Note: This was as the beginning of a sermon series called "The Cross Through Many Eyes". It is a combination of Scripture and drama, written for one key actor, and two readers, who alternate reading the Scripture vignettes. The Scriptures are a combination of NIV and The Message paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. The key character is Peter, who responds and comments after each passage is read. The focus of this drama is to view the corss through the eyes of Peter, so the Scriptures are all ones that directly involve Peter. This drama is suitable for Good Friday or for a service before Easter.
Prologue
Today we are looking at The Cross Through the Eyes of Peter. Peter, one of the chief apostles, was quite a character. We will listen to some key Scriptures that look at Peter as. he was leading up to the cross, the suffering and death of Jesus, and then how he was after learning and experiencing Jesus after His resurrection. You will hear these Scriptures, and then Pastor Matthew, in character as Simon Peter, will share some thoughts on the Biblical record of The Cross Through the Eyes of Peter.
Peter is an interesting character. He was both very quick to respond when Jesus called him to follow him, and he was the disciple who put his foot in his mouth most often. Peter was passionate and impulsive. He was brave, and he was a coward. He loved Jesus, and he loved his own life. He was committed and he was conflicted.
Please note that today’s presentation is limited to Peter’s experience up to the final scene only. It does not address the fact that eventually he became a key Apostle and a father of the faith. Catholics identify Peter as the first Pope. All Christians recognize his very, very important contribution to the establishment of the Christian Church. Peter was martyred for his faith, refusing, ultimately, to deny Christ when the chips were down. This is a dramatization of Peter’s early days with Jesus as a young disciple.
And now we enter the gospel story to look at key passages that involved Peter:
Vignette #1: Who is the Christ?
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.19 “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”
20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.
Peter’s Response:
Yup. That happened. Just the way Matthew wrote it. Hi everyone. It’s my pleasure to be with you here today. Not sure if we’ve met, but I am Peter. Now I don’t want to brag but:
1. Of all the disciples, I figured it out first. I knew who Jesus was before all the others! I know I put my foot in my mouth more than most, but I got this right. You gotta give me that.
2. Jesus called me blessed
3. Jesus called me a rock and he said that He was going to build something on that Rock.
4. Then He says He’s going to give me the keys to the kingdom. I gotta tell you, I’m feeling PRETTY SPECIAL right about now. Wouldn’t you?
Vignette #2: Please Don’t Call Me Satan
Matthew 16:21-22 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Peter’s Response:
Yup. That happened too.
1. Ok, so when this happened I was like, “What?!”
2. Jesus is talking crazy, like He’s going to get hurt and even killed. He’s my friend. No one treats my friends that way.
3. What I don’t get is that one minute He’s calling me blessed and saying that He’s going to build His community on me. The next minute He’s calling me Satan, like I said something to really tick Him off. Please don’t call me Satan.
4. What’s my human concern? That my friend, my Rabbi, the Messiah should be killed? Of course that upsets me. Why doesn’t that concern God?
5. What is God’s concern? That Jesus should suffer and die? Why in the world would God want that to happen?
Vignette #3 - Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, Peter: “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”
Narrator: And all the other disciples said the same.
Peter’s Response:
1. What? I am so wounded! How could Jesus say that? I’ve...we’ve walked with Him these 3 years. Ate with Him, laughed and cried with Him.
2. I was the first one who figured out who He is! What in the world would ever cause me to fall away from Him? To DISOWN Him? NEVER!!! I would never walk away from my Savior! How could I ever walk away from my Saviour.
3. But wait. What does he mean, “I will strike the shepherd?” Who’s going to strike...what? Jesus? What? After he’s...what...risen...? Risen from what?
Vignette #4: Sleepy Disciples
36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”
39 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”
40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
42 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”
43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.
Peter’s Response:
1. OK. Come on. I hadn’t had a good nights sleep in a week. We were all completely exhausted.
2. But...Now I know Jesus was really struggling. I didn’t really know why though. What was the big deal? He was sweating so much it looked like he was bleeding sweat. Gross. I guess I should have known that something was up.
3. And I didn’t appreciate the whole “eager for God” on the one hand and “lazy as an old dog. Although, yeah, sometimes on the inside I’m all, Yea God, but then later I’m...yeah, I’m pretty lazy. Ok. Point taken.
Vignette #5: Do Something Stupid, Run Away
John 18:1 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.
2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?” They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb. 7 Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?” They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”) 10 Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.
11 Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”
Peter’s Response:
1. Ok. Hang on. You gotta understand. They arrested Jesus. They’re looking for his company.
2. Did you see those soldiers? They look so big and mad and dumb and determined to do Him, us...me! harm. They’re totally in the wrong, but, why...why should I get that treatment? What have I done wrong?
3. I’m so afraid. I don’t get what’s happening. How could they take Jesus? Why would they take Him? What did He ever do wrong?
Vignette #6: Peter Disowns Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Thenw he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, PETER:“I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken:“Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Peter’s Response:
1. Crying: I, I, I...why do they keep accusing me. Just leave me alone. I can’t deal with this. I don’t know what to think.
2. I’m so angry. I’m so confused. I can’t believe I said I didn’t know him? How could I do that?
3. Why are they after me? It’s not enough that they arrested Jesus. They want my life too. I’m so confused. And wouldn’t it be better for me to remain free? Yeah
NARRATOR’S COMMENT: MARYELLEN
Then Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin. They condemned Him. The Sanhedrin sent him to Pilate who was nervous about condemning him. He abdicated his responsibility and gave the angry crowd the choice to have Jesus released or crucified. The people chose that Jesus should be crucified.
Jesus was taken to the hill called Golgotha, the Place of the Skull. There He was mocked and ridiculed. There He was nailed to the cross and raised up so He hung, in agony, between two thieves. There He was crucified, and died, saying,’Father forgive them”, and “Into Your hands I commend my Spirit”.
Jesus was buried. The next morning, while going to His grave site to care for His body, His disciples discovered that He had been raised from the dead. They saw Him. Eventually all the disciples saw Him, and believed
Later,
Vignette #7: Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him,“Follow me!”
Peter’s Response:
1. I honestly didn’t know what to think. Jesus was dead. We all know they killed him. But here he was, eating with us. We were in shock. I was in shock. And we’re eating. And after we were done eating Jesus asks me if I love him more than these.
2. I didn’t even know what he meant. Was he asking if I loved him more than I did the others there who were eating there too - more than Andrew, James, John? I wanted to say "yes..of course" I love you more than anyone on this planet. But do I love Him more than they love Him? I’m no longer dumb enough to think that. I had just betrayed my Lord. I promised I would never disown him, and then when the pressure was on, I DID disown him...so what do my words, what does what I say mean anyway, when what I do is different from what I say?
3. Then He asked me twice more if I loved him. I started to understand. I had felt such shame because I denied Jesus. Not just once. Not twice. But three times, as if to seal the deal. [Pause] But I told him that I love him. You know, Jesus, that I love you.
4. And then he said that I’d be old and others would lead be some place not so great. But you know what? Now, I’m good with that. I turned my back on Him. And He didn’t turn His back on me. I treated him horribly. But He treated me kindly, with grace, just like He always does.
5. And now He’s called me to follow Him. Just like the first time He did when I was fishing and He was a stranger. Then I followed Him because, I don’t know why. I just did. Now I know Him, and I will follow Him wherever He takes me, because I know that He loves me. I get that the horrible experience he went through on the cross was for me. I know now that He died for me. And if He should choose, to honour me so much, perhaps one day I will have the honour of laying down my life for the One I love. For the Saviour, the Messiah who rose from the dead. My Lord and my God.
