Denial

Thomas Cackler

The Last Days of Jesus Christ • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Luke 22:54–62

Denial

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Peter's denial

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Introduction – Your Biggest Failure

This is the story of Juan Sanchez, pastor at High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas.

My parents couldn’t afford to send me to university. So, to pay for my school, I enlisted in the United States Navy. In God’s kindness, I eventually won a Navy scholarship to the University of Florida. As a part of my training, I served on a tugboat one summer. Our job was to guide large ships through the harbor without incident, using only thick, heavy lines (ropes, to the non-nautical). One morning, the petty officer assigned to the tug was preparing the lines. You can imagine how thick and heavy they had to be to pull such large vessels, yet he was throwing them around like they were dental floss. As he organised the lines, he started to bad-mouth Christians, going on and on about how hypocritical and unreliable they were. Then he looked up at me, 19 years old at the time and only a Christian for two years, and he said, “You’re not one of those Christians, are you?!”

At some point in your life, you will have to answer that question.

And, no matter how much you say you won’t, the temptation will be there to turn your back on Jesus. To say you aren’t a Christian.

Or, you will, as Pastor Sanchez points out on his website, live in silence, or functionally deny that you are a Christian.

In our text today, we see Peter denying Jesus.

It is a well known passage.

And it is one that we often look at with some disdain.

“Poor Peter - he is a failure. He denied Jesus.”

Thomas is known for doubting and Peter is known for his denial. We’re known by our failures in life, aren’t we?

Here’s the thing. Peter’s denial wasn’t due to a moment of weakness.

If you look at Peter’s life, it should come as no surprise to you that he ended up denying Christ in this moment.

But what can we learn from Peter in order to prepare ourselves for when we too are asked or accused knowing this Christ.

I want you to think about a time you made a colossal mistake.

· I want you to think about a time you made a colossal mistake.

Don’t Walk Alone

EX - Peter made several mistakes after Jesus’ arrest but the biggest was thinking he could handle it on his own.

You probably find this hard to believe, but Peter’s pride and arrogance got in his way after Jesus was arrested.

Peter forgot to follow in community

After Jesus was arrested, we know that the disciples scattered in fear.

Matthew 26:56 ESV

But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Only Peter and one other disciple remained.

The rest of the disciples had went their own way. But Peter did follow. So before we get too hard on him, remember he was the only one who was around to

We don’t see any other disciples with him and we don’t see John again until the cross - and that is in His gospel.

The “band of brothers” that were the 12 suddenly scattered.

Here is Peter - slowly walking back his bravado from a few hours ago. But he is here. He just forgot backup.

It’s obvious that Peter was nervous and probably a little frightened in this situation.

If he had back up, he probably wouldn’t be so frightened.

There is a reason Jesus told them to go out in pairs. There is a reason

Peter forgot to follow closely

John’s gospel tells us in that it was Simon Peter and one other disciple.

Peter decided to follow from culture

We don’t know for sure, but it could have been John or possibly Joseph of Arimathea, who gave a tomb for Jesus.

Regardless, that disciple, according to John’s gospel, went in while Peter remained outside with the servants.

Peter was, hedging his bets, keeping the option to run open should the religious authorities decide to arrest him as well.

Peter kept his distance, followed in isolation and generally forgot what it meant to be a follower of Christ.

We need to understand that there is no such thing as a lone wolf Christian.

We cannot forget that following Jesus isn’t about doing things the way that we think we should do them - but following Jesus means we actually listen to and obey His commands.

Peter thought he could follow Jesus into this den of darkness and handle it all by himself.

But we know that this is not the case. He failed.

It’s not about saying “I’m a Christian” and then doing whatever I please.

It’s about saying “I’m a Christian” and then doing what Jesus says because you know it is what is best for you.

Just hours before this, Jesus warned Peter that he’d deny that he knows Jesus three times before the sun came up.

And then when they went to the garden, Jesus warned them to pray so they would not enter into temptation.

