OPEN: There's a famous poem named “Footprints” that you can find on posters, paintings and even small cards that people will put in the Bibles. It has a powerful message of hope and comfort, and it goes like this:
“One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord, across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
‘Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.’
He whispered, ‘My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.’”
That is a very comforting poem. The idea that Jesus walks beside us every step of our lives. That is so cool!
But there’s another view of this idea that I find interesting (we put a meme on the screen that read) “Where you see one set of footprints is where I carried you… And that long grove is where I dragged you kicking and screaming.”
As we read about Peter this morning, he seems to be one of those guys that Jesus had to occasionally drag, kicking and screaming where God wanted him. You see, Peter was a hard-headed, Type A kind of personality. He liked being in charge. He liked being in control. In fact, at one point Jesus had to rebuke him saying: “Get thee behind me Satan” because Peter tried to take control of Jesus’ ministry.
The more WE look at Peter, the more we think - how difficult a man this guy must have been to have around.
But then, the more JESUS looked at Peter, the more valuable Peter became because Jesus would often take people (like Peter) who the rest of the world would reject… and then Jesus would turn them into powerful tools to change the world.
Just to realize how important Peter was to Jesus it’s worthwhile to remember that whenever the 12 disciples are named in Scripture Peter’s name is ALWAYS first. On top of that, Peter was part of a very select group of men who were almost always with Jesus - Peter, James and John.
• When Jesus raised a little girl from the dead – “…He allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.” Mark 5:37
• When Jesus was on the Mt. Transfiguration – “… Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. Matthew 17:1
• And when Jesus was struggling in prayer at Gethsemane – “…He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.” Mark 14:33
And EVEN among those 3 – Peter stood out. Peter was the only one who walked on water. Peter was the only one who proclaims “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Peter was the only one who Jesus gave a special nickname to (Simon – the rock)
Wherever Peter was… you could count on him being a leader and a major worker for Christ.
In fact, at the last Passover, Jesus said "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away"
Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And ALL THE DISCIPLES said the same. Matthew 26:31-35
Whenever Peter spoke it was if he spoke for all the rest of the 12. They looked to him as the natural leader and whatever he said – they chimed in with a “me too.” And Peter loved Jesus so much that he believed he’d even die for Him.
(PAUSE)
So what happened? How did Peter go from being the man who declared: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” to being the man who said: “Nope, don’t know the man!” How could Peter (this rock of a man who loved Christ) “… invoke a curse on himself and swear, ‘I do not know this man of whom you speak.’”
HOW COULD PETER DO THAT!!!!
Well, there’s a couple reasons I can think of, and the first one is this: Peter was a controlling kind of guy (Type A personality).
When Jesus told His disciples that “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And PETER TOOK HIM ASIDE and began to REBUKE (Jesus), saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." Matthew 16:21-22
Seriously? Peter rebuked Jesus? But this was in keeping with Peter’s controlling mindset.
AND… When Jesus was arrested, we’re told that “Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear…” John 18:10
Then it says that Once Jesus was arrested, “Simon Peter followed Jesus, and … entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest” John 18:15
What’s peter doing following Jesus into the courtyard? Why would he do that? Well… Jesus had just been arrested and He’d been taken by force into “the enemy camp.” And there’s a strong possibility Jesus’ll be imprisoned… and even murdered that very night.
I think the reason followed Jesus into the courtyard was the intended to break Jesus out of there. He’s going to pull a James Bond… and steal Jesus away into the night
If that’s true, why did Peter DENY that he knew Jesus those 3 times? Well, if he hadn’t he’d have given himself away. People would have known WHO he was and the element of surprise would be LOST… and so would Jesus. Jesus would be lost.
So Peter lied and he cursed so that no one would mistake him for a follower of Christ’s. And once again, Peter sought to control Jesus. He believed Jesus was vulnerable and in danger and if Peter didn’t act quickly, and even deviously, the world would destroy his master.
Too often, Christians are just like Peter. They try to control Jesus and control His church and control His people. They believe if they don’t act in powerful, quickly and sometimes even in underhanded ways that Jesus and His church will be in danger. So they do what they do to PROTECT Jesus and His church.
Peter wanted to attain his own goals. And do you know what would have happened if Peter had gotten his way?
Jesus would have been spared the humiliation and insults of the crowds. He would have been spared the whip and crown of thorns. He would have been spared the cross and its horrors. All because Peter knew what was best for Jesus.
If I’d have been Peter – I think I’d probably have done what he did as well. I’d probably have tried to stop that execution on Friday. But if Peter had been successful none of us would have been happy with the result. If Peter had been successful you and I would still be dead in our sins, you and I would still be under judgment, you and I would still be condemned to hell. Because only “the blood of Jesus… purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) And the only way that blood was shed for us was through the cross.
