What Were You Thinking?

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

Mk. 14:27-31,66-72

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A duck walked into Burger King and walked up to the counter. The crabby assistant manager said, “Can I help you?” The duck said, “Yeah, you got any duck food?” “No we don’t. This is Burger King. We don’t serve duck food here!”

2. The next day the duck walked back into the Burger King. The crabby manager said, “Can I help you?” The duck said, “Yeah, you got any duck food?” “No! I told you yesterday that we don’t serve duck food here! Now get out of here before I nail your webbed feet to the floor!”

3. The next day the duck walked back into the Burger King again. The crabby manager said, “Can I help you?” The duck said, “You got any nails?” The man said, “No.” The duck said, “You got any duck food?”

B. LEAD IN

1. In the life of Jesus there were many animals. At his birth there were cattle. Bethlehem was a center for sheep raising. There was the donkey Christ rode into Jerusalem on. Jesus spoke of the little sparrows, the birds of the air.

2. Jesus spoke of swallowing a camel and of Herod as a fox. He said we should be as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves. He talked about dogs and directed the catching of fishes.

3. But there’s one more animal we’re very familiar with, that Jesus mentioned, and that’s what I want to talk about.

C. TEXT

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same. 66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. 68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 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.” 71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 72 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. Mk. 14:27-31,66-72

D. THESIS

1. The title of this message is, “What Were You Thinking?”

2. My Point is: ‘Why didn’t Peter “snap” when he heard the rooster crow the first time?’

I. PETER: ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER?

A. JESUS’ PROPHETIC INSIGHT

1. Verse 72 says, “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.’”

2. Jesus had foretold many things that came to pass: the miraculous catch of fish in Peter’s net, the fig tree withering, the coin in the fish’s mouth, He foretold many healings.

3. Jesus as a prophet foretold Peter’s future, Nathanael’s future. Jesus knew his answers to the Pharisees’ questions would stump them. On & on. So why, on this occasion did Peter not pay attention?

B. GOD’S WARNINGS

1. Sometimes we don’t take the Word of God seriously until it’s too late! This prophecy about the rooster was going to be fulfilled.

2. This warning was: “There will be two crowings of a rooster, then there will be a fulfilment. I want to ask him, “Peter, What were you thinking when you heard the first crowing?”

3. God was saying, “Peter, I’m shooting a warning your way! Are you listening?” God does that with all of us: He gives a couple of warnings before we run into the consequences!

4. Peter had been walking with Jesus 3 years; he knew His word always came to pass. When he heard the first warning, he should have thought, “Put on the brakes, Peter!”

5. The first warning was an invitation to humble ones self and be restored. The second warning always results in embarrassment and consequences.