PART 4
DON’T WANT HIM ON MY TEAM!
TEXT: MATTHEW 26.58, 75
INTRODUCTION:
This sermon will bring an end to our series on the calling and preparation of Peter as given to us in the Gospels. We have watched Peter as he progresses from his call at the Sea of Galilee, and the immediate departure from his fishing business to follow Christ. We saw as Jesus gave him (along with the other disciples) the future mission which he would complete.
We now see in the previous verses where Jesus and His disciples have just completed their Passover meal. He then gives them the warning that they would all forsake Him. After He finishes telling them this, they go to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. While they are there, Judas comes with a large group from the house of the High Priest. They come in search of Jesus. They have come to arrest Him and take Him to the house of Caiaphas, who is the high priest at this time. This is just as Jesus had told them. Just remember, as we learned in the last message, Jesus told his disciples that they would be offended because of Him, and would forsake Him. All of them (including Peter) agreed they would not leave Him, but would follow Him all the way. Peter was so sure of his commitment that he had a heated exchange about this very fact with Jesus. He thought he was stronger than what he was, but he would fail. He then runs for the hills when he denies Jesus. One could ask the question, “Is this the kind of person you would want on your team?” Most people would say, “No!”
Are we any better than Peter? I hope that we can learn a great deal from our study of the life of Peter. He is one of the most colorful characters in the Scripture. I feel that we can truly gain a considerable amount of knowledge when see how our life can be compared to his. Jesus has called each of us to follow Him and complete the mission given to us. We must remember that, sometimes, to reach the mission, we have to go through the school of hard knocks or you could say “I am attending the University of Trials and Tribulation.”
1. DON’T GET TO CLOSE, WE MIGHT GET SPOTTED
You will notice as we read the story in the Gospels that Jesus was completely right about what He had said. Look what happens as they prepare to take Him away, “. . . all the disciples forsook him, and fled” (Matthew 26.56). All of His disciples left Him just as Jesus had told them. They were not going to stay behind and see what was going to happen next, they could be arrrested also. Matthew 26.57 states, “And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled” (see also Mark 14.53, Luke 22.54a). Jesus is then taken away by the servants from the house of Caiaphas. All of the necessary people had been assembled for this mock trial. We see it as a mock trial, because their minds were, most likely, already decided as to what they were going to do.
Notice how Peter responds after this occurs. Matthew 26.58 states, “But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace . . .” (see also Mark 14.54, Luke 22.54b). When I read this scripture, I remember many of those old movies where someone will jump into a cab, tell the cabbie “follow that car, but don’t get to close, they might see us.” Peter does decide to follow Him, but only from a distance. Peter wants to follow because he loves Jesus, and truly does not want to forsake Christ. He is very concerned at what is going to happen to Him. He wants to know if the Sanhedrin is just going to punish Him, possibly by beating, and then release Him or sentence Him to death. However, because of Peter’s fear, he does not want to be seen. If he were to be seen, then Jesus’ captors could possibly arrest him and he could face the same fate as Jesus. Peter is finding out the hard way, that it is turning out to be just as Jesus had spoken it.
That must have been depressing for Peter to realize.
When Peter arrived at the house of Caiaphas, he enters into the area where the spectators have gathered. Peter then “. . . sat with the servants, to see the end. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them” (Luke 22:54b-55). Peter mixes in with the crowd. Maybe he can be part of the crowd without be seen or recognized. It seems that several people have assembled to see what is going to happen to Jesus. For someone who is afraid and does not want to be seen, he sure picks a great place to go, right to the court room.
2. THEY CANNOT KNOW WHO I AM, I COULD GET IN TROUBLE
Can Peter stay out of sight? He was hoping that no one would notice him and especially ask him any questions. “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee” (Matthew 26:69; also Mark 14.66-67, Luke 22.56). When he is approached by a maiden, and confronted with the idea that someone there knows he is part of the following of Jesus, he has a great opportunity to acknowledge Jesus Christ and his believe in Him. How would Peter respond to this questioning? “But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest” (Matthew 26:70; Mark 14.68, Luke 22.57). Strike one. Peter possibly thought, “I cannot believe that I said that.” Hopefully this would be the only person that would asked. He may have thought, “if I am asked again, I will do better.”
“And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matthew 26:71; Mark 14.69; Luke 22.58). Peter has left one area of the house to get away from the questioning. He did not seem to get far enough away. While he stands there, another maid comes to the area where he is standing with several others. She tells them publicly that this man was with Jesus. How will Peter get out of this? Will he do as before, or will he now accept the fact that he knows Jesus? “And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:72). Strike two. Here he goes again, he denies Jesus, but this time he does so with an oath. If you recall in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells them to not swear (or make an oath). He said that they should answer things as either yes or no (See Matthew 5.34-36). But if you think about it, what does it matter to Peter at this time, anyway, for he is denying that he even knows Jesus.
