Guilt by Disassociation: John 18:12-27 - Third Sunday in Lent
Why do people root for the bully? Why do schoolchildren laugh while a fellow classmate is being humiliated? Why are reality TV show hosts so mean to the contestants? Why is social media overrun with trolls who spread insults and lies? Why do we love books and films about criminals? The reason why, I believe, is all about power, and we are naturally drawn to power. You don’t want to be humiliated and robbed of your lunch money. You want to feel safe and secure. You want to have someone stronger than you looking out for you. Resist the powerful, though, and you risk losing everything. This is why Peter denies Jesus three times, and all the other disciples desert Jesus when he’s arrested. Photo by Yunus on Unsplash At the Last Supper, Peter promised that he would lay down his life for Jesus. I don’t think Peter believed he would ever need to lay down his life for Jesus. After all, he saw Jesus turn water into wine, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead....
