Peter’s Passion
(Lenten Series)
Scripture: Mark 14:27-31; 53-54; 66b-72
Two weeks ago we talked about Lazarus’ Dance, last week we looked at Mary’s Worship. This week we are going to look at the story that most of us refer to as Peter’s Denial. But what I want us to explore and learn from this morning is not so much Peter’s denial, as it is to look beneath the surface of Peter’s short-coming, step back to get a wider view, and to consider what I believe is perhaps a more godly look, at this label we’ve given Peter to wear down through the centuries. Let’s look today at Peter’s Passion.
First though, I word about passion. Probably the best known scripture referring to passion is Psalm 69:9 which is a prophecy about Jesus that says, “Passion for your house has consumed me.” Jesus was passionate about the temple of the Lord - it was to be a place a prayer.
What does it mean to be passionate about something? What does it mean to follow Jesus’ example in being passionate about his temple being a house of prayer. How do you get to be as passionate about following Jesus as what Peter seemed to be?
Webster’s defines passion as a strong emotion that has an overpowering or compelling effect. It implies burning intensity. It usually suggests eagerness in the pursuit of something.
So passion is active. Our passion for something or someone is what motivates our action. And we are called to be passionate followers of Jesus Christ. The church - followers of Christ are to be passionate, red-hot, lives on fire in every aspect - for him. Rev 3:16 Jesus says, because you are neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Jesus would rather have us stone COLD than lukewarm - just ho-hum kind of Christians. It’s the lukewarm churches he spits out. So we want to be passionate people.
Now you know and I know - there is plenty of passion in our church. We’ve got LOTS of passion here - and sometimes our passion, depending on where it comes from, - like Peter - can get us into just a bit of trouble.
Illustration:
A UCC pastor was wearing his clerical collar one day while visiting his wife who was in the hospital for minor surgery. He stopped in to see her and chatted with her for quite some time. Before leaving, he leaned down and gave his wife a very passionate kiss and left the room. The woman in the next bed over stared in disbelief. After the pastor left, the stunned woman said to her roommate, “You know, I’ve been a faithful member of the United Methodist Church all my life, but my pastor has never even come close to treating me as well as your’s does.”
Peter was passionate. And his passion motivated his actions.
In the scripture we read this morning, we can discover various actions that Peter’s Passion motivated him to. And what I hope to show us today is not so much the negative side of Peter’s passion, but what it was that JESUS might have seen in this passionate disciple of his, that lead Jesus to pick Peter to be the one who would strengthen his brothers. And we’re going to look at that verse in Luke 22 in just a minute.
But the first action we see of Peter’s here in this story is that:
1. Peter only heard the negative, (and we can add to that) - but at least he heard (vs 29).
In verses 27 & 28, Jesus said that everyone would desert him but after he was raised from the dead, he would get to Galilee BEFORE them and he would MEET them there.
Peter only heard the negative part of Jesus’ statement - he only heard that everyone would desert Jesus and Peter took it personally - he didn’t hear the part about Jesus meeting them in Galilee - none of them did, otherwise they would have understood that they would see him again, and perhaps, just perhaps, their grief wouldn’t have been as deep and their fear wouldn’t have been as intense.
And we do that too, don’t we? Someone says a whole statement to us, and we hear the negative, especially if it is something we perceive as negative about US. And we respond, or react to that, instead of hearing the whole message.
Peter couldn’t believe that he would desert his Lord, so he made a statement based on the negative part that he heard - the part that most affected his ego.
So number two: We see that Peter:
2. He was prideful with his words, but he was well-meaning (vs 31).
The words that Peter spoke in verses 29 and 31 were full of pride, but Peter meant well. Look at verse 29, he says, “Even if everyone else deserts, I never will!” Doesn’t that sound like a rather boastful statement. “These other guys, Lord - these other guys that have been following you for the same amount of time as I have, they might break down and desert you, but you can count on me. I’ll be there. I’ll even die for you!
Peter meant well. I’m sure he didn’t really mean to insult his brothers - his fellow disciples with his words, but they came pouring out, and he even said he would die if he had to, before he would desert Jesus.
