INTRODUCTION
OPENING SLIDE TITLE SLIDE
• After dedicating our lives to Jesus, I firmly believe that the majority of individuals have the utmost desire to follow and live for Him.
• The story of Peter punctuates this point.
• Peter was one of the closest disciples of Jesus.
• Peter was in the inner circle with James and John.
• As the end of Jesus' earthly ministry drew near, during the Last Supper, Jesus warned his disciples that they would fall away.
• When Peter regained his composure, Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not falter.
Luke 22:31–34 NET 2nd ed.
31 “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.”
• Peter proclaims he was not going to fall away and that he was ready to go with Jesus wherever He went, even to the point of prison and death.
• I 100% believe that Peter meant what he said.
• I believe Peter thought he would be willing to even die for Jesus.
• I do not believe he was showing off; I believe what Peter said to Jesus came from the passion of his heart.
• However, in reality, that was not the outcome.
• Have you ever had good intentions but failed under pressure?
• If you failed someone in that scenario, how did you feel?
• Did you feel like you could come back from it, or did you feel that it was game over?
• Today, we will reflect on one of the most emotional stories in the New Testament—the story of Peter.
• Peter was a man who walked closely with Jesus, yet found himself in a moment of weakness, denying his Lord.
• This story is not just about Peter's failure; it is a powerful narrative of denial, repentance, and ultimately, transformation.
Big Idea of the Message: Peter’s denial of Jesus caused tremendous heartache, but he looked to Jesus and left transformed.
Luke 22:54–59 NET 2nd ed.
54 Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance.
55 When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 Then a slave girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man was with him too!”
57 But Peter denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him!”
58 Then a little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 And after about an hour still another insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.”
SERMON
MAIN POINT SLIDE
I. Peter’s pressured denial.
• Here is Peter.
• Isn’t he an easy target to pick on?
• He had just proclaimed his desire to follow Jesus until the very end.
• Peter could be impulsive; however, who else besides Jesus is known to have walked on water?
• Despite the short duration, Peter managed to walk on water.
• Did the other disciples get out of the boat?
• NO!
• Did Peter mean what he said when he said he would even die for and with Jesus?
• Yes!
• So what happened?
• Have you ever promised to do something for someone or Jesus but didn't when it got hard?
• I have read story after story about people who died for their faith when all they had to do to save their lives was deny Jesus.
• What would you do in that situation?
• What I would say about myself is that I would hope that I would not succumb to the temptation to deny Jesus to save my earthly existence.
• I know I want to never deny Jesus because I know what is at stake; however, when the fear of death is staring me in the face, I pray I will stand strong.
• In Luke 22:54-57, we witness Peter's denial unfold.
• Peter tried to remain inconspicuous by following Jesus at a distance after his arrest.
• Notice what the text tells us: Peter followed at a distance.
• Think about what verse 54 says about Peter’s proximity to Jesus.
• When Jesus faced arrest in the garden, did Peter flee or engage in combat?
• He was close to Jesus, and he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the slave of the high priest.
• That seems like the move of a brave follower of Jesus who did not fear death.
• But what happened once Jesus was arrested?
• Peter kept his distance because he was afraid.
• He was afraid to the point that when confronted by a servant girl, he denied knowing Jesus.
• This moment of fear and self-preservation led him to betray the very one he had pledged to follow.
• Then it happened two more times in verses 58 and 59.
• Despite his previous bold declarations of loyalty, Peter melts under pressure when accused of being with Jesus.
• The more we stray from Jesus, the harder it will be to stay faithful under pressure.
• How often do we find ourselves in similar situations?
• When our faith is tested, do we stand firm or shrink back?
• In Matthew 10:33, Jesus warns us,
Matthew 10:33 NET 2nd ed.
33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.
• Peter’s denial serves as a stark reminder of our human frailty.
• This shows how human frailty can overwhelm commitment when faced with fear and danger.
• Peter's physical distance from Jesus was symbolic of his weakening resolve.
• Discuss how physical distance can reflect spiritual distancing and invoke fear and doubt.
• If you want to stay strong, stay next to Jesus!
• In the hours following the crucifixion of Jesus, Peter and the other disciples were all afraid.
• Peter has saved his skin; however, how does he feel about that now that it has happened?
• He denied Jesus, thinking it would save his life.
Luke 22:58–61 NET 2nd ed.
58 Then a little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 And after about an hour still another insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
MAIN POINT 2 SLIDE
II. Peter’s painful realization.
• What an evening!
• As the story continues in verses 58-61, we see the weight of Peter's denial deepen.
• He is confronted again, and this time he vehemently denies knowing Jesus.
