Mark 14:27-31 KJV And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
Psalms 1:1-6 KJV Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
James 1:14-16 KJV But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Casting Crowns Lyrics
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
…It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Why do you think Peter denied Christ in spite of his vehement protestations that he would never do so?
Christ saw him doing this even before it happened and informed him of it. Did Christ do it just to rub it in? Absolutely not for that is not the nature of the LORD! Christ let him know before it happened that He (Christ) knew but it did not change the disposition of the Lord towards Peter for he told him previously; … Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:31-32 KJV
Peter's fall was not due to the malicious whim of a capricious God. It came as a result of little insignificant seeming things that accumulated over a period of time. A drain does not become blocked suddenly, but the debris accumulates over time without being constantly cleaned and then one day we have blockage! A seed does not become a tree overnight unless it is in a story titled Jack and the Beanstalk. It may remain in the ground a long while before a tiny slip of a shoot poke its way out of the soil. That tiny shoot given the right conditions can grow up into a mighty tree that takes on the nature of the code in the seed. It's like a wheel with a tiny hole in it that leaks the air out ever so slowly until one morning you wake up and realize you have a flat.
The final fall comes after there has been a repeated self indulgence of the flesh. Some of us are too smart for our own good and think we can stay on top of things, but we later find out sadly, that we also are very susceptible and prone to fail and fall. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: ... Hosea 8:7 KJV
We are led to several notable observations concerning Peter’s journey down the slope of sin:
1. PETER’S DISPLAYED A BOASTFUL SELF-CONFIDENT ATTITUDE TINTED WITH UNTEACHABLE ARROGANCE
Arrogance: an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions. Boastful: To glorify oneself in speech; talk in a self-admiring way
Mark 14:27-31 KJV And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
He took it upon himself to rebuke the Lord and to "correct" Him! He heard what the Lord said yet did not hear Him. He dared to tell the LORD that He was wrong. He actually accused God of lying! He would not listen because that was not what he wanted to hear. His arrogance was in its zenith. His argument was vehement! How many times have we not turned a deaf ear to the Word of God because it is not what we expected? We come prepared to hear something that would tickle our fancy, excite our senses and pamper our selfish desires, but then God rudely disrupts our complacency, and instead of listening to Him we shut ourselves up and hold on to our own opinions, for we simply cannot be wrong, can we? We become argumentative and loud, we insult and accuse, we cannot be found wrong even though God Himself warns us! It is usually the first step downwards… Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV
2. PETER DID NOT FOLLOW THE LORD'S WARNING TO PRAY
Mark 14:36-38 KJV And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Our Lord’s gentle rebuke should have been a warning to Peter, but Peter was caught in the heaviness of sleep at a time when he should have been praying. He just could not keep his eyes open. If only he was as vehement in his praying as he had been in his previous protesting, we might have seen a different ending. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1 KJV
We keep putting it off because we find it too tedious and tiresome. When you get the feeling in you that you should pray and maybe fast it the last person to credit it to is the devil, for such an urge does not come from the devil!
Lack of prayer and the lack of a desire to pray are symptoms of a flesh dominant life. God's children should love to pray, should long to pray, and should labor in prayer, for prayer is communication with God their Father! Prayer is the precious lifeline that connects to heaven’s throne drawing down precious sustenance from the source of Life, sustenance to secure, strengthen, and support us in our moments of trials, tribulations and temptations.
Jesus our LORD and Saviour, the GOD of ALL found it indispensable, vital and important to pray…to spend nights in prayer. Shouldn’t we?
3. PETER’S PREVIOUS POSITION PROGRESSED TO RASH AND IMPULSIVE ACTIONS
John 18:1-12 KJV When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. 10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? 12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
Luke 22:49-51 KJV When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Peter had boasted of his loyalty! He had rebuked Jesus and taken him to task to the point of calling him a liar. Now he was trying to back up his boast by rash impulsive action. We would think and say, “Look how he rushes to the defense of the Master! Look how brave he is!” and then would come the reality! Look how foolish and stupid he is acting out of his own fleshly boasts and trying to maintain his pride and honour! Forget Jesus’ honour! My reputation is at stake here! It took the Lord to intervene in order to prevent a massacre and defuse a volatile situation in that hour of the power of darkness. A few hundred armed fighting men could have quickly decimated Jesus’ small group of disciples but for Jesus’ intervention.
So often when we fail to follow the Lord in obedience, we end up resorting to the arm of flesh and get into an endgame situation resulting from an accumulation of a little blunder here and a wrong move there. Our miserable fleshly efforts to fight a spiritual war can result in devastating consequences…to us and those loved ones around us. How dismal and disastrous our efforts are when we fail to pray and prepare as commanded by God! We have no one to blame but ourselves for this.
We can continue in the discourse and discuss how Peter (and the others) forsook Jesus and fled: And they all forsook him, and fled. Mark 14:50 KJV; How he followed afar off, sat with the wrong crowd: And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. Mark 14:54 KJV and totally displayed his old nature as he cursed and swore while denying the Lord: Mark 14:66-72 KJV And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
But what was Jesus doing when all this had taken place?
Luke 22:54-62 KJV Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 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. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
The Lord was facing the blackest hours of his earthly life and was fully aware to all that would happen to Him yet at this moment He took time off and turned to look at Peter. You can be sure that it was not a triumphant ‘I told you so’ look. It was a look of hurt, pain, sorrow and yet a look a look of love, mercy and forgiveness, for had He not said previously to Peter? … Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:31-32 KJV
Peter went out and wept bitterly!
Weeping and tears has been much maligned among the so called macho men of the day. We constantly hear that strong men do not cry and the female species think that it is an unmanly thing for their men to weep.
Yet the Bible is full of references to men, strong men weeping!
2 Samuel 15:30 KJV And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
Psalms 6:6-8 KJV I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Psalms 102:9 KJV For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,
Job 16:16 KJV My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
John 11:35 KJV Jesus wept.
Philippians 3:18-19 KJV 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Nehemiah 1:4 KJV And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
We can only imagine what passed through Peter’s mind as he wandered the streets of Jerusalem blindly, not knowing or caring where he was going, for he had denied knowing the one Person in the whole of his life who meant more than anything else to him. The look from Jesus had pierced him to the very core of his being. His boastful arrogant world had come crashing down around his ears, for he had seen only sorrow, hurt and love in the eyes of Jesus. At such a time the only thing that could probably have brought hope to him were the words of the Lord: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:31-32 KJV
What about us? How far have we gone in our sin against the Lord? And what do we need to do to return that place of grace and fellowship with Him?
1 John 1:5-10 KJV This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