Peter ignored the warnings of Jesus, the instructions of Jesus and instead went with what he knew.

IL -

AP - Following Jesus means we walk in community

We were made to walk in community together. That’s one reason why Jesus picked the 12 and then picked John, James and Peter to go deeper with.

Likewise, we need to be people who live out our journey in Christ in gospel community.

And Christians, literally Christ-Followers, we need to be people who hear from Jesus.

This means that we do more than just show up on Sunday morning and then go back to living in the world.

I don’t ask you to read your Bible or

It means we are in each other’s lives which will, at times, require us to get into each other’s muck and messes.

We don’t call on people to walk together because we are a cult or we want control of everyone’s lives.

We call on people to walk together because that is the pattern of the New Testament.

Discipleship is a team sport. We need one another.

So, I’m asking each one of you to find one or two people to walk with. Make a commitment to walk in Gospel Centered Community.

And, if you don’t know what that looks like, let me briefly explain.

What this is something like what we do on Thursday nights, only smaller.

2 to 4 people get together regularly to read the word and pray about what’s going on.

This happens in your home or a coffee shop or a restaurant.

So, come on a Thursday - not this week, it’s our week off for the Leadership Team to meet - if you’re not already.

But you need to be in community beyond Sunday morning. You can’t face this culture alone.

· And then I want you to think about that gnawing in the pit of your stomach. That sickness that you feel.

Don’t Walk In Fear

And then I want you to think about that gnawing in the pit of your stomach. That sickness that you feel.

EX - Peter was afraid of the consequences of following Jesus.

Let’s face it, there were those who opposed Jesus and they eventually got the upper hand.

The religious leaders kept pressing and pressing.

And they finally had enough so they arrested Jesus on trumped up charges.

And they tried him, as we will see next week, in a mockery of a trial.

The tide of culture turned on Jesus and his followers pretty quickly.

The crowds went from shouting Hosanna to Crucify in less than a week.

The tide of history can turn quickly.

Peter saw this and it caused him to back off.

Notice, he followed at a distance.

I mean

In John’s account, we know that one disciple was closer to the action and told a servant to let Peter in. But Peter remained on the outside.

And Peter let this fear rule his life and dictate where he would go and what he would do.

· That fear of what happens next. Will I ever recover from this?

Don’t Walk in Overconfidence

That fear of what happens next. Will I ever recover from this?

That is the feeling I want you to consider today as we continue our look at The Last Days of Jesus Christ.

· That is the feeling I want you to consider today as we continue our look at The Last Days of Jesus Christ.

It's now early Friday morning. Pre-dawn.

o It's now early Friday morning. Pre-dawn.

The religious leaders, in the dark of night, have arrested Jesus with the help of one of his own.

o The religious leaders, in the dark of night, have arrested Jesus with the help of one of his own.

o And it is not a stretch to think about what they will do to Him.

Conclusion

And it is not a stretch to think about what they will do to Him.

The remaining disciples knew that it wasn’t going to go well. And that's why, according to Matthew's gospel, they scattered to the wind.

§ Jesus wasn't the first to claim to be Messiah.

And those who have come before have all ended up the same – dead.

§ And those who have come before have all ended up the same – dead.

§ The remaining disciples knew this. And that's why, according to Matthew's gospel, they scattered to the wind.

The remaining disciples knew this. And that's why, according to Matthew's gospel, they scattered to the wind.

o Only Peter and another, unnamed disciple remain.

Only Peter and another, unnamed disciple remains.

Chances are good that this unnamed disciple is John since we only know he is here in John's gospel and John doesn't mention himself by name.

§ Chances are good that this unnamed disciple is John since we only know he is here in John's gospel and John doesn't mention himself by name.

Of the twelve, only Peter and John, the two closest to Jesus remain.

§ Of the twelve, only Peter and John, the two closest to Jesus remain.

· And it is tempting here to look at our text today and say "Bad Peter" and "Don't be like Peter!".

And it is tempting here to look at our text today and say "Bad Peter" and "Don't be like Peter!".

