It was a haunting night for sure. They had come in the dark of night with their lanterns, their torches and their weapons. A night that would no doubt haunt many of them for years to come.
Haunted by fear, the disciples fled. Haunted by denial, Peter wept bitterly. Haunted by a dream, Pilate's wife warned and haunted by her warning, Pilate washed his hands in desperation. Haunted by betrayal, Judas took his own life.
Like a horrifying scene from a scary movie that replays itself over and over in our mind, the merciless words we speak, the unkind actions we commit and even the good deeds we neglect to do have the potential to haunt us.
And as I write this post during the Christmas season I am reminded of Ebenezer Scrooge. Haunted by a life of greed and selfishness, he meets with his past regrets, his present state of bitterness and his fateful future all on one Christmas Eve.
The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. Proverbs 11:17
So in essence, when we are good to others we are also being good to ourselves. If we are not good to others, we face the haunting thoughts of why we did what we did and what we should have done or said instead.
In our passage on this haunting night, Jesus, the Merciful One, presents HImself with I am he. . . let these go their way, fulfilling His words of commitment and everlasting love to His disciples.
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. John 18:9
He Who knew all things that should come upon him that night. He Who had lived His entire life for this moment. He Who had the power to save Himself. Even on this night that power manifested as they went backward, and fell to the ground when they approached Him. So when He said let these go their way He spoke with all power and authority. This was not a suggestion or request. It was an official proclamation of divine preservation. A fulfillment of the Word.
Loser Bible Study Series Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated lost in John 18:9, our verse for today.
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