PETER: AN INCONSISTENT FRIEND
Matthew 26:31-35 & 69-75
Series: A Day in the Life of… (Easter Series)
Some people are forever identified with a glaring mistake they made, and their many positive contributions are completely forgotten. For example, if I mention the name of Richard Nixon, everyone immediately thinks of the Watergate scandal. His China visit, his foreign policy, and his ending of the Vietnam Nam war are forgotten.
Mention the name of Bill Buckner to baseball fans and they begin talking about the time he missed an easy ground ball that cost Boston the World Series. Fans forget that in 22 years in the majors Buckner’s fielding percentage was 99.1. He went through some entire seasons with no errors.
To Michigan Wolverine basketball fans and to the University of North Carolina fans the name of Chris Webber will forever be remembered as the guy who panicked when he found himself in a lock tight defensive trap by the Tarheels as the time on the clock of the 1993 NCAA Championship game was quickly ticking away. In the midst of his panic, he called a timeout. The only problem was that Michigan didn’t have any timeouts left. Because of Chris Webbers mistake, Michigan was issued a technical foul, which allowed the Tarheels to go to the free throw line and to maintain possession of the ball. This mistake allowed Carolina to capitalize on Chris Webbers’ mistake, thereby winning the 1993 NCAA Championship. (Praise God!) But most sports fans forget the outstanding game Webber played for 39 ½ minutes of that game. And that mistake labeled Chris, to many folks, as a choker.
God evaluates each person’s life in total context. But human beings have a tendency to exaggerate the offenses of others and forget the positive contributions.
I think the Biblical character of Simon Peter gets a bad rap in that way. Mention his name in Christian circles and the first thing that comes to mind is, “That’s the guy who denied Jesus on the night of Jesus’ arrest. He was that inconsistent disciple who was up and down, disloyal, and a swearing betrayer.”
But there’s a lot more to Simon Peter’s character than that. There were good reasons why Jesus chose Simon as one of His inner circle of three. There were positive traits in Simon that motivated Jesus to say, “Blessed are you Simon, I will give you the keys to the kingdom.” It’s true that he made an awful mistake on the night of Jesus’ arrest, but even on that final night he did a lot of things right.
Pulitzer Prize winning historian Barbara Tuchman once explained that in writing history she tried to avoid, “Flash Forwards.” When historians write about the Civil War, for example, they should resist the temptation to include asides like, “Of course we all know who won.” From the early months of the Civil War right through until Gettysburg, it looked as if the South might prevail. Tuchman tried to avoid flashing forward to a later, all-seeing point of view; she sought instead to recreate history for the reader, conveying a sense that, “You are there.”
When we read the story of Peter’s failure, we know the end of the story. It’s easy to ask, “Why didn’t he speak up for Jesus in the courtyard?” We know that Jesus rises from the dead and ascends to heaven as the glorified Son of God. But all Peter knows is that his leader has suddenly become the target of a politically motivated criminal investigation. Everybody else has abandoned Him.
If we read it without flashing forward, we’re going to say, “Wow! Who is this lone guy who’s still loyal, who still hasn’t given up on Jesus despite overwhelming odds against Him?”
Let’s trace this critical day in the life of Simon Peter. I want you to see that the mistake he made could only have been made by an exceptionally courageous and committed disciple. Listen closely because there are some important lessons for us when we are inconsistent friends of Jesus.
The drama begins as Jesus and the disciples leave the upper room in Jerusalem, where they have just shared the Passover meal. Matthew 26:31-35 reads: “Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’ Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’ “I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ But Peter declared, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same.’”
A lot of Bible teachers chastise Peter for being so reckless. They’ll snicker and say with a condescending tone, “Good ol’ Peter, sticking his foot in his mouth again! Always such a bigmouth. Overconfident. Blind to his own faults.”
That may be partially true. He should have been humbler and less self-reliant. But would you want him to say, “You’re right Jesus. I’ll deny you. Don’t expect me to stand up under pressure. I’ll blow it.”
No, let’s give Simon Peter credit first for having POSITIVE INTENTIONS.
If I warn you, “In a few days the church is going to be picketed and criticized for its Biblical stand. I’m afraid none of you will have the courage to stand up to media scrutiny.” I don’t want you to nod in agreement. I’d appreciate someone saying, “Not me. I’ll stand firm. You can count on me.”