We sit back and with an air of superiority say that Peter is a failure and we shouldn't be a failure.

o We sit back and with an air of superiority say that Peter is a failure and we shouldn't be a failure.

So, we look at his mistakes and we come up with a handful of reasons why we shouldn't be like Peter.

o So, we look at his mistakes and we come up with a handful of reasons why we shouldn't be like Peter.

We say, "Peter followed Jesus alone, so don't walk alone in life. Live in gospel community."

o We say, "Peter followed Jesus alone, so don't walk alone in life. Live in gospel community."

o And, "Peter followed, but from a distance. Don't follow from a distance. Follow Jesus closely."

And, "Peter followed, but from a distance. Don't follow from a distance. Follow Jesus closely."

o And we say, "Peter stayed outside of the High Priest's house and warmed himself by the fire of the servants. Don't warm yourself by the fires of this world. Seek your comfort in Christ."

And we say, "Peter stayed outside of the High Priest's house and warmed himself by the fire of the servants. Don't warm yourself by the fires of this world. Seek your comfort in Christ."

Let's see – one more. "Peter denied Jesus Christ. Don't deny the power of Jesus in your life. Tell others about Jesus."

o Let's see – one more. "Peter denied Jesus Christ. Don't deny the power of Jesus in your life. Tell others about Jesus."

o And these are all right and true statements but they are missing something – they are missing the Gospel hope.

And these are all right and true statements but they are missing something – they are missing the Gospel hope.

These are all things that you can do. And when you fail, well, just try harder.

o These are all things that you can do. And when you fail, well, just try harder.

And, to be honest, we need to get away from the mindset that the Christian life is try harder, do more, work harder. Because that's not the gospel.

o And, to be honest, we need to get away from the mindset that the Christian life is try harder, do more, work harder. Because that's not the gospel.

o We need to understand that while Peter is someone

Peter Was Human

EX - What we need to see is that Peter was human - just like you and me.

Peter was a mixture of good and bad. Of success and failure.

As one of my commentaries pointed out, “Sometimes we preachers use him as a … whipping boy. It’s great fun to portray “God’s clod” slipping below the waters of Galilee! But we forget that none of us have ever walked on water!”

He was brash and bold. Yet thoughtful and reflective. Prideful yet passionate. Peter was much like us.

Hughes, R. K. (1998). Luke: that you may know the truth (p. 348). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

Yes, he denied Jesus. Yes, he followed Jesus at a distance.

But it was only Peter and John who were both brave enough and faithful enough to follow Jesus at this time.

Judas, of course, betrayed Christ.

And the other nine had ran off in fear.

While we are tempted to define Peter by his failures - and there are enough of them for us to do so, we cannot overlook the reality that Peter wasn’t a total wreck.

No, Peter was simply human.

That means he was just like the rest of us.

He struggled with pride and arrogance.

And it was his humanity that caused his pride and

He got out in front of Jesus.

He cowered in fear after the arrest.

He sought comfort in the world’s company.

As that same commentator points out, “Peter’s sheer humanity makes him everyone’s teacher.”

AP - The Lesson we learn is that God’s working in our story doesn’t end with our humanity

I’m so grateful that God’s work in my life and in your life isn’t dependent upon your success.

I made a mistake that cost a client $25,0000.

I accidentally turned off another client’s program.

And I told a client that we could do something and I was wrong. The system really wouldn’t work that way.

Yet, when I left, everyone was sad and asked me to stay.

Now, if you had asked them right after the mistakes, they may have said “good riddance”

But I kept working away. I knew my mistakes would not define me.

It’s not up to you to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and make yourself right with God.

And our humanity doesn’t prevent God from working in our lives.

In plain words, none of us in this room are beyond the reach of God’s grace. We see this in Peter’s life.

But we also see the other half of this famed quote by author Jerry Bridges - none of us are beyond the need of God’s grace.

We are all human. That means we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. But that is not the end of our story just like it wasn’t the end of Peter’s.

