2013.07.07 Luke 22: 47- 62
The Traitors Kiss and Peter´s denial
We
have been walking with Jesus in the pages of the Gospel of Luke….. We are now
in the last night of Jesus earthly ministry…. Jesus is on the way to the cross….. The Shadow of the cross is
constantly before His eyes…
The
shadow of the cross reaches across all of History….. The shadow of the cross
reaches across all the way back to the Garden of Eden….. And it reaches forward
into eternity….. The shadow of the cross
lays over the manger that very night that Jesus was born… Because Jesus was
born to die….
Remember….
Jesus said no man takes my life from
me…. I lay it down….. This morning we find ourselves in the Garden of
Gethsemane…. His own….. whom He loves and has prayed for…. Will be scattered…..
They will all run away….. Judas Will betray him with a kiss….. and Peter will
deny him three times…. There’s no story of our Lord’s ministry to His disciples
that is as powerful as this one…... There is no story that is as tragic and
hopeful as the events of this night….
Let’s begin looking at this story at verse 47...Luke
22: 47- 53
Luke 22: 47- 53 NKJV
47 And while He was still speaking,
behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went
before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him,
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was
going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right
ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said,
“Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
52 Then Jesus said to the chief
priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you
come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you
daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and
the power of darkness.”
Luke 22: 47-
53 Schlachter 2000
47 Während er
aber noch redete, siehe, da kam eine Schar, und der, welcher Judas hieß, einer
der Zwölf, ging vor ihnen her und näherte sich Jesus, um ihn zu küssen.
48 Jesus aber
sprach zu ihm: Judas, verrätst du den Sohn des Menschen mit einem Kuß?
49 Als nun seine
Begleiter sahen, was da geschehen sollte, sprachen sie zu ihm: Herr, sollen wir
mit dem Schwert dreinschlagen?
50 Und einer von
ihnen schlug den Knecht des Hohenpriesters und hieb ihm sein rechtes Ohr ab.
51 Da antwortete
Jesus und sprach: Laßt ab davon! Und er rührte sein Ohr an und heilte ihn.
52 Es sprach
aber Jesus zu den obersten Priestern und Hauptleuten des Tempels und zu den
Ältesten, die an ihn herangetreten waren: Wie gegen einen Räuber seid ihr
ausgezogen mit Schwertern und mit Stöcken!
53 Als ich
täglich bei euch im Tempel war, habt ihr die Hände nicht gegen mich
ausgestreckt. Aber dies ist eure Stunde und die Macht der Finsternis.
It’s
near midnight when Jesus leaves the Upper Room. He walks up into the Mount of Olives to a
place called the Garden of Gethsemane…. which is the place where they always
went…… He leaves eight of the disciples at the entrance to the Garden…. takes Peter, James and John with Him and they
go farther into the Garden…. Then Jesus goes a little further alone…. He prays
alone…… He tells the disciples to be
praying because they’re going to enter into temptation…… Satan has
demanded to sift them like wheat….. But Jesus in His great High Priestly
prayer…. John 17….. Has prayed for them that their faith would not fail…. Jesus
told them to pray…… Each time He goes to
check on them….. He finds them not praying but sleeping for sorrow…. It’s at that moment Judas arrives with the multitude
to arrest Jesus…. and Jesus is ready to
meet them…… He has won the victory….. He is ready…. It is time for His arrest…
The
leader of the multitude is Judas…. who is one of Jesus Twelve disciples….. Judas
was with Him day and night for all that time….. Judas heard everything He said….
And saw everything He did…… He was an insider…...
But
there’s a certain sadness in that definition of Judas as one of the Twelve…..
Judas
is fully guilty for everything he did….. Even though God had determined it in eternity
past….. It was God´s plan that Jesus was
to go to the cross…. Look at verse 48…
Luke 22: 48 NKJV
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48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are
you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
48 Jesus aber
sprach zu ihm: Judas, verrätst du den Sohn des Menschen mit einem Kuß?
A
Kiss…. The Greek here speaks of a hug and Kiss….. A warm greeting from one of
His disciples…. This was just part of his hypocrisy….. Part of his deceitful
nature….. pretending to Love him even though his has become Jesus´enemy….. Proverbs 27: 6 b says….
Proverbs 27: 6b NKJV
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6b“The kisses of an enemy are
deceitful.