If a parent says to an eighteen-year-old child, “I’m afraid you aren’t strong enough to stand against the peer pressure of college life.” That parent doesn’t want the freshman-to-be to say, “You’re right, Dad, I can’t.” You want them to say, “I’ll be okay. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Let’s not be overly critical of Simon Peter for saying, “I’ll not deny you, Lord. I’m willing to die for you.” He had good intentions and he later demonstrates he really meant it.
Years ago, Aristotle defined every virtue as being what he called the “Golden Mean”—we would say the middle ground between the under and over extremes. On the one extreme is the VICE of DEFICIENCY—having too little of the desired trait; on the other was the VICE of EXCESS—having too much of it.
Take for example the virtue of ambition. The under ambitious we call lazy or apathetic. The overly ambitious we call greedy or workaholics. Proper ambition is the virtue in the middle—the golden mean that motivates to excellence. You can chart that need for balance in just about every virtue.
That’s certainly true with appropriate confidence. It’s no virtue to lack confidence. That’s not humility, that’s insecurity. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God hasn’t given us a spirit of timidity.” On the other hand, it’s no virtue to be over-confident. That’s arrogance. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
Peter may have been overly confident. He should have been more aware of his vulnerability. Peter was an inconsistent disciple at times, but he usually erred on the over side and not the underside. Isn’t that preferable? I’ve always heard it said, “I’d rather restrain a fanatic than resurrect a corpse!”
Martin Luther said, “If you’re going to sin, sin boldly!” I don’t know if that’s good advice or not, but Jesus did say, “I would rather you be hot or cold and not lukewarm.” Peter wasn’t lukewarm. I think that’s why Jesus chose him and that’s why there are 200 verses about him in the New Testament. He had a good heart and good intentions.
Let’s see Simon Peter in a second scene that night. When they arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane he attempted a COURAGEOUS DEFENSE of Jesus.
Gethsemane was a secluded garden just outside Jerusalem that Jesus was free to use for prayer and meditation. While they were there praying, Judas came sneaking in, leading a gang of soldiers. He identified Jesus in the darkness with a kiss.
Matthew 26: 50b – 54 reads, “Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested Him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.”
John’s gospel identifies Simon Peter as the one who drew the sword. Don’t flash forward and chastise Peter for being foolish, impulsive, and violent. Put yourself in Peter’s sandals for a moment.
Keep in mind that a few hours before Jesus had given them this surprising counsel, "…if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." In Luke 22:36 it says, "The disciples said, ‘See, Lord, here are two swords.’ ‘That is enough,’ He replied."
Some think Jesus was urging His disciples to carry a sword to provide security for their families for the next several days. Maybe He was using a figure of speech, like a coach might say, “Be ready to go to war.”
Peter took it literally and carried a concealed weapon into the place of prayer. When the soldiers came he drew the sword out and attacked. I wonder why, with all the soldiers around, Peter attacks the High Priest’s servant? Was he the closest? The mouthiest? The weakest?
Whatever the reason, Peter whacks off a part of the guy’s ear. Peter wasn’t like Zorro, flicking the end of his sword and deliberately cutting off the guy’s earlobe to warn him. He takes a roundhouse swing attempting to decapitate the guy. But the servant ducks and Peter almost misses completely.
Evidently when it came to combat, Peter was a good fisherman! Peter’s action was overzealous and ineffective, but he was doing exactly what he told the Lord he was going to do. He’d insisted, “I’m willing to die for you.” He draws one lone sword against scores of heavily armed soldiers.
Peter would have been dead in seconds if Jesus hadn’t immediately intervened. Jesus miraculously healed the servant’s ear and then said, “Simon, put up the sword. You live by the sword you’ll die by the sword. I could call ten thousand angels to fight for me. And they’re good, Peter. I don’t need your help right now. Remember the Scriptures must be fulfilled that predict it’s to happen in this way."
I like Simon Peter for doing something, even if it was wrong. Sometimes we need to take action. Now I believe that there’s a time to turn the other cheek: when you are personally offended or insulted. But there’s also a time to stand up and fight the good fight of faith or fight for the rights of the oppressed.
2 Corinthians 10:4 says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.” But we do fight. I was impressed with an African American woman I saw on a television special some time ago. I didn’t catch her name and couldn’t track it down, but she is fighting vulgar hip-hop music. She’s young, attractive, articulate, and loving, but she’s tenacious and determined. “Enough of foul language, enough of exploiting women in videos, enough of encouraging drugs, and enough of degrading the culture,” she says.