“And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee” (Matthew 26:73; see also Mark 14.70, Luke 22.59). Some time has passed since Peter encountered the two maidens. Luke records that about an hour of time has passed. A group came to Peter and implied that he was one of the followers of Jesus, because his speech gave him away. Possibly, his dialect of speech was different than those from Jerusalem. Maybe they were wondering why a person from Galilee would be here in the middle of the night to see the court proceedings. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man” (Matthew 26.74a; Mark 14.71, Luke 22.60). Strike three. Peter was so upset that he was questioned so many times about knowing Jesus that he begins to swear and to curse and once again denies knowing Jesus. I do not even know who this man is. Now it seems Peter has lost all sense of being and commitment to Jesus during this incident.
3. I SURE DID GOOF UP
“And immediately the cock crew” (Matthew 26:74). After he denies Him the third time, the rooster crows, and it appears that a light has come on in his head. “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75, see also Mark 14.72, Luke 22.60, 62). Notice how Luke records this episode, “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Luke 22:61). Both Matthew and Mark state that Peter remembers what Jesus had spoken, only Luke, however, states that Jesus turned and looked at him. This must have been a penetrating look. This brought all things back to his remembrance.
One must wonder what was going through the mind of Peter at this moment. This must have been the worst day of Peter’s life. When Peter realized that he was not as strong as he thought he could be, it must have broken his heart. He immediately went outside and began to cry. This was not just shedding a tear or two, but was a cry from the heart of a truly sorrowful person. He most likely felt so bad at what he had just done by denying his Lord. I told him that I would follow Him all the way to the end, now look what I have done. I cannot believe that I did this. Peter most likely felt like a complete failure.
One must remember, that, if Peter had answered in the affirmative on any of these occasions, then those asking, would have immediately signaled the guards and Peter, most likely would have been brought before the same council as Jesus. This was probably crossed the mind of Peter during this entire episode. Peter was so afraid that this would happen that he felt that he had not other option but to deny Jesus. We can sit here today and judge Peter for his actions, but beware, he who lives in a glass house must not throw stones. Are we any better, or do we do any better than Peter did.
4. I STILL HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE
Jesus still had a plan for Peter’s life. He was not done with him. Peter has seen the resurrected Jesus on two occasions. However, for Peter, most likely all he could think about was that he had denied Jesus and still feels terrible about it. What else is left for Peter to do, than to return to his former life. In John 21.3, it is recorded the words of Peter, when he said, “. . . I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately: and that night they caught nothing” (John 21.3). Peter possibly felt like there was no hope for him in the future, but there is one thing I know how to do. If you recall, Peter was a fisherman by trade, so he would be able to return to this way of life without any problem. You will notice in this story that he has the same problem that he had when Jesus called him, he is not able to catch anything. Once again, Jesus finds them and tells them to cast their nets on the other side, and they catch a great deal of fish. They did not know who was standing on the shore until they caught the fish, then they realized it was Jesus. I believe that once again Jesus is showing them this example as a reminder of their calling and of what is to come in their future. They are going to be great fishermen, but not of the fish in the sea, but of being a fisher of men. They were going to be the ones to show the way of salvation for mankind. Simon is so excited when he realizes that it is Jesus on the shore that he jumps into the sea and swims to Jesus.
After they conclude their meal of fish and bread. Jesus begins to prepare Peter for the road ahead. Jesus begins to question Peter. Jesus knew that Peter loved Him, but He asked anyway, “. . . Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these?” (John 21.15a). Peter do you love me more than this job of fishing. Peter responds, “. . . Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs” (John 21.15b). He questions him twice more about his love. I believe that Peter did truly love Him. Maybe by asking three times, Jesus is trying to see if Peter does truly mean it. If you recall, Peter was serious when he said that he would never forsake Him. Jesus is trying to get a serious and thoughtful response to this question, not just a response off the cuff without any forethought. Peter, this is my plan for you that you will go forward and feed my sheep. Jesus is proving to Peter that his life still had meaning.
Jesus then alludes to a future event that would occur in the life of Peter. Jesus tells Peter of how he will die in the end. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not” (John 21.18). John records, as he writes his gospel, that this is the way that Peter died. “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God” (John 21.19a). Once again Jesus reiterates the original calling to Peter, for John 21.19 tells us that “. . . when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me” (John 21.19).
CONCLUSION:
Peter’s life was important to Jesus, for He had a plan for Peter from the beginning. Peter had done the worst thing, he had denied Jesus. I am sure that he thought that he sounded foolish when he told Jesus that he would never forsake Him, and then denied even knowing Him. Most likely, Peter wondered if there was any hope for him after what happened. The answer was Yes. Jesus had called him to be a follower, and He knew Peter would be able to complete the will of God in his life. He was restored back to even better than he was before. He did become that rock which Jesus prophesied he would. Peter would later become one of the great leaders of the early church, and even wrote two epistles that bear his name.
You may feel like there is no hope for you. However, I am here to tell you there is hope for us. Do we see ourselves in the life of Peter? We try to fulfill all that the Lord wants us to do. However, we come to the realization that we are human, just like Peter. We may have had problems in the past, but God can help us to overcome them and become great in His kingdom. He tried many times to do things in his own power and ability. We do the same thing. He learned that it must come through the power of Jesus Christ, and we must come to that same conclusion. Instead of trying to complete things with human ability and knowledge, let us realize that we must rely on God and His Spirit “to guide (us) into all truth” (John 16.13).
