Message
Matthew 26:69-75
Jesus Predicted ... Peter Stumbled
How many times have we been in a situation where we have wanted a second chance?
Someone doing an important exam … and just miss one small point that causes the whole exam to be a failure.
Can’t I have a second chance?
Trying out for a job but, because you are nervous, you make mistakes which you wouldn’t usually make.
Can’t I have a second chance?
Words that get spoken in the heat of the moment which create untold hurt and brokenness.
Can’t I have a second chance?
Being in a situation which called for a response of integrity, but instead it was a response of failure.
Can’t I have a second chance?
I don’t think there is anyone here who, one way or another, hasn’t wanted a second chance at some time in their life.
In fact I would go even further and say that many of the second chances we want often relate to our relationship with God.
We are among our not-yet-believing friends and, instead of being an influence on them, we allow ourselves to fall into language that we would never use when we are at church. And our friends now have a very different view of us and our “Christianity”.
Can’t I have a second chance?
We are talking about someone in the church, perhaps making a judgment about them or gossiping about them. Then we turn around and … there they are!! Now they know what we really think of them – and we have to sit next to them in church.
Can’t I have a second chance?
We find ourselves in questionable moral situations and we know that we have been the cause of the compromise. There is shame and guilt and a sense of failure because we said we would “never” do this.
Can’t I have a second chance?
You know what I mean don’t you. There are so many reasons … so many times … in our spiritual life, and our relationship with God, and our relationship with others where we say, “Can’t I have a second chance?”
Well let’s see what the Scripture says about that.
Read Luke 22:31-34
Read Matthew 26:69-75
Peter … he was often a disciple who stumbled in his journey with Jesus
One moment he is climbing out of the boat and walking on water – the next he is swimming with the fish.
One moment he is saying Jesus you are the Christ, the Son of the living God … the next moment Jesus is telling Peter – you remind me a lot of Satan.
One moment he is faithfully declaring Even if everyone falls away, I will not … the next he is denying Jesus three times.
Peter’s life just seems to be a continual series of faith face-plants.
Getting up – falling over.
Getting up – falling over.
Getting up – falling over.
With this latest episode being the worst. And you kind of get this sense that Peter is slowly but surely digging himself into this great big hole. Peter is really stumbling.
Indeed it is such a large stumble that every single Gospel writer tells us about it.
Matthew 26.
Mark 14.
Luke 22.
John 18.
You put these stories together and you have this very powerful understanding of what is going on and all that Peter is facing.
The first denial.
This accusation is made by a servant girl … a servant girl.
As a servant she has very little status and few people notice her. Peter has much more position in the community than she does.
As a girl … well what is she compared to a seasoned fisherman like Peter?
It’s kind of like David and Goliath … except it is more like Davina and Gutless.
She has no status. She isn’t armed with weapons. She hasn’t brought a group of guards. All she says to this man standing in the courtyard by the fire, You also were with Jesus of Galilee.
Andrew was the first disciples that Jesus called into His group – and Peter was second. Peter was there right at the very beginning. Before anyone in Galilee knew what was going on Peter was already by Jesus side.
I don’t know what you are talking about.
It happened so easily didn’t it. Fear has taken hold. The first denial – just as Jesus predicted.
But doesn’t call Peter to his senses.
The second denial
Peter has moved out of the courtyard and over to the gateway. Hoping to be a little inconspicuous. Maybe trying to make sure he can get away easier.
When you put the four gospel accounts together you get the sense that the servant girl is talking to a few people around her and that people are starting to talk in a group.
This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.
Peter had once been afraid in a storm and saw what He thought was a ghost. It turned out to be Jesus … walking on the water. Peter got to experience the same thing. Walking on the water to Jesus of Nazareth.
This time with an oath “I swear by God himself” … I don’t know the man.
Fear is growing. Self preservation is growing. It is more than just a girl now, it is a growing group of people. The second denial – just as Jesus predicted.
But still that doesn’t call Peter to his senses.
The third denial
Luke tells us that an hour passed since the second denial. Now it starts again.
It seems that what happens is a group of people have been talking about this strange man in the courtyard who is hiding in the shadows. Something about him makes them realise that they are definitely on the right track. - his accent makes it very clear that he is from Galilee.
(accent) They speak a little different up from that way.
They are a little bit country.
Now the accusations are happening again, by more people. John’s gospel tells us that in the group there is a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. He isn’t going to be too happy with Peter is he. Peter is finding himself more and more in the spotlight.
One time Peter was faced with a question by Jesus, “Who do you say I am?”
Jesus wasn’t looking for a logical explanation.
Nor was Jesus focused on some emotional experience.
Jesus didn’t want a regurgitation of some church teaching.
What does your heart say Peter? You the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are the One promised in Scripture to bring salvation and renewal. You have the power and authority of God Himself.