Good for her. The rest of us have been too passive. There’s a time to be angry and courageous and to fight. Peter made a mistake in fighting with the weapons of this world. But give Simon credit for being willing to fight for what he knew to be right. Those strong convictions would serve him well a few weeks later when he’s in combat with these same people with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
That brings us to another snapshot of Simon Peter in this critical time period. It was in the courtyard of the Chief Priest where there is thirdly a SPONTANEOUS DENIAL.
When Jesus was arrested all the disciples forsook Him and fled into the night. Matthew 26:58 reads: “But Peter followed Him at a distance, (evidently he and John did a quick U-turn and followed) right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.”
Simon Peter overestimated his spiritual strength. He should have heeded Jesus’ warning and acknowledged his vulnerability. It’s one thing to talk big when surrounded by Christian friends in the upper room. It’s a lot tougher to stand for Christ when surrounded by unbelievers around the devil’s fire—isn’t it?
Simon is about to make the most serious breach of loyalty in his life but let’s remember that his sin was a spontaneous denial and not a deliberate one. He was inconsistent but not a hypocrite.
I hear people say, “One sin is just as bad as another; there’s no difference, they all separate us from God.” It’s true that we’re all sinners and any sin separates us from God. But it’s not true that all sin is the same. Some sins are worse than others.
The Old Testament specified that the penalty for stealing a sheep was to repay it fourfold. The penalty for kidnapping a person was execution. (See Exodus 21:16.) Sins vary in degree of wickedness.
Sins vary in motivation too. Some sins are premeditated, and some are impulsive. God distinguishes between falling into sin and scheduling sin on your calendar.
Exodus 21 instructs if one man kills another accidentally the perpetrator can flee to a city of refuge. Listen to verse 14, “But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death.”
The Apostle Paul said, “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:13).
This is a major difference between Judas and Peter. Judas’ betrayal was worse because it was deliberate. He had plotted it days in advance. Simon Peter’s failure was a spontaneous denial—not a calculated one. He didn’t go into the courtyard of the High Priest intending to fall.
Christian people do that a lot. We think we can warm ourselves by the devil’s fire and not get burned:
• I can watch this movie without its foul language and nudity affecting me.
• I can go to an ultra-liberal college; I know what I believe.
• I can attend the party where there will be drinking; I’m the designated driver.
• I can date that non-Christian guy and convert him.
• I can miss church every once in a while; I’ll pray on the couch at home, or wherever I might be.
• I can be on that Internet site and not get caught up in it again.
• I can attend that Bible study without getting sucked in to the false teaching. I know the preacher warned against it but I’m mature enough to determine false teaching when I hear it.
As I said a couple of weeks ago, I’ve observed that most Christians underestimate their ability to cope with suffering, but they overestimate their ability to cope with temptation. And we carelessly put ourselves in a vulnerable position.
Matthew 26: 69 - 74 relates, “Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee,’ she said. But he denied it before them all. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said.”
“Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ He denied it again, with an oath: ‘I don’t know the man!’ After a little while, (Luke’s gospel says it was about an hour later), those standing there went up to Peter and said, ‘Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.’ Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man!’”
Why didn’t he turn and leave after the first denial? He should’ve immediately recognized his inability to cope and bolted, but he stayed. When you fall into sin, recognize you’re in over your head and get away from it before you fall further. You’ll do worse if you stay. The Bible tells us to flee fornication, flee idolatry, flee from the love of money, flee youthful lusts.
But Peter didn’t run away. He stayed in that dangerous environment for more than an hour. Each denial became more intense than the previous.
There are two verbal signs that usually indicate you’re on a spiritual skid, and Peter was guilty of both. One is lying. We lie to get into places we don’t belong, we lie to protect ourselves, and we lie to cover up. Someone said, “Satan has many tools and a lie is the handle that fits them all.”
Another tell-tale sign that we’re slipping is profanity. Backsliding Christians start reverting to rough language. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). The clearest indication of what’s going on in your heart is how you talk.
The more mature we are as a Christian, the purer our speech should be. My son Sam had trouble with “th’s” when he was two and three years old. He would pronounce them as “f’s”. It was cute; I would smile and imitate him. But I was glad he grew out of it as he matured. If he’s 15 and still saying, “My name is Samuel Cuferson,” it’s not funny anymore—it’s a detriment to his future and an indication of immaturity.