And sometimes, we mean well with our words. We don’t mean to insult our brothers and sisters, but in our passion, the words pour out and we make promises that others may know, and Jesus does know, we will never keep.
And 9 times out of 10, when we speak words that hurt others, no matter how well-intended they may be - 9 times out of 10, we speak them from our own fear and pride that needs to be harnessed and redeemed.
I’m sure Peter loved Jesus so much that he didn’t want to lose him - and he certainly didn’t want to even think that he, himself, might desert his closest friend and teacher.
And as soon as Peter gave in to that passion and pride and fear. As soon as he made those bold statements, Peter was on a slippery slope, AWAY from keeping the very promises he had just made. And we see that in the third action he took.
3. He followed at a distance, (but lest we forget that we’re looking at the positive side of Peter’s passion today and what perhaps Jesus saw in Peter, we can say that at least he followed). He followed at a distance, but he followed (vs 54).
Verse 54 says Peter followed him (Jesus) at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. Peter followed. Yes, he followed at a distance, but what we need to remember is that Peter was a fisherman. Peter wasn’t acquainted with the lifestyle or the political arena of the high priests, and yet here he is - and one translation says, “he EVEN went into the courtyard.” This was the high priest’s home! And here’s this fisherman - dressed like a fisherman, walks and talks like a fisherman - and he goes right into the courtyard of the cultural elite.
And the rest of that verse, verse 54 says, “There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire. There he was! And who’s he sitting with - the guards who arrested Jesus.
4. Peter was present with the enemy!! //// - but he was present (vs 54).
Peter is now getting himself deeper and deeper in. After his bold statements, his false, but well-meaning promises, his limited hearing - he now finds himself hanging out with the wrong crowd.
He’s warming his hands by the fire of the enemy!! And folks, if we’re not careful - if we don’t listen to the whole message that Jesus has for us. If we don’t let Jesus rule our passion and redeem our pride - we’ll be sitting right where Peter was. We’ll be warming our hands - we’ll be getting our pleasure and satisfaction - we’ll be having our needs met - by the fire of the enemy.
And pretty soon, a little servant girl is going to come along and say, “You were one of those with Jesus the Nazarene” as it says in verse 67 and we’re going to say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
5. He spoke against the Lord, but he spoke (vss 68, 70, 71).
Peter said words that denied his Lord, but at least he spoke.
In just a few short hours, Peter’s words went from one end of the scale to the other. Within hours, the man who said he would even DIE if he had to in order to stay beside Jesus, was telling a little servant girl that he didn’t even know the man.
And we don’t know for sure, but I think it’s safe to say that this was the deepest, darkest hour of Peter’s ministry - of his relationship with Jesus - whom he so loved.
Peter had denied his identity. Number six.
6. He denied his identity, but his identity remained (vs 70; Matt 26:73).
From the deepest darkest part of this story, we see one of the most beautiful evidences of what it means to follow Christ completely. I think there is a significant analogy here. In verse 70 of Mark’s account, the men standing around there say that surely Peter must have been with Jesus, because he’s a Galilean! In the Matthew passage, it says, “Surely you must be one of them for your accent gives you away!”
Even when Peter denied who he was, there was something about him that told others who he was identified with.
Now I don’t know about you, but I count on that every day of my life. And I find such comfort and encouragement from this part of the story. Peter had been with Jesus for 3 years - he was FOLLOWING Jesus - trying to be what he could be for Jesus, and even when he messed up, people knew he was Jesus’ follower.
And I am so thankful, and I HOPE, that I have followed Jesus enough - I have committed myself passionately enough to him, that he has put his mark deeply enough on MY life, that even when I mess up - there is no question that I am STILL HIS!!!! Amen????
Oh, that we follow closely enough - that Jesus has been allowed to mark us so much with HIS stamp, and HIS redemption, and HIS sanctification, that even when we mess up, others looking at us, have no question that we... are.... still....His.
Peter denied his identity, but his identity remained.
And that happens to us as well - when our passion sometimes gets a little mis-directed or maybe pride creeps in there a bit. You see:
7. Peter believed in himself. Jesus believed in Peter (Luke 22:61).
When Peter make the bold statements he made, he was believing in himself. Did you catch that? He said, Even if everyone else deserts you, *I* never will. There’s that old *I* that gets us in trouble so much, huh?
