LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 11 – I DON’T KNOW THE MAN!
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Welcome to this special Easter edition of Redeeming the Chaos with Laurie Christine!
A FAMILY DEVOTIONAL FOR EASTER
For 30 days leading up to Easter, I will be reading to you from my easter devotional book, Come and See! 30 Family Bible Stories for Easter.
Today, I am reading Come and See! Chapter 11 – I DON’T KNOW THE MAN!
Come and See! invites families of elementary-aged children to experience firsthand the anticipation, the sorrow, the tragedy, the fear, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Through the eyes of six eye witnesses, you will be led on a journey through the busyness of the streets of Jerusalem, to the despair of Golgotha, and finally to the celebration of the empty grave.
This bookincludes 30 short devotional stories, each with accompanying Scripture references and questions for discussion and imagination.
We are going to be reading one story each day leading up to Easter. You’re welcome to grab the kids and listen together for your family Bible time. Or, if you would rather read to your kids on your own, you can DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF THE ENTIRE EBOOK HERE.
LISTEN TO COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 11 – I DON’T KNOW THE MAN!
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READ COME AND SEE! CHAPTER 11 – I DON’T KNOW THE MAN!
I DON’T KNOW THE MAN! – Told by Peter, A Disciple of Jesus
I fidgeted with the hem of my cloak and my heart felt like it was trying to escape from my chest. Seriously, was it that obvious that I was from Galilee? “I don’t even know the man!” I snapped. Can’t these people just leave me alone?
PETER, DISCIPLE OF JESUS
I couldn’t believe what was happening. One of our own group, Judas, turned out to be a traitor! Argh. I never really trusted him. He was always sneaking around with our bag of money. Didn’t Jesus know that Judas would betray us? Why didn’t he stop this from happening? I had tried to stop it. I had tried to defend Jesus and attack the high priest’s slave. But I missed his head and only chopped off one of his ears. Bummer. But of course, Jesus showed compassion for the people coming to arrest him. He told me to put my sword away, and then he actually healed the man’s ear!
The Roman soldiers and temple guards had grabbed Jesus and bound him with ropes. The other disciples and I were terrified. As the mob of angry soldiers led Jesus away, the other disciples and I fled in the other direction. We didn’t want to get arrested as well.
After the mob dispersed, John and I hid in the shadow of a large olive tree, waiting to see what would happen next. Hesitant to get too close and risk being seen, we followed the crowd from a distance. The guards appeared to be taking Jesus to the home of Caiaphas. Darting from tree to tree and building to building, we followed the angry mob. The guards led Jesus into the courtyard of Caiaphas’ home and slammed the gate shut behind them.
Shivering with cold, John and I hid in the shadows. What should we do now? We wondered. What would happen to Jesus? Surely, they would question him and release him, right? I mean, it’s not like he had done anything wrong.
“Come on, let’s go into the courtyard,” John suggested. “I can see smoke from a fire pit. At least we can stay warm while we wait.” I was hesitant. What if they know we were with Jesus? What if they arrest us too? Besides, I didn’t have any connection with the high priest. Why would they even let us in? John reassured my worried thoughts. He knew the high priest personally, and he would vouch for me to come in with him.
We walked up to the gate and greeted the servant girl standing guard. She wore a long dress, with a tattered shawl draped over her shoulders. She recognized John and welcomed him right away. But looking warily at me, she asked, “Who are you? Weren’t you one of that man’s disciples?” And by “that man,” I knew she meant Jesus.
“No, no!” I hastily replied, fearful of being identified with Jesus. “I’m here with John… I don’t know anything about this man you’re talking about.”
She raised one eyebrow and looked at me with suspicion, but then stepped aside so we could pass through into the courtyard. The pungent scent of cedar smoke and the sound of crackling flames welcomed us. Drawing closer to the fire pit, John and I tried to warm our stiff, aching fingers. I was cold and tired. It had to be nearly four in the morning! I had been up all night… first the dinner with Jesus, where he washed our feet, then praying with Jesus in the garden, then Judas showed up with an angry mob. Could I please just go home to bed now?
I wanted to get closer to the warmth of the blazing fire, but I first had to squeeze myself through a group of soldiers. A young girl scrutinized me from across the fire pit.
“Hey, aren’t you one of Jesus’ followers? I think I saw you out in the olive grove!”
I fidgeted with the hem of my cloak and my heart felt like it was trying to escape from my chest. Seriously, was it that obvious that I was from Galilee? “I don’t even know the man!” I snapped. Can’t these people just leave me alone?
I wandered away from the fire, keeping my head low, hoping no one else would recognize me. I pulled my cloak around me, trying to keep warm. What was going on inside Caiaphas’ house? Why was this taking so long? I considered sneaking out and going back to Bethany where we had been staying, but I was also anxious to find out what would happen to Jesus.
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