6b aber reichlich
sind die Küsse des Hassers.
Judas
had only been pretending to Love the Lord Jesus…… He was following Jesus…… but he was not converted….. He hoped to
get wealth and power from Him….. But he
had not repented from His heart…… He is determined to get some kind of
profit from three long years of waiting and hoping for the Kingdom….
Let´s
continue…. v49….
Luke 22: 49- 51 NKJV
49 When those around Him saw what was
going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right
ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said,
“Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.
Luke 22:
49-51 Schlachter 2000
49 Als nun seine
Begleiter sahen, was da geschehen sollte, sprachen sie zu ihm: Herr, sollen wir
mit dem Schwert dreinschlagen?
50 Und einer von
ihnen schlug den Knecht des Hohenpriesters und hieb ihm sein rechtes Ohr ab.
51 Da antwortete
Jesus und sprach: Laßt ab davon! Und er rührte sein Ohr an und heilte ihn.
Peter
and the others were full of sorrow because they finally realized that Jesus was
going to be crucified….. They were sad and desperate…… Peter wanted to fight…. Jesus
stopped them and healed the servants ear….. Permit even this….. This great
wrong must happen……. The King of Glory was to be tried and condemned….. It was
time….v52
Luke 22: 52,53 NKJV
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52 Then Jesus said to the chief
priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you
come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily
in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the
power of darkness.”
52 Es sprach
aber Jesus zu den obersten Priestern und Hauptleuten des Tempels und zu den
Ältesten, die an ihn herangetreten waren: Wie gegen einen Räuber seid ihr
ausgezogen mit Schwertern und mit Stöcken!
53 Als ich
täglich bei euch im Tempel war, habt ihr die Hände nicht gegen mich
ausgestreckt. Aber dies ist eure Stunde und die Macht der Finsternis.
We
need to read all of the Gospel accounts to get the big picture of these
events….. Here in Luke we can see the crowd was huge and they were well armed (ausgerüstet)….. As if they were after a
murderer….
Jesus
reminds them that they are overreacting…… He was never dangerous or violent….
They were afraid of Him without a reason….. their sin and pride and rebellion
made them afraid…. I think that their hearts condemned them…. and they were
afraid that they would get what they deserved…. Look at the end of verse 53….
But
this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Aber dies ist eure Stunde und die Macht der Finsternis.
And
so they arrested Jesus…. Let´s continue in the text…v54…
Luke 22: 54- 62 NKJV
54 Having arrested Him, they led Him
and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.
55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down
together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he
sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”
57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman,
I do not know Him.”58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You
also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 Then after about an hour had
passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with
Him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not
know what you are saying!”Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster
crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the
word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will
deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went
out and wept bitterly.
Luke 22: 54-
62 Schlachter 2000
54 Nachdem sie
ihn nun festgenommen hatten, führten sie ihn ab und brachten ihn in das Haus
des Hohenpriesters. Petrus aber folgte von ferne.
55 Da sie aber
mitten im Hof ein Feuer angezündet hatten und beisammen saßen, setzte sich
Petrus mitten unter sie.
56 Es sah ihn
aber eine Magd beim Feuer sitzen, schaute ihn an und sprach: Auch dieser war
mit ihm!
57 Er aber
verleugnete ihn und sprach: Frau, ich kenne ihn nicht!
58 Und bald
danach sah ihn ein anderer und sprach: Du bist auch einer von ihnen! Petrus aber
sprach: Mensch, ich bin's nicht!
59 Und nach
einer Weile von ungefähr einer Stunde bekräftigte es ein anderer und sprach:
Wahrhaftig, der war auch mit ihm; denn er ist ein Galiläer!
60 Petrus aber
sprach: Mensch, ich weiß nicht, was du sagst! Und sogleich, während er noch
redete, krähte der Hahn.
61 Und der Herr
wandte sich um und sah Petrus an. Da erinnerte sich Petrus an das Wort des
Herrn, das er zu ihm gesprochen hatte: Ehe der Hahn kräht, wirst du mich
dreimal verleugnen!
62 Und Petrus
ging hinaus und weinte bitterlich.
Peter
wept bitterly…..
