22:31-34 Peter's confidence is empty, compared with Jesus who knows what WILL happen. We must remember, we never have the full picture - only God knows fully.
Jesus did not shrink from the cross - the agony of what He would face was immense. He knew this & so asked God if it was what He wills to take it from Him, but He knew that He wanted to do His Father's will. Ultimately, Jesus chose to go to the cross, by being obedient to His Father's will.
This passage is a reminder of the frailty and folly of Jesus' disciples. Even when Jesus was explicit with them, they didn't have the staying power to obey Him. They showed the humanness of humanity when faced with the 'God-ness' of Deity.
Jesus' disciples were afraid - His enemies were opposed to Him. However, He had previously prayed about it, submitted to God's will, and then prepared Himself for it.
Peter's response to those who accused him of being with Jesus showed his strength of personality. His weakness was his willingness to deny Jesus so readily and quickly. Jesus knew he would be used again and used mightily - this situation was to be the turning point for Peter. His mouth got ahead of him and spoke faster than he was willing to keep to. He should have taken Jesus at His word, listened and obeyed and prepared for what God was going to bring before him.
Jesus' attitude to those who opposed Him was humble, gentle, gracious, patient, disarming, but also remained in control through God's mercy not giving them what they deserved at that very moment. 1 Peter 2:19-23 sum up Jesus' attitudes well.
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