OUT OF WEAKNESS…STRENGTH - Peter: “I’m Such a Hot Head”
John 18:10-11 (p. 754) September 17, 2017
Introduction:
Almost every single time I go see my doctor she breaks out this little rubber hammer…I remember when I was little and got my allergy shots from Dr. Wheeler and since when he broke out that little rubber hammer asking him, “Do you have little rubber nails?” He thought that was hilarious…I was serious.
So, this last time I was with my doctor sitting on the edge of that metal bed and she whacked me on the knee with that little rubber hammer. I watched my leg jump involuntarily forward…I was really glad the hammer was rubber…and I realized I couldn’t stop this reaction if I wanted to…she’s checking my reflexes…it’s involuntary.
She also shines a light in my eyes and checks the dilation of my pupils. They contract involuntary. If they don’t, your dead and you see another light. I recommend following it.
We can do nothing about our involuntary reactions to light and little rubber hammers, but we have reactions that are completely voluntary also…and it’s those reactions to people and circumstances that reveal a great deal about who we are.
[Someone pulls out in front of you on New Circle Road…someone cuts in front of you at the checkout line at Kroger. Someone pushes past you to get a little closer to the stage. What’s our reaction?]
Hey!! Hey!!! Preacher…you quit preachin’ now and gone to meddlin'! My reaction to others when I’m mad has nothing to do with my Christianity!” Really?
I believe every single one of us in this room this morning are prone to react like Peter and draw our sword. We pull as close to their bumper as we can…we mumble…That was rude, some people can’t wait in line like normal people…we push right back and make our way toward the stage.
Listen Preacher….I just react…I don’t really think about it…Folks, that’s not completely true…we might have habitually honed a response to our anger…it’s our go to immediate response. We don’t have to spend much time thinking on the process because we’ve perfected it. “You’re a jerk and I’m going to teach you a lesson doesn’t take much time to think.” We go from anger to explosion in a heartbeat now.
God’s Word says, “Love is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13:5). Proverbs 29:11 says, “Only a fool gives a full vent to their anger.”
James 2:19 tells us, “My dear brothers and sisters take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for our anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.”
The apostle Paul warns us “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the Devil a foothold.” (Eph. 4:26)
Anger is a God given emotion…it’s something that scripture says God Himself experiences. Being angry by itself is not a sin…it’s no fun…but not a sin! But anger not dealt with or dealt with in the wrong way gives Satan a foothold in our lives…It makes us spiritually weak…it destroys our witness and does not allow the love of God to be a priority.
The way we deal with our anger can either glorify God or tear down His creation.
Let’s look at some Biblical truth this morning that allows God to be strong in our weakness.
I. BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN YOU DRAW YOUR SWORD
Our text takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus has been praying fervently to His Father. It’s been a prayer of complete surrender and trust as the cross looms near. His disciples have been on an emotional roller coaster ride. Grief, fear, doubt, anger…They are physically tired to the point of exhaustion…they go to sleep, more than once, even though Jesus has asked them to “watch and pray, don’t fall into temptation.”
Satan knows when we’re emotionally and physically tired. That’s when he puts his schemes into motion. Jesus knows it…so should we…he attacks when our guards are down, that’s why Jesus says, “Get up, and pray lest you fall.”
[If you’re on a diet, don’t schedule a meeting at Baskin Robbins or Graeter’s. If you’ve been away from your wife for a week, I wouldn’t schedule a dinner date with an old girlfriend just to talk. If you are emotionally down and tired and you have a choice, I wouldn’t go out on New Circle Road at 5pm.]
But sometimes we are faced with sword drawing moments that are beyond our planning…Like Peter, we are at the end of an emotional and draining day…He’d said earlier..that “he’d die before forsaking Jesus,” but that was before the passover meal, having his feet washed, and now in the garden he’s close to Jesus with James and John because of their friendship. He’s experienced a gentle rebuke for falling asleep…so throw a little guilt in there too.
And then through the Kidion Valley, they see the torches, hear angry voices and the clatter of shields and swords. And the first person Peter sees leading the crowd is Judas…“WHAT’S HE DOING HERE.”
