PETER’S DALLYING WITH DENIAL
MARK 14:27-31; 66-72
TODAY WE ARE CONTINUING OUR SERIES LEADING UP TO EASTER BY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. LAST WEEK WE BEGAN BY LOOKING AT JUDAS, AND THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO CONSIDER PETER AND HIS ACTIONS. IT MAY SURPRISE YOU TO REALIZE HOW SIMILAR THEIR ACTIONS ARE.
PETER’S DENIAL OF JESUS WAS A FORM OF PERSONAL BETRAYAL. THE PRIMARY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS THAT JUDAS’ WAS DEFINITELY INTENTIONAL, AND CONCENSUS IS THAT PETER’S DENIAL WAS NOT PLANNED BUT IN REACTION TO THE EVENTS OF THE ARREST. HE FEARED FOR HIS LIFE.
BOTH MEN WERE SORRY FOR WHAT THEY DID, BUT ONLY JUDAS’ TRIED IMMEDIATELY TO CORRECT HIS ACTIONS. HE WENT TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS CLAIMING JESUS’ INNOCENSE AND TRIED TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE DID NOT ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND EVENTUALLY COMMITTED SUICIDE.
PETER’S DENIAL WAS DECEPTIVE. IT HAD NO IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES TO JESUS’ TRIAL AS JUDAS’ DID, BUT LED TO MUCH PERSONAL TORMENT. IN FACT PETER’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD WASN’T RESTORED UNTIL AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
ONE OTHER THING THE TWO HAD IN COMMON WAS THE TREMEMDOUS GUILT THAT THEY FELT FOR THEIR ACTIONS. IT WAS THEIR GUILT THAT MADE THEM THINK THEY COULD NOT HAVE FORGIVENESS. THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, BUT THIS ENTIRE SITUATION WAS UNDER THE DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF GOD. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PASSION NARRATIVES WE READ THESE WORDS “TO FULFILL WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAID”. JESUS KNEW EVERYTHING THAT WOULD LEAD UP TO THE CRUCIFIXION, AND SUBMITTED TO IT OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR US, AND HIS OBEDIENCE TO HIS FATHER.
BACKGROUND OF PETER
PETER WAS A GALILEAN, AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST CHOSEN BY CHRIST TO FOLLOW HIM. IT WAS RIGHT AFTER HIS BAPTISM THAT ANDREW BROUGHT PETER TO JESUS. IT WAS THERE ON THE SHORES OF THE SEA OF GALILEE THAT PETER WOULD GIVE UP HIS FISHING BUSINESS, AND BECOME AS JESUS SAID A “FISHER OF MEN”
HE WOULD BE SEEN AS THE LEADER OF THE APOSTLES AND ON MANY OCCASIONS WAS THEIR SPOKESMAN. NEXT TO PAUL, PETER MAY ARGUABLY BE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL APOSTLE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
PETER WOULD BECOME A PART OF THE “INNER CIRCLE” ALONG WITH JAMES AND JOHN, THE “SONS OF THUNDER. THEY WOULD BE PRESENT ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION, AND THEY WERE ASKED FO FOLLOW JESUS DEEPER INTO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE ON THE NIGHT OF HIS BETRAYAL TO PRAY FOR HIM.
PETER WAS A PROUD AND IMPULSIVE PERSON, AS CAN BE SEEN FROM STATEMENTS HE MADE BEFORE JESUS’ ARREST.
MATTHEW 16:16: SIMON PETER ANSWERED, “YOU ARE THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”
JOHN 13:37: 37 PETER ASKED, “LORD, WHY CAN’T I FOLLOW YOU NOW? I WILL LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU.”
SOME PEOPLE MAY TRULY BE ABLE TO SAY THESE WORDS AND MEAN THEM, BUT PETER FALLS INTO A CATEGORY OF PEOPLE THAT MANY STILL BELONG TO TODAY. THIS CATEGORY SPEAKS OF HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE, BUT IN REALITY FALL FAR SHORT OF THE MARK.
THE BEST TIME TO BE A CHRISTIAN, IS AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FACE CHALLENGES TO YOUR FAITH. YOU WILL SINGS SONGS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, BE LIFTED UP IN PRAYER, AND BE INSTRUCTED IN THE FAITH. PETER WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES WHEN HE MADE THESE STATEMENTS.