The
story of Peter’s denial reveals certainly the weakness of Peter…… But it also
reveals the strength of Christ…... It is Peter at his greatest moment of
failure….. failure in his confessed love for the LORD Jesus…... It is also the
LORD at His greatest moment of triumph……
Jesus demonstrates his unfailing love
for Peter…….
You
could say Peter’s story is our story……. All of us who have come to know
Jesus,,,, all of us who belong to Him understand what it is to stumble and
fall….. We all know what it is to be
overcome by temptation…. It’s a story of devastation at our own sin…… It’s a
story of disappointment in ourselves…..
It’s
a very sad story….. On the other hand…. it is a thrilling story……. We can all be
encouraged….. because Peter´s devastation turns to restoration….. In fact, this
is an example of the very familiar stories in all of our lives of sin and
restoration…… We are all a little like Peter…..
The
question for this morning is….. What is
the lesson that we can learn from this story?
The
big lesson to draw from this story is the danger of spiritual
over-confidence..... spiritual pride is our enemy
Those
of us who love the Lord Jesus Christ…. those of us who belong to Him…. All of us who
follow the Lord are in danger of feeling too confident about our devotion…… You
do remember that the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:12……
1 Cor 10: 12 NKJV
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12 “Let him who thinks he stands take
heed lest he fall,”
12 Darum, wer
meint, er stehe, der sehe zu, daß er nicht falle!
Paul
is clear… Be Careful… Watch out !
Luke’s
account of Peter’s denial, which I just read to you, is one paragraph…..
Luke
shrinks down the three denials of Peter which actually took over a period of
two hours into just a few moments and a few words…... But The other three
writers show us that Peter’s three denials were stretched out that night…...
As
we have seen… During the middle of the
night, the leaders of Israel…… with the Romans soldiers had come to the Garden and arrested Jesus….. That’s how verse 54
begins….. They tied Him up and led Him away….. The first stop is the house of
Annas….. And at the house of Annas there will be an attempt made to find a
crime that that can justify His execution…..
Following
that, there will be a trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin…… And then
finally, after dawn, there will be a third trial in the daylight which is the
only time you could have a legal trial according to Jewish law…. so that they
can make their unjust actions look legal on the surface….. It is between those
first two trials in the middle of the night that Peter’s denials occur…..
Here
we have the failure of Peter contrasted with the triumphs of Jesus…... On the one
hand…. You have Peter in front of his enemies, collapsing in fear…… On the
other hand…. You have Jesus in front of His enemies…. bold and courageous…..
The
way to understand Peter’s denials is to see them run along side of the trials…..
The
story of Peter´s overconfidence doesn’t begin in verse 54…... In order for us
to understand what’s going on with Peter here….. We have to look back at where this
overconfidence begins back in verse 31.....
Luke 22: 31-34 NKJV
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon!
Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have
prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to
Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am
ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter,
the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you
know Me.”
Luke 22:
31-34 Schlachter 2000
31 Es sprach
aber der Herr: Simon, Simon, siehe, der Satan hat euch begehrt, um euch zu
sichten wie den Weizen;
32 ich aber habe
für dich gebetet, daß dein Glaube nicht aufhöre; und wenn du einst umgekehrt
bist4, so stärke deine Brüder!
33 Er aber
sprach zu ihm: Herr, ich bin bereit, mit dir ins Gefängnis und in den Tod zu
gehen!
34 Er aber
sprach: Ich sage dir, Petrus: Der Hahn wird heute nicht krähen, ehe du dreimal
geleugnet hast, daß du mich kennst!
Jesus
says Satan is coming after you….. He’s
going to sift you…. shake you down to the core……. Your faith will not fail…..
and you will be restored…. I have prayed for you…. Verse 33… Here is where
Peter´s pride and overconfidence comes roaring to the front!
Peter says to Jesus…
“Lord,
with you I am ready to go both to prison
and to death.”
Herr, ich bin bereit, mit dir ins Gefängnis und in den Tod zu gehen!
And
Jesus said… v34…
“I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow
today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
Ich sage dir, Petrus: Der Hahn wird heute nicht krähen, ehe du dreimal
geleugnet hast, daß du mich kennst!
Here
is Jesus’ prophecy of Peter’s fall…..
The
path to and sin is the path of spiritual overconfidence…… You might call it
Spiritual pride….
In
verse 33 Peter is very certain of His faith and love…. “Lord,
with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death.”
