“Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 13:38-14:1).
Have you ever considered the above two verses together? Up until when I recently came to them in my quiet time, I never had. Reason being, one is a chapter ending and the next one is a chapter beginning. Usually, when I begin a new chapter in my Bible reading, it feels like a new “episode” so to speak. It’s as if a new subject were being introduced, or at least as if this were “Part 2” or “Part 3” or whatever consecutive part I have come to.
However, I do know that the original Greek text of the New Testament had no chapter or verse markers. In recognition of this, the Bibliotheca Bible comes without them. I have absolutely delighted in the immersive experience of reading it this way, as one continual narrative stream. (I also fully support the need for chapters and verses for Bible study, preaching, and teaching. If you are looking for a fresh way to read the Scriptures though, you very well might love the Bibliotheca approach as much as I do – I’d encourage you to give it a try!)
While I was thus reading what we know as John 13 and 14 without any chapter delineations, Holy Spirit pointed out to me how these verses flow together: “Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 13:38-14:1).
First, Jesus let Peter know about the heartbreaking failure he was about to fall into. He immediately followed this prediction with preemptive encouragement. In His original discourse, He was not changing the subject when He uttered the words, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” On the contrary, He was showing Peter how to deal with the failure that was about to feel like a weight crushing his soul.
Jesus’ gentle and loving admonition goes out to you and me as well. “Believe in God, believe also in Me.” In other words, Don’t let your shortcomings trouble your heart. Instead, fix your eyes on Me. Lock your gaze on the One who is perfecting the good work He started in you. Don’t put your confidence any longer in what you can pull off by trying hard; instead put all your stock in what I am doing in you.
Jesus knew ahead of time that Peter was going to betray Him during the darkest hours of His life. With no hesitation, He chose him anyway. As soon as He resurrected, He made sure Peter knew that he had not slipped out of the grip of His grace. He sent this profoundly tender message: Continue reading Believe in God
Feeding On Jesus 