A baby Christian will stumble and fall into speech patterns. It’s to be expected. Sometimes it’s almost funny. If you and I have been a Christian for ten years or more and we’re still using four letter words to spice up everyday conversation, we need to get more serious about our walk with Christ.
Simon Peter probably grew up as a rough talking fisherman. Being with Jesus for three years had transformed him. But now under pressure he slipped back into old habits and he swore, “I don’t know him.” Peter was cowardly and inconsistent at this time. But is there anyone here who can’t identify with him?
The final scene in this day of Simon Peter is outside the courtyard where there was GENUINE REPENTANCE.
Luke’s gospel describes it like this in Luke 22: 60b – 62, “Just as he was speaking the rooster crowed and the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
The word Luke uses to describe Jesus’ glance is the same word used in John 1:42 to describe the way Jesus looked at him at their very first meeting. Andrew brought Peter to Jesus and Jesus looked at him intently. He looked at his heart. It’s the same word Jesus used when he said, “Consider, (look at) the lilies of the field.” It means to see with your mind—to understand.
So, this gaze of Jesus wouldn’t be one of contempt or condemnation. It was a look of understanding and caring, maybe some disappointment.
Jesus looked at Peter and he realized Jesus had heard his denial and profanity. He was mortified. I find it interesting that Simon Peter didn’t feel guilty until he saw Jesus. Then he realized the horrible mistake he’d made, and he felt awful.
You can disobey Christ and not feel guilty for a while. You come away saying, “That was fun. That worked for me. That’s not so bad. Everyone else would have done the same thing.”
During that period of disobedience, you may not want to come to church, you may avoid Christians, you may be repulsed by the Bible and quickly surf by the religious stations. In John 3:20 Jesus said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."
But one day you’ll come face to face with Jesus and His light will expose the depth of your darkness and you’ll feel guilt. In my favorite psalm in the Bible, Psalm 139, The Psalmist asked in verses 7 & 8, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Peter had wandered away from Christ, but even in the enemy’s courtyard, Jesus was pursuing him and using a rooster’s crow to bring him back. The Lord loves you. Do you know how much He loves you?...too much to let you continue in sin without confronting it.
I read a book entitled The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience by Ronald J. Sider—Why Christians Are Living Just Like the Rest of the World. He writes, “Evangelical Christians say they believe in Biblical moral standards and the power of God to transform lives—yet recent surveys show that most are not living any differently than the rest of the world.” Studies of spousal abuse, giving patterns, drinking habits, cohabitation, divorce, racism, addiction to pornography show a scandalous percentage of evangelical Christians are violating biblical standards with barely a twinge of conscience.
Our problem isn’t that we’re inconsistent; our problem is that we’re consistently disobedient. There’s no guilt. There are no tears. Jeremiah said that we “refuse to blush with shame.” The greatest need in the church today is to see Jesus clearly enough that we fall on our knees and repent of our sin.
Repentance involves three steps. First there is conviction (“I am wrong”). Second is contrition (“I am sorry”). Third there is change (“I will transform my behavior with the help of Christ”).
To Peter’s credit he genuinely repented. Peter didn’t get angry at Jesus for being there. He was convicted and admitted, “I have sinned.” He went out and wept. He wasn’t just sorry he got caught; he was contrite that he had betrayed the One he really loved.
And he changed. You don’t find him ever repeating this denial. A month later he speaks with boldness about his allegiance to Christ to the very same people.
2 Corinthians 7:10, a verse we looked at a couple of weeks ago when we were talking about Judas, says: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” That verse defines the primary difference between Judas and Peter.
Judas was remorseful but too proud to confess and change. So, he committed suicide. That’s worldly sorrow that leads to death.
Peter was sorry he denied Jesus, and, in his humility, he repented and returned to fellowship with the disciples. That’s Godly sorrow that leads to life.
No wonder when Jesus arose from the dead He gave special attention to reinstating Simon Peter. Jesus had promised to meet them in Galilee so one evening at the Sea of Galilee Peter said, “Let’s go fishing.” They fished all night and caught nothing.
In the morning there was a lone figure on shore about 100 yards away. The disciples didn’t know it was the resurrected Christ who called out to them, “Have you caught anything?” They responded, “No, nothing!” He said, “Throw your nets on the other side.” They complied, and the net was full of fish.
Peter said, “That has to be the Lord!” and dove into the water and swam ashore. He couldn’t wait to be with Jesus.