As
if to say… I ain´t afraid of no Devil….. I’ll handle whatever Satan brings along….. I’m
ready to go both to prison and to death…. This is boldness….. This is
self-assurance….. This is great trust in Peter’s own strength….. Peter
proclaims…. I’m ready to die for you before I would deny you LORD….. He cannot
imagine denying the LORD…..
After
the evening was over in the Upper Room .and singing a hymn…. they went out to
the Mount of Olives…... turn to Matt 26:31…
Matt 26: 31- 35 NKJV
31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of
you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I
will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have been raised, I
will go before you to Galilee.”33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all
are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I
say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three
times.”35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny
You!” And so said all the disciples.
Matthew 26: 31-
35 Schlachter 2000
31 Da spricht
Jesus zu ihnen: Ihr werdet in dieser Nacht alle an mir Anstoß nehmen; denn es
steht geschrieben: »Ich werde den Hirten schlagen, und die Schafe der Herde
werden sich zerstreuen«.
32 Aber nachdem
ich auferweckt worden bin, will ich euch nach Galiläa vorangehen.
33 Da antwortete
Petrus und sprach zu ihm: Wenn auch alle an dir Anstoß nehmen, so werde doch
ich niemals Anstoß nehmen!
34 Jesus spricht
zu ihm: Wahrlich, ich sage dir: In dieser Nacht, ehe der Hahn kräht, wirst du
mich dreimal verleugnen!
35 Petrus
spricht zu ihm: Und wenn ich auch mit dir sterben müßte, werde ich dich nicht
verleugnen! Ebenso sprachen auch alle Jünger.
Not just Peter…. all of you will stumble this
night……
Jesus
is warning and preparing all of them for the very difficult events coming to
all of their lives…… you will all fall
away but you will all be restored to me……
Peter
is full of spiritual pride here….. He is insistant…. “They might all fail, but I will not fail you…..
He
was getting irritated with Jesus….. Peter is showing an insistent kind of
confidence…...
Peter
loved the Lord with all of his heart….. He knew this about himself….. The
problem is he didn´t understand the extreme power of the flesh that was at war
with his spirit…. Peter had over-judged
his ability to cope with his flesh….. Peter slept when he should have been praying……
Jesus warned them all to pray that they would not enter into temptation…. Peter wasn’t alone….. they all slept…..
They
were going to get through these trials…. Because Jesus had prayed for them…...
But when they arrested Jesus later that night…. In the terror of the moment
they all ran in fear…… They all denied Jesus….. They all failed at the most
critical hour….. we can see the signs of Peter´s problems…..
Peter boasted too much and prayed too
little….. And then he acted too fast…..
He
grabbed His sword in his desire to help and protect the Lord Jesus….
In
his pride and his own strength….. Peter acted quickly to prove his claim to
loyalty and courage…. Pride is our great enemy….
Turn
to Proverbs 16:18…
Proverbs 16:18 NKJV Schlachter 2000
18“Pride goes before destruction and
a haughty spirit before a fall.”
18 Stolz kommt
vor dem Zusammenbruch, und Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall.
Jesus
stopped the fight immediately and healed
the man´s ear…. Jesus allowed himself to be taken…. He shows mercy and grace
even to his enemies at the dark hour…..
Luke
22 verse 54….
Luke 22: 54 NKJV
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54 Having arrested Him, they led Him
and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But
Peter followed at a distance.
54 Nachdem sie
ihn nun festgenommen hatten, führten sie ihn ab und brachten ihn in das Haus
des Hohenpriesters. Petrus aber folgte von
ferne.
Let
me give you the scene….. Jesus is tied up as a prisoner, led away to the house
of the High Priests….
Phase
one takes place before Annas who is the real power….. he’s the former High
Priest who is the power behind the scenes…… Caiaphas is the current High Priest…..
He is the son-in-law of Annas……
This
is the same large estate….. Annas and Caiaphas both shared this huge palace if
you will… Families often built houses like this, wealthy
families around a courtyard….. They were both extremely rich because they had
been extorting money out of people in the temple enterprises for many years….
You remember Jesus cleansed the temple twice….. Threw out the money changers
and the buyers and sellers….. The corruption that was going on in the Temple
had made them very wealthy…..
