Once a man died & went to the gates of heaven. AS he was about to enter in to heaven, Peter stands by the gates and refuses to let him in. Peter says.. tell me why I should let you into heaven. You list out your reasons. I will score you. And If you score 100 points, then I will let you in.
So the man begins to think and tell his points.
1. I regularly came to church every Sunday – 2 points. So many years, coming regularly to church fetched him only two points. He was thoroughly disappointed.
2. I gave my offerings and tithes – 3 points
3. I participated in ministry – 2 points
He thought hard and then said another point.
4. I shared about Jesus to two of my friends – 5 points
He gets vexed and says, if it goes at this rate, I can only enter by the grace of God. Immediately, the gates of heaven were opened.
It is by grace alone that we have access to God. We do nothing and did nothing to earn the entry to heaven.
We have come to an end of yet another year 2018. Last Sunday of the year! Throughout this year, I am sure each of us can testify to God’s abundant grace. If you were able to accomplish something this year, it is because of His grace. If you went through really difficult and trying times, it is His grace that sustained you.
If we look behind, we can see the fingerprints of God everywhere.
As we approach the end of another year, I thought it good to reflect about ourselves..
How has my life changed over these 12 months? Am I the same person as the beginning of the year? Or is there some change in my character? Do I reflect Jesus better now?
For our meditation, let’s turn to Mark chapter 14.
Mark chapter 14 records some of the most important events. The events begin two days before the Passover, or the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. It starts with a woman anointing Jesus at the house of Simon, the leper, with a jar of expensive perfume.
From vs 12, we begin to read about the Preparations for the Last Supper and then the Last Supper taking place.
Then we read about Peter’s denial of Jesus. We will be focussing from vs. 27 onwards for today’s meditation
Mark 14:66-72 – is a familiar passage where Peter denies Jesus thrice.
Peter does not deny before people with authority like High Priest or Pilate, rather he denies before ordinary people like servant girls. Even if he had told them, he knew Jesus, I’m not sure what authority they would have had to do him any harm. But He was so fearful and he denies His Lord.
Peter denied Jesus. This was the beginning of his fall in spiritual life.
How with what harsh words he denies Jesus!
V68: I neither know nor understand what you are saying. V68 also records that the rooster crowed one time. This should have warned Peter. But Peter didn’t take it seriously.
V70: He denies second time:
Matthew 14:71: third time: Peter began to curse and swear “I do not know the Man of whom you speak”
Cursing and swearing indicates that he is calling God as an ultimate witness of him not knowing somebody called Jesus.
Fear of people overtakes his fear for God. First Peter lies. Then he tells a double lie to cover up the first lie. [It’s natural.. when you tell one lie, you might end up telling series of lies to cover up that one lie]. Peter then takes God’s name in vain by swearing to prove his lie.
Even as I was reading this passage, I was wondering what made Peter to fall?
1. Peter had a good start. His first meeting with Jesus itself was supernatural. Unusually large catch of fish on a dry sea – an amazing start wherein two things happened. Peter realized he was a sinner. He receives his calling from God – You shall be fishers of men. Which means his life had a definite and God-given wonderful purpose.
2. Jesus had 12 disciples among whom 3 disciples James, John and Peter had a special place. So Peter was in the close circle of Jesus.
3. Peter was almost like a leader of the disciples. When Peter left fishing and followed Jesus, others followed him. When Peter went back to fishing, others followed him as well.
4. Peter had the true revelation of Jesus Christ. When Jesus asked Who do you think I am, Peter rightly answered You are Christ the Son of Living God
5. Peter was one among the three who watched the transfiguration of Jesus.
6. Peter was the only one to walk on water other than Jesus.
Why would such a zealous Peter fall?
Let us go through Mk 14 and find out some clear signs why he fell. Some indicators that Peter failed to note.
1. Self-confidence/Lack of trust in God
Mk 14:27 - “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.
Jesus makes a remarkable statement to all his 12 disciples. Not a positive statement. It was really something shocking.. He says You will all fall away. Other versions say, You will all stumble.