Friends, “I” can’t do anything. Remember when Pilate said to Jesus (in his passion), “Don’t you know I have the power to release you or crucify you!!” And what did Jesus say, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above.”
Pilate thought the power was his - he said, “Don’t you know *I*... Peter did the same thing. He said, “Even if they do....*I never will.
Friends - the *I* will lead us to sure and certain destruction and the only way to prevent that from happening is to remember Jesus.
8. Peter remembered Jesus’ words, and repented (vs 72).
Peter remembered Jesus words, and we’re told he broke down and wept bitterly.
We talked a bit last week about being broken - here Peter is broken and repentant.
It’s important to understand this verse accurately. Verse 72 of Mark 14. You can read it there - Jesus’ WORDS flashed through Peter’s mind. See, it was not the rooster crowing that led Peter to repentance, it was Jesus’ words. Temporal things don’t lead to repentance, only the Word of God leads us to the place of repentance. That’s why the preaching of the Word and the understanding of Scripture is so important, especially in this day and age.
Number 9:
9. Satan sifted Peter. Jesus strengthened him (Luke 22:31-32).
Luke 22:31&32 - two of the most beautiful verses in all of scripture. Jesus says, “Simon Simon - Satan has asked to sift you like wheat (even Satan has to get permission to do what he does). Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Wow!! There’s a sermon right in there. Let me give you the points quickly:
Satan has to get permission.
Jesus prays for us
When we repent, Jesus gives us the power to strengthen others!!
Wheooo! That makes me want to SHOUT!!!
Well, that’s the story. What happened to Peter. Well, he went from:
Peter’s Progress
Peter went from:
1. Eating at the table to following at a distance (vss 22,54).
2. Sitting in the courtyard to standing in the entry (vss 54b,68).
3. Weeping bitterly to witnessing boldly (Mark 14:72; Acts 2:14)
I won’t take the time this morning to go into each of those - you can look up the references - let the Holy Spirit speak to you in His own way on those ones.
What is the application for us from what we see in this wonderful story of Peter. I think we see first of all that:
Application
1. God uses passionate people (Luke 22:32b)
Even before Peter’s sifting - even while Jesus knew Peter would deny him, he had a work for Peter to do. And Jesus has a work, a ministry, for each of us to do who are, as scripture says, “called according to his purpose.”
2. Our passion is our identity with Christ (Phil. 4:13).
Philippians 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Without him, we can do nothing. With him, we CAN do all things.
3. Our identity is Christ living in us (Gal. 2:20).
Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. - Now here it is - “It is no longer.... here’s that *I* - we talked about - it is no longer *I* who live, but CHRIST lives in me. So *I* live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, (that’s Jesus), who loved me and gave himself for me.
Once Peter got rid of the *I* in his life, he was able to be a bold witness for Christ. In fact, all the other times we see Peter, in the scripture, and especially in the letters he wrote to the provinces, we see him saying things like: “Think clearly and exercise self-control.”!! That’s quite a thing for this passionate Peter we just saw, to say. He says the trials make us partners with Christ so that we can have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed.
And in 1 Peter 4:19, he tells us to keep on doing what is right, - trust your lives to Christ, because HE WILL NEVER FAIL YOU.
I think Peter learned that Jesus never fails when he got the message from the women on Easter Sunday morning, “Go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
And so we come full circle, to where we started this morning in Mark 14:27:28, BEFORE Jesus died, when he told his disciples that they would all desert him but that after he was raised from the dead, he would go to Galilee and meet them there.
And on Easter Sunday morning the message was given from the angel to the women, to go and tell the disciples, including Peter, that indeed he was waiting for them in Galilee.
4. Once we are sifted we will be stronger (1 Peter 5:10).
Peter was sifted, and he writes these words in 1st Peter 5:10, “In his kindness God called you (United Church) to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”
And I submit to you this morning, that Satan has asked to sift us like wheat....but Jesus is saying to us this morning,
“I have prayed for you, ___________ Church, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers and sisters.”
But I have prayed for you, ____________, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers & sisters.
# 476 “I Need Thee Every Hour”