IT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO LIVE FOR CHRIST IN THE DAY-TO-DAY WORLD. WE FACE CHALLENGES AT WORK, FROM OUR FAMILY, FROM SOCIETY, AND SOMETIMES THE EASIEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THOSE TEMPTATIONS IS SIMPLY TO SAY “I DON’T KNOW” WHEN IN FACT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD TAKE A STAND. IN SHORT YOU DENY YOUR FAITH, AND BETRAY YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES RODE ON THE CHARISMA OF JESUS. PEOPLE CAME FROM MILES AROUND TO HEAR HIM TEACH AND RECEIVE HEALING. JESUS WAS RECEIVED WARMLY AND POSITIVELY BY THE CROWDS AND SO WERE PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES WHO FOLLOWED HIM. NOW THEY WOULD HAVE TO STAND ON THEIR OWN IN A VERY HOSTILE ATMOSPHERE AND THEY WERE VERY SCARED.
TODAY WE WALK THAT SAME ROAD. THERE IS GREAT OPPOSITION TO THE CHURCH, AND SOME CHURCHES RESPOND TO IT BY DENYING BIBLICAL PRINCIPES. THEY DENY THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE, PREACH UNIVERSAL SALVATION, SAY THERE IS NO HELL, AND THAT MANY ROADS CAN LEAD TO GOD. NO LONGER IS SIN CALLED SIN.
WITH THAT AS BACKGROUND TO PETER AND HOW WE CAN RELATED TO HIM, LETS LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE.
CONTEXT:
THE CONTEXT OF THIS PASSAGE GOES BACK TO THE TIME OF THE LAST SUPPER. AN ATTITUDE THAT PETER HAS DEVELOPED WHILE WALKING WITH JESUS IS SUPERIORITY AND PRIDE. HE FEELS HE CAN SAY AND DO ANYTHING. AFTER THE TIME OF THE LAST SUPPER ALL THIS WILL CHANGE.
JESUS BEGINS THE ROAD TO DENIAL IN V. 18
MARK 14:18: WHILE THEY WERE RECLINING AT THE TABLE EATING, HE SAID, “TRULY I TELL YOU, ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME—ONE WHO IS EATING WITH ME.”
JESUS TELLS THEM IN THIS VERSE THAT NONE OF THEM, INCLUDING PETER, WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO FACE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. HE GOES AS FAR AS TO SAY THAT ONE OF THEM WILL HELP HIS ENEMIES.
IN MATTHEW’S ACCOUNT JESUS REPEATS THIS SAME STATEMENT AS THEY ARE WALKING TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. HE DOES THIS BECAUSE IN V. 21 HE IS REFERRING TO JUDAS, BUT IN V.31 JUDAS IS ALREADY GONE, SO HE IS REFERRING TO ANOTHER. HERE HE IS REFERRING TO PETER.
IN V.33 PETER ASSURES JESUS THAT IF THEY ALL SHOULD RUN AWAY, THAT HE WOULD STAY BY HIM, AND THIS STATEMENT BRINGS ABOUT JESUS PROPHESY OF V.34.
MATTHEW 26:34: “TRULY I TELL YOU,” JESUS ANSWERED, “THIS VERY NIGHT, BEFORE THE ROOSTER CROWS, YOU WILL DISOWN (DENY ME, BRACKETS MINE)ME THREE TIMES.”
IT IS AFTER JESUS SAYS THIS THAT PETER SHOWS HIS PRIDE AND AUDACITY. HE REBUKES JESUS. TO REBUKE THE LORD IS NOT A WISE THING TO DO AT ANY TIME, BUT IF YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH PRIDE, YOU WILL SAY THIS:
MATTHEW 26:35: BUT PETER DECLARED, “EVEN IF I HAVE TO DIE WITH YOU, I WILL NEVER DISOWN YOU.” AND ALL THE OTHER DISCIPLES SAID THE SAME.
THIS IS AN ANSWER BASED ON PRIDE BECAUSE HE’S SPEAKING FOR HIMSELF, NOT THE OTHERS. THEY HAD TO RESPOND AFTER HIM AND FOLLOW HIS LEAD. PETER USES THE PRONOUN “I” RATHER THAN “WE”, MEANING THE OTHER DISCIPLES.