Jesus doesn’t stop there. He continues - But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. Which means the story doesn’t end in falling away. I will rise again.. [Jesus prophecies about his rising again] and then He says about His earthly appearance after He is risen. But none of these marvellous facts – Rising again and meeting them again after death seem to raise any surprises]
Rather look at Peter’s response – Mk 14:29
Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
What do you think about this answer? Just ponder on this response by Peter.
Outwardly, it looks like it is Peter’s great zeal for God that made him to say this. But look
deeper. It was merely Peter’s self-confidence. He had confidence in Himself than in God. God is declaring that everyone will fall away. Completely opposed to God’s word, Peter says, ‘Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not.’
Peter believed that he had reached a place in his spiritual life where failure was impossibility.
This is a dangerous place to be...
1 Cor 10:12: Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Bible warns us again and again about thinking that we have reached a place where failure is not possible.
If we are standing today, it is by the grace of God alone. We should lean on the grace of God and not ourselves. In all circumstance, in our work, in our day to day life, we should constantly remind ourselves that all that I am is simply by the grace of God. And everyday, I need to rely upon this grace. I need to rely upon the Holy Spirit as I move forward.
All of us are vulnerable to the wiles of the devil and we need to be careful that we are not deceived.
Remember, self-confidence can come in many forms. But we need to check that. My confidence should always be in God
Jeremiah 17:7 says But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
Is my confidence in God this morning? Or is my confidence in something else?
When Peter told confidently, that he will not fall away, Jesus tells him again.
Mk 14:30-31 - “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[e] you yourself will disown me three times.”
Jesus clearly tells Peter.. Peter, what you think is completely wrong. This is what is going to happen. You will deny me three times. Again, look at this Peter?
Vs. 31 - But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”
Peter just cannot accept what God is saying. He trusted His ability so much that he wouldn’t agree to what Jesus is saying or even seek His grace.
It is like I would pick the Bible and say – I don’t care what the book says, it will never happen to me.
We read a similar incident about Peter in another place.
Mark 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!”
Jesus says, this is what is going to happen to me. Peter says.. No.. never.. this shall never happen to you.
That much over-confidence. I know better than Jesus. This fellow is speaking nonsense.. I know better. He says to Jesus - What are you talking? Such a thing will never happen to you!
Again outwardly, it looks like Peter loves Jesus so much. He cannot bear anything like this happening to Jesus. But look at Jesus’ response in vs 23.
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.”
Jesus says to him – You are a stumbling block to me… You are not mindful only of fleshly things and not godly things.
To be mindful of things that concerns God requires faith. And faith is not easy. Hebrews 11:1 says Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith asks us to believe in something we cannot see. Faith requires us to believe the impossible. And that’s hard. We naturally begin to act out of our carnal mind…
It’s really hard.. You need faith to believe what Bible says.
1. You may say I have this disease – But Bible says by my stripes you are healed. Which is easier to believe.. What the medical reports say or what God says.
2. You may say I am weak – But God says, My strength is perfect in your weakness
3. You may say I have nothing – But Bible says, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3)
4. You may say I am lonely – But Bible says, I am with you always, to the very end of the age
5. You may say no one cares about you – But God says, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.
6. You may think you are nothing – But God declares you to be His masterpiece
You need to believe what the Bible says and train your mind to believe the word of God.
Proverbs 3:5 says - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
These two are opposites.. Those who trust in the Lord will not lean on their own understanding and those who lean on their own understanding cannot trust in the Lord.
First reason why Peter failed was because His trust in Himself was more than His trust in God.
2. Secondly, Peter failed because he failed to pray
Mk 14:32-39
Jesus commanded his Peter, John and James to pray. But they fell asleep. Second time, yet they fell asleep and then the third time.. still they were sleeping.
I would like to highlight vs 37 and 38 here.
V37: Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
See how the verse goes. He came and found them sleeping.. and said to Peter… Ideally whom should he address.. All of them, right? But he says only to Peter.. Simon, watch and pray…
Peter was not prepared spiritually to face his battles. And Jesus knew that well. He need to watch and pray, so that he gets the strength from above.
