Schizophrenic disciples.

I have done a lot of stupid things in my life. Things that could’ve gotten me killed, like diving under a closing garage door, crossing a train trestle (and yes, a train did go by while we were on it!), driving drunk as a teenager, and throwing snowballs at rednecks in Tennessee. The reason? I think it is the same reason everyone gives when they do something stupid, I just wasn’t thinking about the consequences. For the most part, we don’t take our frail mortality seriously, and many people pay the price for it. I was spared a stupid death, but others are not.

We do stupid things, trivial and serious, because at some level we believe we will get away with it. We believe that we will get another chance. We deny the reality that life is a pretty sober matter, and we pretend that nothing bad could ever happen.

Mark 14:27-52
"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'   28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."  29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." 30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today-yes, tonight-before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."  31 But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. 32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."  33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."  35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."  37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"  43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled."  50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” 

One of the characteristics of the gospel narratives in the New Testament that prove they are historical accounts is the inclusion of errors in judgement on the part of the disciples. A propaganda piece, written much later by people seeking to make the Church look good, would never have included such material. The disciples, and particularly Peter, James, and John, said and did all kinds of stupid things before Jesus was crucified. They did these things because they simply denied what Jesus had been telling them all along – that he was not leading an uprising against the Roman Empire, nor grasping for power in the Temple, nor establishing a peasant utopia. He told them plainly that he was going to Jerusalem, where he would be arrested and crucified. And while he foretold they would all abandon him in the end, they denied this as well.

The same is true with Jesus’s disciples here in the present day. We acknowledge Jesus as Savior easily enough, but we have an exceedingly difficult time submitting to him as Lord. We consider the claims and demands of the Master on us as mere enthusiasm, that he can’t really mean exactly what he said. We live schizophrenic lives, believing in the reality of the Cross, but at the same time pretending we don’t have a cross of our own to carry.