INTRODUCTION
• DVD CLIP 29:50-31:05
• SLIDE #1
• How do you know if you have a strong relationship? Many times we can gauge the strength of a relationship by how we deal with adversity.
• In our text this morning we will get the opportunity to watch an amazing conversation unfold as Jesus and Peter have a dialog with each other.
• Remember we are still in the upper room, Judas has left the room and Jesus is getting ready to institute the Lord’s Supper.
• The disciples are having what would be their final meal together before the Lord’s Supper is instituted.
• Peter initiates a conversation with Jesus. The chronology is not easy because all 4 gospels speak of Jesus predicting Peter’s denial.
• When you look at all 4 recorded instances, it looks like Jesus had this discussion with Peter on three occasions during this final night together.
• Before the Lord’s Supper was instituted Jesus has the first conversation recorded in our passage in John.
• The second time as recorded in Luke 22, Jesus has the conversation again after the Lord’s Supper. The third time recorded in Matthew 26 and Mark 14 happens after they left the Upper Room to head to the Mount of Olives.
• This is not unusual as after the resurrection Jesus in John 21 asks Peter three times if he loves Jesus.
• What is fascinating about this seemingly simple conversation is what it reveals about the relationship Jesus had with Peter and the way Peter perceived his relationship with Jesus.
• What does it take to make a relationship strong? What does it take to take a relationship to a deeper level?
• Most would say it takes hard work, dedication, commitment, and a willingness to be vulnerable.
• For a relationship to go deeper, it does take these items and more to be done, but it has to be done by both parties.
• Turn in your bibles to John 13:36-38
• SLIDE #2
• John 13:36–38 (ESV) 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 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.
• As we look at the relationship between Jesus and Peter we first need to see that…
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Jesus knew Peter’s proclivities.
• I had to go to the thesaurus for that word.
• Proclivity is an inclination or predisposition toward something; especially: a strong inherent inclination toward something objectionable.
• Jesus knew Peter’s weaknesses. Jesus knew all the NEGATIVE things about Peter.
• He knew his impulsiveness; he knew his instability; he knew how he had a habit of speaking with his heart before he had thought with his head.
• He knew well the strength of his loyalty and the weakness of his resolution. Jesus knew Peter as he was.
• When you look at this instance where Peter is engaging Jesus in conversation, I think it illustrates one of Peter’s weaknesses.
• Back in verse 31 Jesus starts to tell the disciples about His impending departure and in verse 33 He tells them they would not be able to go with Him.
• I would imagine from the moment that Jesus said Peter turned out the rest of what Jesus said in order to ask/tell Jesus that he wanted to go with Him.
• I bet Peter was focused on his question since verse 33.
• As Jesus is telling the disciples they could not accompany Him on this journey, He knew that it would be Peter who would dive in head first.
• Just moments before this at the washing of the feet, it was Peter who at first refuses to let Jesus wash his feet.
• SLIDE #4
• John 13:8 (ESV) Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
• THEN Peter says not only my feet, but my hands and my head also!
• Peter did a lot of speaking before he thought.
• Many times he would act before he thought.
• We saw this in the walking on water scene. He starts out well as long as he is looking at Jesus but the moment he takes his eyes off Jesus he starts sinking fast.
• On the positive said, Peter because he did not look before he leaped sometimes was not fearful of doing things. Did you see any of the other disciples get out of the boat?
• We need to understand as we develop our relationship with Jesus that He already knows you intimately.
• He knew you before you knew you!
• SLIDE #5
• Psalm 139:13 (ESV) For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
• SLIDE #6
• Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
• Jesus KNEW Peter; He KNEW the positive and the negative.
• Jesus still chose Peter.
• Too many of us will resist God’s call do serve in various areas because we think God will not use us because we are broken vessels.
• You see, Peter would not have been one of the people MOST would have picked to be an apostle. Most people who knew Peter would have NEVER chosen him for an important mission.
• Jesus says in Matthew 10:30 that even the hairs on our head are numbered. I am glad He still has a lot to count with me.
• Jesus knew Peter and Jesus loved Peter in spite of Peter’s proclivities and weaknesses.
