Three Days, One Messiah

Preface

There are those who have said that the world has always been changing, that over millions of years the universe gradually came together. Others say the world changed in seven days, brought about by the manipulating beauty and power of an intelligent being. There are more with an opinion, the ones who say that the world changed one night two thousand years ago, when God became one of us. But if those in the modern world were to speak with a certain group of individuals about the year AD 31, they would say that the world changed in three days. Three days where the greatest plan ever made in the history of the universe came together.

Before the events of these critical three days, it had often been said that if there was anything at all similar between the oldest son of Jonas and the youngest son of Zebedee, it was their tempers and their loyalty to the One they saw to be the Messiah. That was the only exception. Other than that, there was nothing. Despite being inseparable, they were complete opposites.

Peter could never keep his mouth shut. John strived to control his temper. Peter nearly worked himself to death. John preferred the life of a scholar. Peter wasn't interested in religion. Religion was John's main interest. The second the news about the baptizer at the Jordan got started, Peter ignored it. John was almost immediately attracted to the wild man some said was a prophet. Then their interests suddenly collided. All because they met Jesus. Nevertheless, though it was true that they were both loyal, and there was no doubt they both loved Him, there was still yet another difference. Peter was all too quick to boast about his loyalty. Following Jesus didn’t seem to have changed that. But John, he just wanted to be near Jesus. Truth and intimacy were his goal, and he was restless unless he achieved it. Yes, there was most certainly a contrast between these two lifelong friends, but never was it so plain as in the three days when the world changed.

It is hard to pinpoint just when it all started. But for these two friends, it started the night their worlds turned upside down, and their lives once again changed forever. There were twelve of them. All so different, and yet so similar. Nothing had been the same for any of them since they met Jesus of Nazareth. But now things would really change. Though they wouldn’t have known it, one of their own would start it.

It was the time of the Passover. It is the spring of AD 31. In about 24 hours, Jesus will be dead. But at this particular moment, death and suffering is the farthest thing from the minds of the disciples.