So
when you put together the pieces of these trials…. Jesus He went to Annas
first….. Then Annas sent Him to Caiaphas
across the courtyard….. To meet with the
Sanhedrin, the ruling elders of Israel…. It was during these two phases of the trial
which went on for a couple of hours that Peter’s denials take place…..
Look
again at the end of verse 54…
Peter
followed at a distance…… So Peter boasted too much, prayed too little, acted
too fast and followed too far……. But slowly he came into the courtyard….
By
the way, he wasn’t alone….. He didn’t sneak in there by himself…. John
18:15 says, “Another disciple was with him…. That´s the way he talks about himself….. John knew the high priest…..
We don’t know how the high priest and the high
priest’s family knew John…… But they must have known him well enough that John
could get Peter through the gate….. And so there they were….
Peter
is trapped somewhere between fear and love….. He can’t let go of the Lord….. He
can’t expose himself by getting close to the Lord….. he follows afar off….. but he’s got to be there to see what they’re
going to do to the Lord he loves…..
Once
inside he stays far away….. It says in
verse 55,
Luke 22: 55 NKJV
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55“After they had kindled a fire in
the middle of the courtyard and had sat down, Peter was sitting among them.”
55 Da sie aber
mitten im Hof ein Feuer angezündet hatten und beisammen saßen, setzte sich
Petrus mitten unter sie.
He
had to be there to prove that he wasn’t a denier….. He had to be there to prove
that
the Lord had misjudged him….
So
the Lord Jesus is inside with Annas….. Peter is sitting
with the guards by the fire…… He’s in
the dark….. He’s trying to blend in….. v56…
Luke 22:56 NKV Schlachter 2000
56 And then it happens out of
nowhere. “And a certain servant girl seeing him as he sat in the fire light,
and looking intently at him, said, ‘This man was with Him, too.’”
56 Es sah ihn
aber eine Magd beim Feuer sitzen, schaute ihn an und sprach: Auch dieser war
mit ihm!
A certain servant girl? John tells us
who she was….
John
says it was the maid who had let him in the door….. Oh, she knew John…. That´s
why she let him in…. She knew Peter was a follower of Jesus….. She let Peter in
at the request of John…..
Seeing
him in the fire light, looking intently, staring at him…. She says, “This man was with Him too.” And his
worst fears have come true…..
His reply is immediate, verse 57…..
Luke 22: 57 NKJV
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57“But he denied it saying, ‘Woman, I
do not know Him.’”
57 Er aber
verleugnete ihn und sprach: Frau, ich kenne ihn nicht!
What
a horrible lie….. that is an act of cowardice…... That is a flat denial…… He’s
caught off guard…..
He’s
far from the Lord….. There’s not going to be any miracles now to deliver him……
And when left on his own, he is a coward…... Maybe he was ready for the big
thing…. To fight and die in a burst of Glory….. but he wasn’t ready for the
little one…. And his denial was
immediate….. He denied it before all of them…... Once the girl had thrown the
accusation at him, the rest chimed in….. “Oh really, so he’s one of...” And he in
a minute Peter was denying Jesus before
everybody…..
Here
we see Peter caught off guard….. All his supposed strength is simply boasting….
Without Jesus presence…. he’s unmasked as weak and cowardly…… Quickly he is gone
from being willing to take a sword and fight a multitude…. to denying that he
even knows Jesus before a girl…...
Mark
tells us that as soon as he denied knowing Jesus the first time that he went
out onto the porch and the cock crowed….
Peter
was upset and scared…..Maybe for his life…. he leaves the flickering light of the fire
where he can be recognized….. and he slides back toward the porch or the
vestibule which is most likely that long corridor that went back toward the
gate…... He’s moving away from the people who might accuse him to hide in the
shadows… Peter realized that exactly what Jesus said would happen…. Did
happen…. He had denied Jesus…. the prophecy was coming true….. He heads for the
exit…..
On
the way, he’s confronted again….. A little later, according to verse 58….
Luke 22: 58 NKJV
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58 And after a little while another
saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But
Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
58 Und bald
danach sah ihn ein anderer und sprach: Du bist auch einer von ihnen! Petrus aber sprach: Mensch, ich bin's nicht!
Peter´s
confidence is gone… They’re all coming
after him now…..