Peter Was Humbled

EX - Peter’s humanity led to a humbling recognition.

Peter did of course deny that he knew Jesus.

This after his confession that John records for us

John 6:68–69 ESV

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

John 6:68-

Matthew 16:16 ESV

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

But it wasn’t until that rooster crowed, as we read in verse 60 and Jesus turned to him in verse 61 that Peter remembered the words of Jesus.

Jesus warned Peter just a few short hours before that dawn wouldn’t happen until Peter denied he knew Jesus 3 times.

And because we know that Jesus is in control, he could turn to Peter - whether he looked through a window or he was being moved from one building to another - Jesus knew what was happening and looked at Peter.

Just as he was back in , Peter knew he was a sinful man, unworthy to be a follower of Christ.

You see, I would argue that Peter’s first denial wasn’t that he was a follower of Christ - it was a denial that Jesus knows what he is actually talking about. A denial that he is in control.

And we are just like Peter and we make the same denial all the time.

We don’t come right out and say it, but we deny that Jesus knows what he is talking about every time we step into that sinful and rebellious life.

IL - Worry

Let me give you a practical example - how many of us have worried at some point in our lives.

You know, Jesus said, this about worry -

Luke 12:29–30 ESV

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Luke 12:

And yet, how many of us at some point have worried? All of us have been anxious, nervous, stressed out and worried about something. So why do you think that Jesus told us not to worry?

Well, because if we worry, we are concerned that God will get it wrong.

As Pastor Tim Keller said, “Worry is not believing God will get it right, and bitterness is believing God got it wrong.”

You know, Peter rebuked Jesus for saying he would die. That didn’t work out so well for Peter.

AP - Don’t let your human-ness get in the way of admitting that Jesus is right.

Here’s the thing. When Peter hear that rooster and Jesus looked at him, he instantly knew that he was wrong and Jesus was right.

And I don’t think that when we read that Jesus “looked” at Peter, we should read that Jesus was angry with him.

The word we see as “looked” carries with it a sense of “fixed” or “firmness”

It’s almost as if Jesus looked at Peter and saw right through it.

That Peter was who Jesus warned him he’d be - if Peter had only listened to him.

And I’ll tell you that Jesus sees right through the masks that you put up in order to pretend that you are someone special.

And these masks, the bluster and bravado are what hinders us from walking in close fellowship with Jesus.

We need to admit that we too are sinners and repent of those sins.

Here’s the thing, when we do that, something pretty amazing happened. Both James and Peter remind us later on in the New Testament of this fundamental truth from - “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Peter Was Healed

EX - When Peter ran off weeping bitterly, it was the beginning of his healing process.

You know, they say you have to hit rock bottom before you can be healed.

And here is Peter, hitting rock bottom.

But here we see Peter’s path to restoration come into full focus.

Peter is the first among equals, as we like to say.

Not that he is a better disciple than say John, just that Peter is the leader.

We don’t know, exactly, what the disciples did after the crucifixion.

We know John was there because Jesus said, “Behold your mother and mother behold your son.”

But the rest were not there, but they seemed to have gathered together.

When the women who went to finish preparing Jesus’ body in the tomb saw his body wasn’t there, they went and told the disciples, or apostles. And they seemed to have all been together.

Now, while Scripture is silent, I can’t help but think that they got back together for a mission debrief.

And during that time, they recalled what Jesus said and tried to figure out what went wrong.

And Peter, carrying the guilt and shame from his failure probably thought “Jesus was right. I DID deny him. I AM a failure!”

He probably hoped for, wished for forgiveness.

But I think something happened - think about what Luke records for us after he says the apostles thought of it as an idle tale.

Luke 24:12 ESV

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Luke 24:12

Somehow I think Peter was searching for hope in the midst of his failure. He knew he was wrong about going with Jesus to death. What else was he wrong about?

Mark 8:31–33 ESV

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Mark 8:31

John

Maybe all wasn’t lost. Maybe, just maybe Peter could find forgiveness and his failure wouldn’t define him. Maybe if Jesus was right about the rooster thing. And if he was right about that, then maybe he’s right about rising again. And if he’s right about that, maybe he’s right about ...