After that Peter was meant to be the rock on which the church would be built.
Instead – in the face of accusations
Peter called down curses on himself – If I am lying may God strike me dead.
Peter swore an oath – As God is my witness.
I don’t know the man.
With each accusation the denials become more intense.
Then the rooster crows. Every one hears exactly that … a rooster crowing.
But Peter hears words
This very night before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.
I’m the best friend you could ever have. I have never done anything to make you doubt my love and care for you. And now look at what you have done.
Now look what you have done.
That is what is going on in Peter’s head … isn’t it.
Which would be hard enough. Because there is a timing issue here which is very significant. Remember Peter is in the courtyard to find out what will happen at Jesus’ trial. We know that has been sentenced to death – so the move him out of the courtroom – almost at the same moment that Peter made His third denial. Luke’s Gospel says this:-
Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.
Luke 22:60-61
Can you imagine that moment as their eyes met. Jesus betrayed and abandoned by His disciples.
Jesus blooded and bruised from the first of many beatings He would have to endure.
Jesus being taken off in triumph by the Sanhedrin who were going to kill Him.
And He looks to Peter in the middle of all that suffering.
And Peter sees it straight away.
Jesus knows!!
You know the feeling, don’t you. The feeling that comes when you know you have let God down … again.
Maybe in a small way.
Maybe in a very big way.
There is that real sense where we know that Jesus has seen exactly what we have done.
He knows!!
Jesus knows our frailties.
Jesus sees the times when good intentions become mist.
Jesus appreciates the disappointment you have when that sin you have been struggling with for so long takes hold of you again.
Jesus shares your heartache when life just seems to go all wrong.
Jesus understands the guilt and the shame which arises as you realise you have messed up badly.
Jesus realises how much you love Him and how you want to serve Him and how you wish you could be better.
Jesus knows the times of denial.
Jesus knows you need a second chance.
Just like for Peter Jesus looks your way. What is being said in that look?
Was it an “I told you so” look?
Was it an “I'm so disappointed in you” look?
Was it, “you’re just a failure” look?
No it wasn’t. It had to be the “I-have-prayed-for-you-so-that-your-faith-will-not-fail” look.
That is what Jesus promised didn’t He.
Peter You’re going to go through the trials. Satan is going to sift you and Satan will find you wanting. You will deny me. But I will pray.
What is in that look on Jesus’ face? “You may have failed Me – but I will never fail you”.
To prove it … to make it absolutely crystal clear … that we keep getting second chances – Jesus goes to the cross.
Silent in the face of false accusations.
Taking the beatings.
Enduring the humiliation.
Letting Himself be condemned by the Roman courts.
Carrying His cross to death.
Enduring the nails.
Surrendering to the wrath of God – anger so intense being poured out on the only One who didn't deserve it.
Jesus did it for us because He knows what we are like.
Even those who were the closest to Jesus were just ordinary men. The spiritual dynamics that are at work in their lives are the same dynamics that are at work in our lives as well.
We want to stand for Jesus.
We are firm that we won’t let Him down.
But there is another – another who is very determined – to see us fail. Simon, Simon Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
Who is Satan?
Satan makes us question.
Satan prods and pushes and frustrates.
Satan encourages us to make big claims which we can’t always back-up.
Satan is after our soul.
There is this cosmic battle. We stand in the middle. And we get caught. One moment we can be so confident - it seems that nothing will be able to knock the wind out of our sails. And then down we go.
Spiritual strength sapped.
Confidence smashed.
It happens … it happens all the time.
I remember a discussion from my college days when we as students ended up talking about ministers of the past who had fallen into sexual temptation.
I don’t know how a conversation like that started, but it did.
The main focus of the conversation was the fact that such things could be avoided as long as you were wise in the way you dealt with ministry situations.
We were in a class with Professor Keith Warren at the time and he let the discussion go for a while. Near the end he made a very significant comment. He said, “These men that you are talking about sat in this very room saying the same things about others who had gone before them”.
Satan is sifting. When Satan sifts a lot of damage can be done. But in the middle of it all we need to remember the words of Jesus I have prayed that your faith may not fail.
We live in a world where there are so many people who are spiritually lost. And we need to recognise that, even after we have confessed Jesus as Lord, we can still become spiritually lost.
It happens because we lose our focus.
It happens because we become over-confident in our ability.
It happens because we allow the business of the week to rule us.
It happens because we live in a world full of distractions.
It happens because we don’t take time to pray.
It happens because we think we are fine and ok.
It happens for all sorts of reasons – but the outcome is the same.
We need a second chance because we have stumbled.
Look into the face of Jesus.
I have prayed for you
and because I know you will keep falling.
I am going to the cross to pay for your forgiveness – forever.
Can you have a second chance?
My friends Jesus gives you a life-time of second chances.
You just need to take them.
Prayer