JESUS THEN GOES TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMENE. HERE HE TAKES PETER JAMES AND JOHN WITH HIM DEEPER INTO THE GARDEN AND ASKS THEM TO PRAY, AND HE GOES A BIT FURTHER ON HIS OWN.
THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS HE COMES BACK AND FINDS THEM SLEEPING. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL FROM HIS DEMEANOR AND APPEARANCE THAT THERE WAS A GREAT SPIRITUAL BATTLE TAKING PLACE AND THEY NEEDED TO SUPPORT JESUS. THEIR SLEEP WAS THE SLEEP OF PRIDE. NO ONE WOULD DARE COME AND HURT THEIR JESUS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THEM FIRST. HE WAS SAFE, SAFE UNTIL.
MARK 14:41: RETURNING THE THIRD TIME, HE SAID TO THEM, “ARE YOU STILL SLEEPING AND RESTING? ENOUGH! THE HOUR HAS COME. LOOK, THE SON OF MAN IS DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF SINNERS.
SO MANY TIMES JESUS SAID TO THEM, MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME. TONIGHT THOSE WORDS WERE DIFFERENT, AND SO WOULD BE THEIR REACTION TO THEM.
THE NEXT EVENT ON THIS NIGHT WAS THE ARREST OF JESUS. THERE WAS A LARGE CROWD IN THE ARRESTING PARTY. JUDAS BETRAYED HIM WITH A KISS, AND HE WAS ARRESTED.
IT IS AT THIS POINT THAT JOHN’S ACCOUNT TELLS US THAT PETER DRAWS HIS SWORD, AND CUTS OFF THE EAR OF THE SERVANT OF THE HIGH PRIEST, MALCHUS, WHOM JESUS IMMEDIATELY HEALS.
JESUS IS THEN TAKEN BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN TO FACE CHARGES OF BLASPHEMY. IT IS HERE THAT PETER’S DENIAL OCCURS.
PETER’S DENIAL:
ARRESTS DURING JESUS’ TIME WERE VERY BRUTAL. THERE WERE MORE THAN 50 TEMPLE GUARDS INVOLVED IN IT, PLUS SOME ROMAN SOLDIERS AND MANY OTHER ONLOOKERS. HE WOULD BE KICKED, PUNCHED, PUSHED DOWN, THE ENTIRE DISTANCE FROM THE GARDEN TO THE PLACE OF TRIAL. INSULTS WOULD BE HURLED AT HIM AS WELL AS THREATS OF DEATH. PETER STAYED IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT HE WOULD SEE AND HEAR IT ALL.
PETER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH JESUS, SO HE STAYS CLOSE, BUT ALSO DOES NOT WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HIMSELF. HE TRIES TO HIDE BY BLENDING IN WITH THE CROWD AND WARMS HIMSELF BY THE FIRE WITH MEN WHO NO DOUBT WERE INVOLVED IN THE ARREST OF JESUS.
A SERVANT GIRL RECOGNIZES HIM, MOST LIKELY FROM SOME APPEARANCE JESUS MADE DURING THE WEEK, AND DRAWS ATTENTION TO HIM. TWICE PETER DENIES KNOWING JESUS.
SHE MUST HAVE DRAWN ATTENTION TO HIM AS ONE OF THE HIGH PRIEST’S SERVANTS RECOGNIZES HIM. REMEMBER IT WAS A SERVANT OF THE HIGH PRIEST WHO HAD HIS EAR CUT OFF BY PETER. JOHN TELLS US THAT THE SERVANT WHO RECOGNIZED PETER WAS A RELATIVE OF THAT SERVANT WHO LOST HIS EAR. HE MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE CROWD WHEN JESUS WAS ARRESTED.
TWO THINGS MADE PETER STAND OUT:
1. THE INCIDENT WITH THE EAR
2. THE FACT THAT PETER WAS A GALILEAN. GALILEAN HAD AN ACCENT THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZED.