John 10:28 ESV

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

John

AP - Remember Jesus’ words in times of failure.

Friends, we need to rest in the words of Christ when we fail. Because we will fail.

Promises of forgiveness and hope. These are what we cling to.

Promises that we are children of God, not failures washed up and left on the curb.

When you fail, look to Christ. Look to his way of dealing with the situation. And trust in the hope and peace that surpasses all understanding!

Peter Became Hopeful

EX - During this time, Peter began to hope.

Again, this is somewhat of a speculation on my part, but it is based on what we do see later in Scripture and that verse we looked at moment ago from

Peter, and we learn in John that John went too when John humbly adds that he outran Peter to the tomb, went to the Tomb.

For those keeping score at home, that’s 1 disciple dead after Judas hung himself, 9 still cowering in fear and 2 running to the empty tomb based on the testimony of the women.

And from Peter’s perspective, we now have hope.

Jesus WAS right about the rooster. He WAS right about the three days rise again thing. And if he is right about that, then maybe he is right about the whole eternal life thing. And maybe I’ve just had the whole Messiah thing wrong.

And in all of this, Peter began to hope that maybe, just maybe, Jesus wasn’t done with him yet.

AP - Let your hope remind you that He’s not done writing your story yet.

I mean, let’s be honest. Where so many of us leave off with Peter and the account of his denial is depressing.

And the whole narrative at this point is sad. It is depressing. But, the story doesn’t end there.

Just as Jesus’ story doesn’t end on the cross and the empty tomb, neither does Peter’s story end with his failure and denial.

God wasn’t done with Peter. And he’s not done with you.

I mean that. God isn’t done with you yet.

When I worked out in Newton at the care center, I remember so many of the seniors telling me, “Pastor, I don’t know why I’m still here.”

The would tell me all they couldn’t do and how frustrated they were.

And I said, “Well, God’s got a reason you are still here. So, as long as there is air in your lungs, we need to figure it out. He’s not done writing your story yet.”

And whether it was one of my residents who came to know Christ as her personal savior to the lady who finally started reading God’s Word and enjoying it (albeit in a super giant print edition!) to the lady who was bitter and mean who started to love her family again - God wasn’t done with them and he isn’t done with you and he isn’t done with me and he isn’t done with this church.

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Cor

Peter Became Heroic

EX - We know what happens next.

Peter would go on and do some pretty amazing things.

He would go on to boldly proclaim the truth of the resurrected Jesus and the hope that it brings.

He would go on to share the hope that we can only find in Jesus to thousands of people and those people would respond by likewise trusting in him.

And although Scripture doesn’t tell us, we know from Church history that he would die on a cross - albeit upside down at his request because he said he wasn’t worthy to die in the same fashion as Jesus.

But before all that, Peter was restored by Christ, right?

That scene in John’s gospel where he was asked three times if he loved Jesus?

Three times he denied in our text today, and three times Jesus restored him.

Peter’s hope led him back to Jesus and there he found forgiveness and restoration. And from there, Peter was unstoppable.

Conclusion - Don’t Deny Jesus

So, as we bring it back around, let me challenge you - Don’t deny Jesus.

Don’t let your failures define you because Jesus doesn’t define you by your failures.

If you hear my voice and you’ve repented of your sins, know that Jesus doesn’t define you by your failures. He defines you by His success.

And if you are hearing my voice today and you’ve not trusted in Jesus Christ as the atonement of your sins, know this truth. You can be forgiven because Christ’s love and Christ’s work is stronger than any sin or failure you’ve had.

Take heart that Jesus is greater than your failures, he is stronger than your sin. And we need to trust him and follow Him - just like Peter did .... eventually.

So don’t deny Jesus is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than you could ever hope or imagine. And that includes overcoming your greatest failure.

Will you confess him today? And trust that He is able to do just that. Trust that God isn’t done writing your story yet.