Will You Deny Him? Series

What Will You Do With Jesus? Deny Him?

John 18:12-27

Introduction

We have traveled through John’s Gospel now … starting with the encouragement to ‘come and see’ Jesus … then noticing so many reasons we love Him … and now what will we do with Him?

Albert Benjamin Simpson was a Presbyterian minister in New York City in early 1890s, where he led many immigrants to Christ. The church where he preached refused to accept the immigrants, so he began the New York Gospel Tabernacle.. It was during this time when he wrote several hymns, one of which was called “What Will You Do With Jesus?” In 1972 Alton Howard composed a new tune, arranged by Peggy West, that is now the one predominately used in hymnals associated with Churches of Christ. It’s a haunting stanza: “What will you do with Jesus?’”

Our last message was in John 13, when Jesus was washing the feet of the disciples. We have now arrived in John 18, after an amazing few chapters of teaching in the upper room, Jesus and the disciples enter the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas will betray him. Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus. “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (Jn 18:11)

Jesus is bound and begins a series of illegal trials through the night, each escalating in violence and accusation. First, he is taken to Annas, where he is questioned about his disciples and his teaching (18:19). Jesus told them to ‘Ask those who heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” - which provoked an officer nearby to strike Jesus with his hand. “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” (18:23) Jesus is then taken to Caiaphas… and then to Pilate.

Meanwhile, we turn our attention to Peter. John 18:17,18,25–27

John 18:12-27

17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

25 …So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”

26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”

27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

1. What Led Peter to Deny Jesus?

He was shaken by Jesus’ prediction that he would deny him

John 13:37-38 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

He was concerned about coming persecution

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

He was confused by Jesus’ talk about leaving

John 16:16-17 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”

He was angered by the betrayal by Judas

John 18:1-3 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

He felt defeated; his actions to protect Jesus brought a rebuke

John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

When we are shaken, concerned, confused, angered, or feeling defeated, we should focus on putting on the Christian Armor! We are about to be under spiritual attack!

2. How Can We Deny Jesus Today?

With Our Words - Peter denied Jesus with outright lies. Given the right circumstances and people involved, we could be tempted to deny that we are followers of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”