THE RESULT WAS FOUND IN VV. 74-75
MARK 14:71-72:
HE BEGAN TO CALL DOWN CURSES, AND HE SWORE TO THEM, “I DON’T KNOW THIS MAN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.” 72 IMMEDIATELY THE ROOSTER CROWED THE SECOND TIME. THEN PETER REMEMBERED THE WORD JESUS HAD SPOKEN TO HIM: “BEFORE THE ROOSTER CROWS TWICE YOU WILL DISOWN ME THREE TIMES.” AND HE BROKE DOWN AND WEPT.
WHEN IT STATES THAT HE CALLED DOWN CURSES AND SWORE AT THEM, HE WAS NOT CURSING AS WE WOULD THINK. HE WAS SAYING LET SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN TO HIM IF WHAT HE SAID WAS NOT TRUE.
THINGS TO LEARN FROM THE DENIAL
FIRST: THERE IS REMORSE BUT NO REPENTANCE.
PETER REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF JESUS SPOKEN TO HIM AT THE LAST SUPPER. HE BROKE DOWN AND WEPT BITTERLY. NONE OF THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS SPEAK OF A CONFESSION OF SIN AND ASKING OF FORGIVENESS.
IN JOHN 21 THERE ARE THREE TIMES WHERE JESUS ASKS PETER DO YOU LOVE ME. THE INTERESTING THING IN THIS PASSAGE IS THAT HE REFERS TO PETER AS “SIMON, SON OF JOHN.” IT IS IN V. 19 THAT WE READ:
JOHN 21:19: JESUS SAID THIS TO INDICATE THE KIND OF DEATH BY WHICH PETER WOULD GLORIFY GOD. THEN HE SAID TO HIM, “FOLLOW ME!”
2. PETER GOT IN TROUBLE WHEN HE STOPPED PRAYING. THREE TIMES JESUS ASKED HIM TO PRAY IN THE GARDEN. THREE TIMES HIS PRIDE BLOCKED HIM. WHEN WE STOP PRAYING WE ACT IN OUR OWN POWER, AND DO NOT DEPEND ON GOD’S
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18: REJOICE ALWAYS, 17 PRAY CONTINUALLY, 18 GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.
3. PETER GOT IN TROUBLE BECAUSE HE FOLLOWED AT A DISTANCE. ONCE YOU STOP TALKING TO JESUS, IT WILL NOT BE LONG UNTIL YOU STOP WALKING WITH JESUS.
4. WHEN YOU STOP TALKING TO JESUS, AND WALKING WITH JESUS, YOU WILL SOON START DWELLING ON THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. PETER WAS SITTING WITH THE GUARDS. NO DOUBT HE WAS ACTING LIKE THEM AS WELL TRYING TO FIT IN. THE PATH AWAY FROM CHRIST WILL LEAD YOU TO THE UNGODLY. IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. DAVID TAUGHT
PSALM 1:1: BLESSED IS THE ONE, WHO DOES NOT WALK IN STEP WITH THE WICKED, OR STAND IN THE WAY THAT SINNERS TAKE OR SIT IN THE COMPANY OF MOCKERS,
CONCLUSION:
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY MOTHER WOULD SOMETIMES SEND ME TO THE GROCERY STORE FOR SOMETHING. I WAS A BIT OF A WANDERER AND COULD EASILY BE SIDETRACKED SO SHE WOULD ALWAYS ADD THIS INSTRUCTION. “DON’T DILLY-DALLY AND COME STRAIGHT HOME.” SHE WOULD NEED THE ITEM FOR WHAT SHE WAS PREPARING AND WANTED IT RIGHT AWAY.
PETER BECAME OBSESSED WITH WHAT WAS AROUND HIM AND ALLOWED HIS PRIDE TO GET THE BETTER OF HIM. WE ARE TOLD NOT TO CONSIDER A ROAD AWAY FROM GOD FOR THE CONSEQUENCES WILL ADD UP GREATLY. WHAT BLESSINGS WE WILL MISS WHEN WE DABBLE WITH DENIAL.
PROVERBS 4:14-16:
DO NOT SET FOOT ON THE PATH OF THE WICKED OR WALK IN THE WAY OF EVILDOERS. 15 AVOID IT, DO NOT TRAVEL ON IT; TURN FROM IT AND GO ON YOUR WAY. 16 FOR THEY CANNOT REST UNTIL THEY DO EVIL; THEY ARE ROBBED OF SLEEP TILL THEY MAKE SOMEONE STUMBLE.
