Mercy, Even at the End

(Matthew 26) Jesus prepared His followers for what was about to take place. He made it clear to them that He must die in order for prophecies to take place but hidden in this message of ultimate despair was a hope beyond their imagination! Soon they would understand but the darkest hour was still ahead. Jesus spent time with His Father in Heaven and with His friends just before the end for this was very important and it tells of His love for us. As He eat with them each one swore their allegiance, even unto death but Jesus knew this road He must travel alone. At that moment I am reminded of a young child making a vow to the father but not understanding what is required and the father's heart filling up with joy because of the belief the child has in the father. Peter promised he would even die with Jesus if it came to that, that's when Jesus told Peter something that he would never forget. Peter did not understand it then but soon he would. At the end of the chapter the Bible said Peter wept bitterly because he could not follow Jesus, as he said he would and Peter must have felt the end had surely come but he did not understand the dawn was coming and soon Jesus himself would remind Peter of this hidden message of hope.