Jesus speaks…“I’m the one you want…let these other men go.”
Peter had a sword with him…and he draws it.
[I grew up around guns with my father…He taught me great respect for them…I still hear his voice, “Don’t point your gun at anything you’re not ready to shoot. Don’t take the safety off until you’re ready to fire. Treat every gun as if it’s loaded…more people have been killed with so-called “unloaded” guns than any other.]
If you draw your sword you’d better be ready to use it…Peter was!!!
“He struck the High Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear.” (I can guarantee he wasn’t aiming at his ear!!!)
Peter’s ready to fight…
I feel sorry for Peter because I believe there are times to draw our swords…to protect others, to intervene to protect the weak or abuse.
But Jesus is not weak or defenseless…He’s in charge of this situation even if others think they are…No one is going to take His live involuntarily…His life will be sacrificed voluntarily. He wants Peter to know this.
“All this has happened so that the words Jesus had spoken would be fulfilled. ‘Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’”
A legion of angelic warriors wait at Jesus’ call…A call which wouldn’t come because of His voluntary surrender to drink this cup.
But many times, maybe even most of the time, our swords are drawn to hurt others who have hurt us…We strike out because our pride has been damaged or we want to back others down…anger has become our go to method of control.
You see we need to understand:
II. OUR ANGER AFFECTS REAL PEOPLE
I always wondered why it gave Malchus’ name here. It’s not like he’s an extremely important person in the New Testament…or an essential part of the story…and then it came to me…It’s important for us to know how our actions effect real people…not the generic unknown…but people who have a name…like Malchus…like the waiter named John, or the check out girl names Mary, or the delivery guy named Bill.
Peter isn’t just striking out at a piece of wood. He’s striking out in anger at a real person…Someone made in the image of God…someone who had a family…a mother, father, wife, children.
[I was eating at O’Charley’s with my mom and Sam the other day…Kari was in Louisville and our waitress’s name was Ashley. It was her second day at work…she was a single mom going to school…she was still learning about orders and a lot of other stuff. She had a couple of tables. At the table behind us an older lady was telling Ashley how slow she was…that her steak was overcooked…and that she expected better service for what she paid for. The older woman was caustic, cold and hateful…she seemed pretty good at it. She wanted her meal free or at least discounted.
I turned and said, “You know the waiter has no control over the cooks…Did you know this was her 2nd day?” And she told me to mind my business (that’s really tough for me). I can assure you this woman had no idea her waitress was named Ashley or that she was a single mom going to school…or that her anger over an overcooked steak had cut her…none at all. I wonder if I’d asked her if she were a Christian what she would have said.]
It’s important for us to understand how our anger and actions effect real people.
Let me end by saying:
III. SOME DAMAGE ONLY JESUS CAN HEAL
This guy Malchus is coming with a gang to arrest Jesus and ultimately crucify Him. And Jesus chooses to heal him.
After Peter’s reaction…and the damage is done to Malchus’ ear…Luke 22:51 says, “Jesus said, no more of this and he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
I love what Bob Russell says, “I might have healed him, but I’d put his ear back on upside down!”
Only Jesus would heal like this…only Jesus would restore Malchus to be whole again in the midst of a false arrest.
Only the touch of Jesus can heal sore wounds which anger has caused…mangled ears, broken hearts, wounded souls, deep emotional scars.
Anger that quickly draws it’s sword will cut and do damage that the one who drew it cannot fix. If Jesus hadn’t been here Malchus would have been disfigured for his whole life.
So, my biblical advice is…think about who Jesus is…and that He’s standing next to you before you strike out in anger at another. He’s in control…only He can heal the damage you’ve done in your marriage, to your children, to others. It requires “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.”
'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
but held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks", he cried,
“Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar, Then two! Only two?
"Two dollars, who’ll make it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three…” But, No,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What am I bid for the old violin?"
As he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?"
"Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
And going and gone,” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?” Swift came the reply:
"The Touch of the Master’s Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game - and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the Masters' hand.
Let’s Pray.