• Jesus KNOWS you and LOVES you in spite of your perceived weaknesses and proclivities.
• The second issue we need to grasp as we look at the relationship between Jesus and Peter is…
• SLIDE #7
II. Jesus knew Peter’s passion.
• Jesus knew that even though Peter had his faults, one thing Peter did not lack was passion.
• Look at verse 37 again.
• SLIDE #8
• John 13:37 (ESV) Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
• Peter is being serious when he makes the offer. He is telling Jesus he will die for Jesus.
• Peter certainly does not lack passion, but he is lacking the commitment it would take to do what he is proclaiming he wants to do.
• Peter wanted to do something he was not yet ready to do. Jesus knows this.
• When you look over the things Peter did during Jesus ministry, we can see that Peter loved Jesus and he was passionate about serving Him.
• Jesus knew what made Peter tick. Jesus knows what makes you tick.
• When we are developing our relationship with Jesus we need to learn what makes Him tick.
• One of the keys to having a deep relationship is to put in the effort to see what makes the other person tick.
• When you look at the apostles, you see that each was wired in a different way. Jesus will use our passions to help better serve Him.
• At FCC we want you to serve in areas you are passionate about; we want you to serve because you love Jesus!
• Jesus knows you, He loves you. No matter what you have done or where you have been, Jesus still loves you!
• You notice that Peter is asking the question about WHY he can’t follow Jesus.
• Notice that Jesus does not answer his question. Peter did not need to know the WHY; he just needed to know he was not going to follow Jesus to where He was going at this time.
• Now if you remember Jesus’ prediction concerning Peter came to pass. Peter was passionate about following Jesus but he was not prepared to go the path yet.
• Contrast Peter before the resurrection to after the resurrection.
• Peter was a changed individual.
• This leads us to a final observation.
• The third issue we need to grasp as we look at the relationship between Jesus and Peter is…
• SLIDE #9
III. Jesus knew Peter’s potential.
• Jesus KNEW the wonderful potential Peter possessed. He also knows the potential you possess!
• I want to revisit a part of verse 36.
• SLIDE #10
• John 13:36 (ESV) Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
• I underlined something that is small but I believe significant. Jesus tells Peter that he cannot follow Jesus NOW, but you WILL follow afterwards.
• Now that is awesome.
• Jesus knows Peter is going to deny Him three times before 3 am during the time Jesus will be on trial.
• Most would think if someone is going to deny Jesus like that, it would be over. Jesus knows Peter’s potential; He knows once Peter has what he needs pertaining to his faith that Peter will indeed follow Jesus.
• He knows that will then lay down his life for the cause of Christ.
• But now I want you to look at verse 378 with me.
• SLIDE #11
• John 13:38 (ESV) 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.
• After Peter proclaims that he will lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus responds by asking Peter, “WILL YOU LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME?”
• I wonder if there is a double meaning to this statement.
• I can see Jesus asking Peter if he would DIE for Jesus, but I am not sure that is all that Jesus is asking Peter.
• I think He is asking Peter a deeper question. I believe He is asking Peter if he will LIVE for Jesus!
• In other words Jesus would be saying before you DIE for me, you need to live for me.
• This is consistent with Jesus’ teaching.
• SLIDE #12
• Matthew 16:24–25 (ESV) 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
• After the resurrection, Peter begins really living that out. Peter would fulfill his potential in Jesus.
• For us to fulfill our potential, we must do the same. We must take up our cross daily and live for Jesus. We cannot die for Him if we do not live for Him!
• Our life should be molded into the image of Jesus as Paul states:
• SLIDE #13
• Galatians 2:20–21 (ESV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
• Jesus KNEW Peter would not let him down even in the midst of Peter’s personal struggle.
CONCLUSION
• Peter was ultimately changed because HE developed a DEEPER relationship with Jesus who already had a deep relationship with him.
• As Peter got closer to Jesus, as he developed his faith, Peter’s life changed. He fulfilled in potential in Jesus.
• Where are you today? Are you ready to deepen your relationship with Jesus to the point you are changed and motivated to fulfill the potential you were created to fulfill?
