The Power of a Second Chance
April 2, 2003
Pastor Lynn Floyd
Introduction: Read Mark 14:27-31, 66-72 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “’I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again, he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 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.
The New Testament tells us more about Peter than any other disciple of Jesus. He is portrayed as the spokesman for the group of disciples. Like many of us, Peter’s life was characterized by peaks, valleys, highs and lows, ups and downs. We can all certainly related to Peter’s life.
Surrounding the context of these verses the Lord’s Supper had just taken place. They find themselves now on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane and soon Jesus will go to the cross. It is obvious by the Gospel writer’s account that the disciples just simply don’t realize what all is going on in Jesus’ life. Peter in all of his boldness and confidence says, “Even if everyone else loses their confidence in you, I will not.” Verse 31 says Peter insisted emphatically that he wouldn’t disown the Lord even if it cost him his life. Although very noble and admirable of Peter his statements were very dangerous assumptions.
TRANSITION: I wonder how many “I will nevers” you and I have said in our lifetimes? Most of us have probably thought about it in regards to different things. “This can never happen to me.” Let’s be very careful when we begin thinking and saying that. We are weak, sinful people. One minute without living under the banner of truth can prove disastrous. Outside of Christ we are capable of anything.
ILLUSTRATION: Who would have ever thought that King David, a man after God’s own heart gave in to adultery. Did he ever say, “this could never happen to me?” We won’t ever know. But if David can slip into sins’ grip so can we. The divorce rate among churched couples is just as high as it is for non-churched couples. The sexual acts among churched teens is unfortunately high so is the amount of drug and alcohol abuse. All of these are a part of the churched culture.
Jesus speaks directly to Peter in a sobering way and says “yes, this very night you will deny me. Even before the rooster crows two times you will deny me three times”
TRANSITION: I find it very interesting that this conversation ends so quickly. There was no further dialogue about it. It is as if there is a hush that came over them all. So, Jesus and the disciples go into Gethsemane. As the Lord comes to terms with the will of the Father he exhorts his three closet followers to watch and pray with him. Unfortunately, they cannot keep their eyes open and stay awake. Jesus is soon arrested by a mob led by the disciples very own Judas. When they take Jesus into custody the disciples turn and fled in all different directions—just as Jesus predicted.
In Mark 14:53-65 Jesus is taken before the Sanhedrin where he has to answer to the charges brought against him that he is claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus responds confidently, “I am.”
Compare these verses with verses 66-72. The focus shifts from Jesus to Peter. Mark is giving us a stark contrast. On the one hand we see the faithfulness of Jesus as he stood faithful to his identity and mission. On the other hand we see the failure of Peter who denied his identity as Jesus’ disciple.
The rooster crows twice and by that time the words of Jesus again come true. Peter realizes what he had just done in the courtyard was the very thing he swore he wouldn’t do. He is crushed.
Have you ever let anyone down in life before? It’s not a pleasant feeling. Have you ever felt like you let the Lord down? Maybe you promised him you would get more involved, study the Bible more, learn to pray more effectively. And it just hasn’t happened. So we find ourselves as Peter did broken and ashamed. The dictionary defines failure as “falling short of success of achievement in something expected, attempted, desired or approved.”
ILLUSTRATION: One pastor said (in reflecting on failure), I am a lay pastor of a small, not-growing church. I am not ordained. I am not seminary trained. I was asked to leave both Bible colleges I attended. I am divorced and remarried. On any given day I am capable of being a jerk with my wife and family. I am terminally insecure, which causes me to compensate with bouts of arrogance. At times people irritate me, and I hide from them. I am impulsive, which causes me to say things I shouldn’t and make promises I cannot keep. I am inconsistent.
My walk with Christ is a stuttering, stumbling, bumbling attempt to follow Him. At times His presence is so real I can’t stop the tears, and then, without warning, I can’t find Him. Some days my faith is strong, impenetrable, immovable—and some days my faith is weak, pathetic, helpless, knocked about like a paper cup floating on the ocean in the middle of a hurricane.
I have been a Christian for 45 years. I am familiar with the vocabulary of faith, and I am often asked to give advice about matters of faith. But I am still a mess. I am light-years away from being able to say with Paul, “Copy me.” I am 56 years old and still struggling—a flawed, clumsy, unstable follower of Jesus. A bona fide failer.
Our story continues with Jesus standing in front of Pilate who ultimately gives the thumbs up for him to be crucified instead of Barabbas. Jesus is whisked away to be crucifed and Peter goes home with a broken heart. I wonder what Peter was thinking? Can you imagine living the rest of your life with that on your conscience?
Thankfully, our story does not end there. Jesus goes to the cross where he is crucified and killed. But, three days later he rose again. After Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to visit his tomb they encounter an angel sitting where Jesus’ dead body had lay. He tells the ladies not to be alarmed, for Jesus had risen from the grave. The angel gives them specific instructions to go back and tell the disciples what had happened. I like how 16:7 puts it, “But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
And Peter… Don’t miss this important sentence. You see, Jesus wanted Peter to recognize and understand that he had not abandoned him. Life wasn’t over for him! God wasn’t giving up on Peter! Do you know what this means? Jesus is a lover of losers! And the God of everything welcomes the love of losers! He welcomes us home.
ILLUSTRATION: Philip Yancey’s story of contemporary prodigal daughter….
TRANSITION: The gospel of John picks up where Mark leaves off in this story. In John 21:15-19 it is called the “reinstatement of Peter.” Jesus appears to the disciples on several occasions but this time it is after breakfast. Peter is asked three times by Jesus if he loved him. I believe Peter knew where Jesus was getting at. He probably hoped Jesus had forgotten about that situation days ago. Jesus wasn’t using this as ammunition to get back at Peter but only as an opportunity for Peter to reaffirm his loyalty and commitment to Him. It was not a comfortable encounter for Peter but it was necessary. Peter was given another chance!
You can see life’s mistakes and failures from a couple of different perspectives. They can either be tools in your life or clubs. Many people are walking around today beating themselves up over failures and mistakes in their lives. Many people allow others around them to beat them up with spiritual clubs. This should not be. God never wastes hurts and mistakes. They are never reasons for us to throw in the towel in life.
Some of you are looking for another chance in life. Maybe you feel like because of something you have done or experienced counts you out. Don’t listen to the world. Listen to the voice of Jesus who asking you this morning, “do you love me?”
May this story remind you that there is a God who gives a second chance.
QUOTE: John Chrysostom wrote, “The danger is not that we should fall…but that we could remain on the ground.”
CONCLUSION: When you read about Peter’s life from this point forward, you see a changed man. Read the first few chapters of the book of Acts and you see someone who is far removed from denying his Lord again. Acts 4:19-20 says, “But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” History tell us that Peter was eventually martyred for his faith. He chose to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be killed in the same manner as his Lord!
QUOTE: A.W. Tozer wrote, “It is highly doubtful that God can use a man until he has hurt deeply.”
Don’t squander the second chance. You may not know if you will get another one or not.
I want to leave you with a final question: What are you going to do with your second chance?
