A Year in Luke/ActsNäide

This chapter is bookended with two instances of Jesus’ disciples betraying him - Judas sold him out to the chief priests and then Peter denied him three times. In writing this, I think Luke is trying to show us that it isn’t simply Satan or the Pharisees or these evil outside forces that put Jesus on the cross. But it’s also us. Our own sin. Judas wasn’t the only one who betrayed Jesus that night - but it was also Peter. The same disciple who Jesus said would be the rock that He would build His church upon. And in the same situation, when it's the middle of the night and darkness is all around, I would have done the same thing. I have done the same thing. N.T. Wright says, “As Luke leads our eyes to the foot of the cross, he means us to feel not just sorrow and pity, but shame.” And Jesus knew all of this - He had predicted that Peter would deny Him three times just earlier in the chapter. And yet, because of His love for each of us, Jesus still went to the cross. What a good, good God He is.