Remembering and Forgetting

In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

Luke 24: 5 to 8, NIV

These striking words were the first sign that Jesus had risen from the dead. It was the initial indication that Jesus was not dead but very much alive. Very soon, Mary Magdalene would experience a close encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.

However, at present, the main point of these verses is simply that we forget things. Those who followed Jesus over the three years would have seen many miracles. They would have witnessed numerous healings, seen thousands fed, and heard profound teachings. Yet they still forget.

When Jesus spoke to John’s disciples, he told them to go back to John, who was in prison, and to tell him that, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” ( Luke 7: 22, NIV)

John was later beheaded, but that did not stop Jesus. “He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matt 14, 19 to 21, NIV) Five thousand men, besides women and children, which means there could easily be around twenty thousand people being miraculously fed by Jesus, yet the disciples forgot.

Back in his hometown of Capernaum, “ when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” ( Mark 1:21-22, NIV) The locals were in awe of Jesus, but the disciples forgot.

Everything Jesus did amazed everyone, yet remarkably, the disciples forgot. Perhaps everything blended into one incredible experience, and they lost track of the individual moments. I guess it was too much to expect the disciples to remember every detail of what happened over the three years. It was all just too much to expect.

They forgot, but Jesus did these things. They forgot, but Jesus did say that He would rise from the dead. In fact, Jesus explicitly told them three times, and they still forgot. Perhaps it was just too unbelievable that their Messiah would die. We don’t know why they forgot, but they did.

I believe we all share that tendency; we praise God for what He has done in our lives, yet life often takes over, and we forget His deeds. I think we are similar to the Apostle Peter, but hopefully we won’t find ourselves in the situations he faced. Mary remembered, and Peter also remembered afterwards. After Jesus and the disciples had shared the Last Supper, Jesus told them that everyone would fall away. Peter was having none of that. “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Jesus looked at Peter and said, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

Later, while they were in the Garden of Gethsemane, around six hundred soldiers and the Chief Priest came to arrest Jesus. Everyone scattered, just as Jesus had predicted, and Jesus was taken to be tried in front of a kangaroo court. Meanwhile, Peter had fingers pointing at him; “You’re a Galilean, you’re a follower of Jesus!” But Peter denied it. Three times they accused Peter, and three times Peter denied it. Suddenly, a rooster crowed.

Jesus looked out and saw Peter; their eyes met, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said. Mary remembered, and Peter remembered. How could Peter, who witnessed all the events unfold, just as Mary did, deny Jesus? I don’t know why, but he did. Maybe it was all becoming too personal for Peter. When he was with Jesus, it was Jesus who took the heat, but now the accusations were being directed at Peter. But it was all too late, and he remembered what Jesus had told him would happen.

Today, I want to leave you with this question: Are you like Mary and Peter? If you answer honestly, you’ll probably find that you (we)are very similar to them. I am truly grateful for God’s grace and mercy.