Sin: That Nasty Three Letter Word
The Tale of Two Failures
How Two People Handled Their Failure With Jesus
For some of us this innocent picture of a bar of soap brings back some horrible memories.
Many of us can remember what it was like to get caught saying one of those nasty words we had heard another child or an adult say.
In the church we have words that we are no longer comfortable with people saying. I'm not talking about curse words or base or ribald expressions.
No in the church today we are very uncomfortable talking about one nasty three letter word--SIN
We don't like to talk about sin. We'll admit we are sinners, but lets not talk about the sin in my life. Let's just talk about sin in a ambiguous and general way.
We can be quick to call other peoples sin wicked, evil despicable, immoral, nefarious, reprehensible, disreputable, but we tend to treat our own sin with a laze faire attitude. It's not a big deal.
So as we continue our journey with the forgiver this summer I want us to boldly face that nasty three letter word.
Not beat us up emotionally, not to accuse each other, not to produce false guilt, not to make us feel like worms, but to help us to remember the motivation Jesus had in coming to Earth was to address this Nasty Three Letter word, to break it power in our lives, to free us for it and its consequences.
Together we will face the Reality of Sin and the power of the Forgiver over it.
JESUS CAME TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF SIN, BUT SOME FOLLOWERS NEVER FACE ITS REALITY AND THEREFORE FAIL TO DISCOVER VICTORY.
So this morning I want us to begin by looking at lives of two failures. Two individuals who blatantly sin and how they respond to their guilt.
This morning I want us to look at the Tale of Two Failures.
The Setting
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away--and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." Luke 22:1-2
It is interesting that a lesson on sin and failure is one of the last lessons Jesus will teach his disciples before he dies.
* Despite all that he has taught them He knows that they must face the reality of sin head on.
* How they respond to their sin will either make them or break them. Success or failure as his followers will hang in the balance of the drama that unfolds.
The Characters
14 Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--
35 But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."
Both of these men were disciples. They have followed Jesus for three years. They have seen the miracles and wonders he could do. They have heard him preach. Yet on this night they will both end up as failures before Jesus.
At this point Judas and Peter are very similar. They are both sinful men who will sin on this night.
Judas--The Sin of Betrayal
14 Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests 15 and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
Jesus new Judas was going to betray him. This sin did not come as a surprise to him. He identifies Judas as the betrayer during the meal.
Peter--The Sin of Betrayal
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, . . . 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
57 But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
60 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."
Here again Jesus knew that Peter would betray him. He is not surprised that Peter fails.
APPL: In our lives, Jesus knows that we will battle with sin, that we will sometimes fail. It is the reality of sin that lead him to earth. He knows all about it.
We don't like to admit that we can betray Jesus. We struggle to admit that the God we lift our hands to in worship on Sunday we sometimes turn our backs to on Monday.
They were deceived. Judas was deceived that it wouldn't affect him if he betrayed Jesus. Peter was deceived about his own strength.
Judas -- Matt 26
24 . . . But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Peter -- Luke 22
21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. . . 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be . . .
33 (Peter) replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
Appl: We have to realize that we too can often be deceived by the reality, potential and power of Sin in our lives.
After they had sinned both Judas and Peter felt remorse.
My son and I were playing a game and got into a disagreement over the rules. We were both being a little selfish and self centered. When the game was over we were both frustrated with ourselves and each other. Sin leads to remorse
Judas -- Matt 27
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
Peter -- Luke 22
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
APPL: When we sin we should feel remorse. We hurt and disappoint he who loves us more than anyone in the world. But remorse is not enough.
An interesting thing about Sin. We understand the guilt of sin. We know when we are sinning. We know when it's wrong. We have a conscientious and as followers of the Forgiver we have his Holy Spirit which convicts us of Sin.
Why is a burglar nervous when he breaks in a home. Because he may get caught and if he is he knows he is guilty.
Judas -- Matt 27
4 "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
Peter -- Luke 22
61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him:
While Judas never returns to face Jesus with his Sins, peter does. He faces his shame, in humility he reaffirms the hi relationship with Jesus. The only thing that separates Judas from Peter is that he never returned to face him. Filled with shame he takes his own life.
There is never and answer to sin expect in Jesus. We can never face the sin issues in our own life without facing Jesus.
Judas -- Matt 27
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Peter -- John 21
15 . . . Jesus said to Simon Peter, ". . , do you truly love me more than these?" 16 Again . . . "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" 17 The third time . . . "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Both Judas and Peter
* Betray Jesus
* Are Deceived about Sin
* Felt Remorse
* Understood His Guilt
But Judas faced his sin alone while Peter faced his sin in Jesus
This series is not so much about forgiveness, we are forgiven at the cross, it is about freedom.
We are all failures when it comes to sin. We learned how to do it and do it well a long time ago. What makes us different is how we face our sine. We will all choose to be like Judas or Peter. What will you choose?