In order to face battles of everyday life, we need to draw strength from God in prayer. And the first thing devil attacks before touching you is your prayer life. Because devil knows that prayer is the strength to overcome temptation. That’s your guard and shield.
If Peter woke up (both physically and spiritually), and drew close in dependence on God, he could have kept from denying Jesus at the critical hour.
Do I really seek God? David says in Psalm 63 – early will I seek you.. my soul thirsts for you.. Do we have that experience of our soul thirsting for God?
Seeking God is absolutely necessary. As we end this year, let’s look back. How much did I spend time with God. In prayer? In reading His word? Or as we step into the next year, let us commit ourselves to be obedient to Jesus’ word.. to be watchful because we do not know the Hour when the Son of Man will come again.
Mat 6:33 – seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.
Again we read in 2 Chronicles 26:5 – As long as King Uzziah sought the Lord, God made him to prosper..
Failing to watch and pray would mean you are becoming vulnerable to temptations in life. And that’s exactly what happened to Peter..
3. Peter made momentary, hasty decisions
Thirdly why did Peter fall?
Mk 14:47 - And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Who is that One of those – Peter. It is clear from John 18:10 - Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Did Jesus ever ask Peter to use the sword? Or to cut off Malchus’ ear?
Peter took a hasty decision. Jesus was just there. But he did not even consult Jesus.
Sometimes, we too take hasty decisions in life and regret later.
Peter did what he thought was right. But that wasn’t God’s will or plan.
We find Jesus rebuking this act of Peter… we find that John 18:11 [Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”]
We are heading to a fall when we make hasty decisions. Momentary or emotional decisions. They could be wrong.
Bible constantly warns us against taking decisions to fulfil momentary pleasures. Look at Esau.. What did he do? For momentary gain, he gave away his birth right. To satisfy his hunger at that moment, he gave something of greater value. And he regretted his decision later, but to no use.
What did Samson do.. He goes to Delilah and gives away the secret of his strength.. the very thing he regretted later.
What did Lot do.. He looked at Sodom. The place was desirable to live. So he immediately decides to go there and spend the rest of his life. But he did not ask God. And you know the rest of the story.
May be there are decisions you’ve taken that you regretted later. But let’s learn to wait upon God before you make any decisions. Learn to rely on God’s wisdom as you make a decision. Know for certain that God has the answer to your problems and questions.
4. Peter was at a wrong place in a wrong time
Mk 14:67
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”
What’s wrong here? Peter was warming himself. That’s not wrong. But Peter was warming himself in the enemy’s fire. The fire was lit by the enemies for their own purpose. Peter needn’t have sat there. But Peter did. By doing so, he ended up in a wrong group.
Just for a momentary benefit of being warm.
And there began his first denial.
Being with wrong people, having a wrong relationship just for some momentary pleasure can have lasting consequences.
Be careful about the kind of people who influence you.. Kind of people who have an impact on your life.. Because that would determine your actions and reactions.
So far, Peter who was willing to lay down his life for Jesus now begins to deny Jesus.. The same Peter who once said to Jesus ‘you are Christ, the Son of the Living God’… now says, I do not know this Man of whom you speak!
Who are the people who are influencing my life?
Conclusion
Peter failed miserably – He was confident in Himself and not God, He failed to pray, He made hasty decisions and finally he was in a wrong group.
But fortunately, that was not the end of Peter’s story.
A New Beginning
When Peter repented for his actions, God gave him a new beginning.
And it started all over again. Again, a miraculous catch of fish on a dry sea. Again, a commitment to love Jesus with a true heart. And with a prophecy of how he would die as a martyr of Jesus Christ.
What we see is the reconciliation of a broken and discouraged man and Peter from this point forward is one of the most powerful figures in the church. He lived for God. He was used by God so mightily that even the shadow of Peter brought healing to the sick. He wrote two epistles that are part of our Bible and he finally died on the cross as a martyr. As they were about to crucify Peter on the cross, he said Crucify me upside down for I am not worthy to die like my Lord Jesus.
May the life of Peter set us an example as we move ahead to 2019.