• The rooster crows, and in that moment, the reality of his actions hits him like a ton of bricks.
• The heartache of denying his Savior is unmistakable.
• Similar heartache may be experienced in our lives when we stray from our commitments to God.
Psalm 51:17 NET 2nd ed.
17 The sacrifices God desires is a humble spirit— O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
• It is in our brokenness that we can begin to seek true repentance.
• Peter has been so focused on surviving the night that he forgot all the time with Jesus.
• Peter forgot the teaching, the miracles, the laughs, and the love he saw and experienced walking with Jesus.
• When the third opportunity to stand for Jesus presented itself, Peter acquiesced without hesitation.
• Peter’s denial isolated him from the truth, and it impacted his identity in Christ.
• Peter was no longer that faithful, sometimes impulsive, brave follower of Jesus; he was now a broken man.
• In the fear and passion of the moment, Peter heard something that reminded him of what Jesus said Peter would do.
• Verse 60 informs us that while Peter was uttering the third denial, the rooster began to cry out!
• Peter fulfills Jesus' prophecy by denying Him three times prior to the rooster crowing.
• This event demonstrates Jesus' foresight and Peter's failure, not to highlight Peter's error, but to display Jesus' understanding of human nature and His grace.
• The crowing of the rooster was a call to Peter that made him come to a painful realization.
• At the moment, Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter.
• It all came back to Peter; the fear that drove him to deny Jesus three times has now turned to guilt and shame.
• Have you ever struggled with feelings of guilt and shame?
• From experience, I can tell you that is not a good place to live.
• Guilt and shame can lead us to do bad things.
• Here is Peter, the brave, impulsive follower of Jesus who allowed fear to hinder his ability to witness and stand up for his beliefs.
• For Peter, fear became his lord and savior instead of Jesus.
• When we allow fear to rule over us, fear becomes our new God.
• Peter denies Jesus three times, each time becoming more emphatic in his denial, even after adamant earlier vows to remain loyal.
• Look at Matthew’s version of this painful event in the life of Peter.
Matthew 26:69–74 NET 2nd ed.
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 But he denied it in front of them all: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
71 When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”
72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent gives you away!”
74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed.
• In the first confrontation, Peter said, I do not know what you are talking about, and then he walked away.
• The second time, as recorded in verse 72, Peter denied knowing Jesus and swore an oath.
• Then the third and final time it escalated to the point that Peter began to curse on top of swearing an oath that he did not know Jesus.
• Denial often begins subtly and grows through repeated action.
• Peter’s shift from disciple to denier warns us of the ease of succumbing to peer pressure and fear.
• What would it take for you to deny Jesus?
• Identify situations where you might be pressured to deny your faith.
• Formulate a plan to stand firm in your beliefs in those moments.
• Let’s finish with verses 61-62
Luke 22:61–62 NET 2nd ed.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
MAIN POINT SLIDE 3
III. Peter’s path to transformation.
• In verses 61-62, we see the turning point for Peter.
• After the rooster crowed, Jesus looked at him.
• That gaze pierces through Peter’s soul, igniting a profound sense of remorse.
• Peter goes out and weeps bitterly.
• This is the beginning of his repentance—a deep sorrow for his actions that leads to transformation.
• In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul writes:
2 Corinthians 7:10 NET 2nd ed.
10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.
• Peter’s story does not end in despair; it leads to restoration.
• After the resurrection, Jesus reinstates Peter.
John 21:15–17 NET 2nd ed.
15 Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17 Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.
• Jesus symbolically restored Peter from his three denials by asking him three times if he loves Him.
• There does not have to be death after failure, for Peter’s walk with Jesus did not end; his repentance and transformation strengthened him to the point that the end of Peter’s life came the way he feared so much that he denied Jesus: Peter died by crucifixion.
• Historians inform us that Peter, at his own request, underwent an upside-down crucifixion around 67 AD during Nero's reign.
• Peter did not feel worthy of dying in the same manner as Jesus.
• I find it fascinating that the thing that led to Peter’s denials was the very death he embraced.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUDING SLIDE
• The story of Peter is a powerful testament to the grace of God.
• It reminds us that no matter how far we stray or how deeply we fall into denial, there is always a path back through repentance.
• God desires our hearts to be turned toward Him, and He is ready to transform our lives when we come to Him with sincerity.
• As we reflect on Peter’s journey from denial to transformation, let us remember that our failures do not define us; rather, it is our response to those failures that shapes our future.
› Application Point: Even in our most helpless, fearful state, and after boldly denying our sin, we can still confess our wrongdoing and be transformed by Jesus.
