teach us today as followers of Jesus?

Humility. That's one thing that I notice whenever I'm reading about John the Baptist in the New Testament. Check out the passage in Luke 3 when John's preaching to crowds in the wilderness. He's getting a lot of press at the time. John's got huge crowds following him, tonnes of people coming to him to hear what he has to say, and many many more wanting to be baptised by him. But it doesn't go to his head. Instead... he points to Jesus...

'one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie'

- Luke 3 v 16

This was a big deal for John to say at this time. Feet were the dirtiest part of the body, and taking off sandals was the job reserved for the lowest of all the slaves. John was taking second place, and he was putting Jesus first. This story makes me think... What's first place in my life?

Is God first? Am I second?

Pastor Mark Driscoll says that 'Humility is not being unwilling to aspire to greatness. Humility is being willing to aspire to greatness in a way that pleases God.' It makes you think. Am I living in a way that glorifies God? Am I aspiring to be great for God? Is God first? Am I second?

Check out this link to I Am Second - a website full of videos from different people and celebrities about their stories and how God is first in their lives.