Michael Card writes, “Peter sprints from the water’s edge, splashing everything, including Jesus, like some sort of retriever. He stands a few feet in front of Him, bent at the waist, hands on his knees, terribly out of breath. He hesitates for two seconds and then enfolds Jesus in his cold, soaking embrace. There are tears in both their eyes. If it had been a hundred miles instead of a hundred yards, Peter would have still gladly crossed them for this moment.”
Jesus was cooking breakfast and they sat down around a charcoal fire. Have you ever noticed how distinctive smells bring back memories? The stench of a locker room reminds you of football, the peculiar odor of a factory reminds you of a summer job, a distinctive perfume can remind you of…the first date with your wife.
The odor of these coals must have reminded Peter of that fire where he had blown it big time a few days before. But Jesus was the master of forgiveness and reinstatement so, around that fire, he had Peter repeat his loyalty. Three times, He asked, “Peter do you love me?” Three times, Peter affirmed His love. Then Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
Peter’s denial was at night; his confession was at dawn. This was the beginning of a new day. He wasn’t just forgiven; he was given a key role in the Kingdom of God. He becomes the leader in the Church.
ð He proposed the replacing of Judas.
ð He preaches the first sermon.
ð He performs the first healing.
ð He defends the gospel before the Sanhedrin.
ð He decides the case of Ananias and Sapphira.
ð He is the first counselor to Paul and mediates the first church council.
Christ had transformed this inconsistent disciple into a rock of dependability.
It’s a happy day when Jesus washes all your sins away. It’s a marvelous day when you realize that He doesn’t just forgive you, He uses you in a great way.
I was reminded this past week about a guy by the name of Whit Criswell. His story reminded me again of God’s forgiveness and reinstatement. Whit grew up as a Christian and was active in his church. But he fell victim to temptation and denied the Lord.
He began betting a little money on sports contests. Soon he was placing larger bets daily on baseball games. He got so far behind to the bookie that he embezzled money from the bank where he was Vice President to cover his losses.
But one day the auditors began an investigation and Whit could hear the rooster crowing. One night he couldn’t sleep; so in the middle of the night and, like Judas, he decided the best way out was to take his own life. He left a suicide note, took a gun, and drove out to a secluded place outside of Lexington Kentucky.
He put the gun to his head but just couldn’t pull the trigger, so he took a practice shot. Then he put the pistol to his head again and said, “Go ahead, you no good slob, kill yourself! That’s what you deserve.” But there was one thought that kept going through his mind. “If I kill myself I could wind up in hell. I’ve got to face God.”
Finally, at daybreak, he drove back to his home a broken man. There were now several police cars parked in the drive. His wife had called the police to search for him and they were now aware of the whole situation. His family embraced him, but police handcuffed him and took him to jail.
Whit said it was the most humiliating experience of his life to be handcuffed in front of family and friends, yet through it all was the liberating thought, “Thank God, I don’t have to lie anymore.”
When he was released from prison a few years later he had nowhere to turn but to Christ. He was befriended by Wayne Smith, who at that time was the Senior Minister of the Southland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Whit did a lot of volunteer work around the church and his service was so effective and his humility so impressive that eventually he was added to the church staff.
About 15 years ago Whit accepted the call to become the Senior Minister of the Northeast Christian church in Lexington, a church of about 200 people. Five years later that church averaged over 1,300 people in worship and was one of the fastest growing in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
I want to say a word to those of us who are Christian but who have been an inconsistent friend to Christ. The most important lesson from the story of Simon Peter, Whit Criswell, and thousands of others is that the freedom of forgiveness will exceed the humiliation of repentance.
You and I are not damaged goods beyond restoration. God can forgive you completely and restore you and use you beyond what you can imagine. When we sing the invitation song, why don’t you, right where you are, bow your head and make a renewed pledge of allegiance to Christ? Repent and receive His forgiveness and be determined to live consistently for Him.
Now to those of you who have not yet become a Christian, we provide an invitation to accept Christ. When you come you’re not saying, “I’m going to be perfect, I’ll never stumble and fall.” You are saying, “I believe Christ died to forgive my sin. I want to be born again and begin to grow into His intention for my life.” He’ll forgive you and transform you into His image of faithfulness.
To those who are already Christian but have no church home, I want you to know that you’re wanted and welcome to place your membership with this church. Just walk forward now as we sing.
