Disciples’ weaknesses are our own

FOR Christians the world over, Easter is the highest point of Christ’s redemption work on earth; and, at the same time, the lowest points in the fact of it being the most painful through his betrayal and denial by his most trusted friends; and his suffering and crucifixion at the hands of the Roman overlords at the time.
Quite often, we are focused on the sufferings of Christ and the joy of his resurrection that we do not see the human character that is displayed throughout, which on account of them being human, have been repeated down through history.
By the actions and words of Christians, we betray the founder of Christianity as Judas Iscariot did repeatedly. We deny him repeatedly also as did Peter, and we crucify him repeatedly by our transgressions.
And, as often we doubt as did Thomas after Jesus’ resurrection, saying he would not belief anything until he had the evidence before his eyes.
Let us examine the behavior of the disciples as is related to us in the Gospel of Mathew at chapter 26. We use the NIV version of the Bible for the quotes contained herein.
The behavior of the disciples is pivotal in understanding all this and to see our own lives reflected in those of our brethren, the disciples, in Christ’s time.
The disciples are gathered in a house for a meal, incidentally on this very night all those many years ago (Thursday). He washes their feet and then sits to dinner at supper at the feast of the unleavened bread.
While at dinner, Jesus tells them that one among them will betray him.
“Truly one of you will betray me.”
They were very sad and began to say to him, one after the other: “Surely, you don’t mean me.”
Jesus replied: “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
After supper, they were taking a small after-dinner walk in the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus suddenly turned on them and said: “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will have scattered’.
“But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Peter replied: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered: “This very night before the crow crows, you will disown me three times.”
But Peter declared: “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
After this, he selected his best friends, the sons of Jebedee and, going further, he said to them: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell on his face to the ground and prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”
Following this, Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples came in with officials who arrested him.
And later, in the court yard of Caipas the high priest, Peter disowns Jesus who he says he does not know. He repeats this thrice before the rooster crows. Remembering Jesus’ words, Peter goes out and weeps out his misery and regret.
Did the disciples do something extraordinarily evil? Most certainly not.
Almost every waking day, men and women who declare themselves to be Christians, followers of Christ as it were, do exactly as the disciples did by their simple inclination to lie, to steal, to disrespect, to misappropriate, to be unfair, to hurt and maim and kill.
If Christians are to go by the tenants of their belief, are they not crucifying Christ over and over again by their transgressions.
Food for thought as we enter the last days of Easter.