Now, there’s a 2nd reason I believe Peter denied Jesus. Have you ever heard the old saying: “The Devil made me do it?” You could say Satan influenced Peter deny Christ. Jesus told Peter “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” Luke 22:31
(speaking as if I’m part of the audience asking me the question) Do you mean to tell me Peter didn’t have a choice? That he was forced to deny Jesus? Well… not quite. You see, Satan can’t force us to do anything, but he CAN influence us if we allow him to have a foothold in our lives.
ILLUS: A Haitian minister once told this parable: A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: He would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door.
After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from at house to the owner of the nail. And eventually, the new guy sold the house back to original owner.
You see, Peter believed he knew better than Jesus what had to be done - and that was the only “nail” that Satan needed to take control of Peter. Peter’s arrogance was the nail that Satan used to influence Peter to deny Christ
We’ve got to be careful that we don’t allow Satan to have a “nail” in our lives. Pride, selfishness, anger, lust, love of money… desire to have our own way (seek control). You name the sin, Satan’s got a nail for it. Don’t let him have it.
One last thing:
Like I said earlier, the more we look at Peter, the more difficult he seems. At first glance, he just doesn’t seem to be a promising dependable leader. In fact, NONE of the disciples seem that impressive… except for one specific disciple. Someone once explained who that promising disciple was by pretending to have read a letter to Jesus from the “Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem, Israel”, and it read as follows:
“Thank you Jesus for submitting the resumes of the 12 men you’ve picked for your new organization. All of them have taken our battery of tests and it is our opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. These are our observations
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities for leadership. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James (the son of Alphaeus) and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic depressive scale.
However, one of the candidates shows great potential. He is a man of great ability, he meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible.
We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man.”
Judas must have been a very likable guy because he was trusted with something very important to the disciples – he was entrusted with the purse. Now Rick is our treasurer. Why is he the church treasurer? Well, aside from the fact that no one else wants the job, we trust Rick. We know we can depend upon him to be faithful and honest.
That’s why the disciples had no problem having Judas hold the money… they trusted him. Of course, he was a thief and a scoundrel, but aside from that he wasn’t a bad guy.
So… what is Judas known for? Well, Judas is known as the betrayer. He betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver. But, wait minute! Didn’t Peter betray Jesus too? Didn’t Peter deny Jesus 3 times, even swearing and cursing as he did so?
So, they both betrayed Christ - but Judas becomes the villain of the story. He slinks off in shame and hangs himself and goes to hell. But Peter becomes the hero of the story? Peter steps up becomes a major leader in the early church and even becomes a powerful evangelistic speaker?
They both sinned a similar terrible sin - but Peter was forgiven … and Judas wasn’t. Why????
2 Corinthians 7:10 has AN INTERESTING TAKE on this: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret (that’s what Peter experienced), but worldly sorrow brings death (Judas went out and hung himself).”
Well, the primary reason is this: Judas WAS sorry. “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.” Matthew 27:3
BUT THEY REFUSED TO TAKE THE MONEY BACK
“So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” Matthew 27:5
So Judas was sorry… but he really didn’t want to change. And the reason he didn’t want to change was that he didn’t really LOVE Jesus. He realized he’d done wrong and he couldn’t live with the guilt his shame was worldly sorrow - he was just “sorry”.
By contrast, Peter WANTED to repent of his sin. Peter loved Jesus SO much that the very idea of offending Christ caused him shame. Thus Peter’s shame was “Godly sorrow” (repentance)
And what lay at the heart of Peter’s repentance? He gave up trying to be in control. He had failed so miserably doing it “his way” that he no longer looked to his strength and wisdom and insight to bring him salvation. Now he looked only to Jesus… because he knew Jesus had forgiven his sins.
Matthew West (© 2012 Songs of Southside Independent Music Publishing) wrote a powerful song about forgiveness that I want to close with today:
"Hello, my name is REGRET - I’m pretty sure we have met. Every single day of your life I’m the whisper inside that won’t let you forget.
Hello, my name is DEFEAT I know you recognize me. Just when you think you can win I’ll drag you right back down again ‘Til you’ve lost all belief.
Oh, these are the voices. Oh, these are the lies. And I have believed them for the very last time.
Hello, my name is child of the one true King. I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, I have been set free. "Amazing Grace" is the song I sing. Hello, my name is child of the one true King. I am no longer defined by all the wreckage behind. The one who makes all things new has proven it's true. Just take a look at my life what love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called His children.”
CLOSE: We’re not saved because we’re righteous people. We’re not “holier than thou”… because all the other “thous” out there aren’t always that much worse than we are. We are saved because we gave up trying to run our lives our way. We are saved because we gave up being in “control” and gave our control over to Jesus.
We are saved because we decided to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and to believe that we had sinned and could never pay the price for our guilt. We are saved because we decided to make Jesus the Lord of our lives and be buried in the waters of baptism and rise up a new creation in Christ.
INVITATION