His
second denial is stronger now…. He denies Jesus on an oath…. He is afraid for
his life…
But he can’t leave…. And so he lingers still
in the courtyard area…..Verse 59…
Luke 22: 59 NKJV
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59 Then after about an hour had
passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with
Him, for he is a Galilean.”
59 Und nach
einer Weile von ungefähr einer Stunde bekräftigte es ein anderer und sprach:
Wahrhaftig, der war auch mit ihm; denn er ist ein Galiläer!
Peter
could not leave…. He wanted to see what
happens to the Lord…. maybe he heard the screams of the leaders as they accused
Jesus….….
By
the way, we know who this man is…. It´s a relative of the man who lost his
ear…. John 18….
His
response is even more heated, verse 60….
Luke 22: 60 NKJV
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60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not
know what you are saying!”Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster
crowed.
60 Petrus aber
sprach: Mensch, ich weiß nicht, was du sagst! Und sogleich, während er noch
redete, krähte der Hahn.
Peter
is using very strong words here….. Man I don´t know him…. And at that very
moment…. The cock crowed a second time…. All that the Lord had told him had
come true….. His brash over-confidence was unable to give him strength to meet
this temptation….. He had boasted too much…. prayed too little….. acted too quickly….
and followed too far….
Whenever
we distance ourselves from the Lord Jesus…. Whenever we stay away from the Lord
and His people we set ourselves up for trouble….. Peter was following…. But
first he ran away… and now he is keeping his distance from the Lord…. His
spiritual pride and lack of prayer had caught up with him…. He is weak and
afraid… and then v61…
Luke 22: 61, 62 NKJV
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61 And the Lord turned and looked at
Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him,
“Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
61 Und der Herr
wandte sich um und sah Petrus an. Da erinnerte sich Petrus an das Wort des
Herrn, das er zu ihm gesprochen hatte: Ehe der Hahn kräht, wirst du mich
dreimal verleugnen!
62 Und Petrus ging
hinaus und weinte bitterlich. Epic fail….. It´s a good thing there was no such thing
as youtube then..…. Jesus looks at him…. Jesus had been beaten already… He
looked at Peter Jesus was sad….. Peter was ashamed and devastated…. And he went
out and wept bitterly….. And that is exactly what he should have done…..
Close
We
have so much to learn from Peter…. Peter’s footprints are left in the sand for
us….. Peter loved the LORd……. But in his self confidence and spiritual pride….
He refused to accept Jesus warnings… Jesus told all of them to pray ….. over
and over again…. That they would not enter into temptation….. He told them what
would happen that night to help them and to prepare them…… But Peter rejected to
possibility that He could ever deny the Lord….. He ignored the voice of the Lord Jesus…. He
slept when he needed to pray….. He over reacted by taking out a sword.... He
ran away…. And then followed from too far… He finds himself sitting with the enemies of the Lord……
Naturally
this was the darkest hour in human history….. This
was Satan’s hour….. And Peter fell victim to it….. He was no match….. He
underestimated the power of sin and pride in his own flesh….. He was a great
and trusted disciple….
In
one horrible night he had fallen to the pit of falsehood and profanity…… Peter
denied his LORD….
It’s
just unbelievable… The true Peter is
seen not in his fall but in his recovery…. this is not a story of final failure….
This is a story of restoration……
Peter
was so very sorry…. It was his love for Christ that broke his heart….. It was
his love for Christ that made him weep bitterly…..
And
so that’s not the end of the story….
Peter
remembered what the Lord had said….. And Peter wept bitterly…. The Greek is “sobbed out loud.”
He
faces the sinfulness of his own flesh….. He faces his own weakness…. He feels
the pain he has brought on the Lord….. He cries for pardon and he cries for
forgiveness….. The trials and temptations in our lives are there for our own
good…. And for God´s Glory….
These
things bring us to the point of despair so that we cries for forgiveness and
mercy…… This is true repentance……. True repentence leads us to the throne of
Grace….
It’s when we see the kind of Savior we have sinned
against that really makes us weep….. And so he wept…..
But
that was not the end….. After the Lord’s
resurrection, He met His disciples in Galilee….. It was time now for the full restoration
of the disciples…. and in particular, the full restoration of Peter…..
Remember
Jesus what said in Luke 22: 31,32…
Luke 22: 31,32 NKJV Schlachter 2000
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon!
Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have
prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to
Me, strengthen your brethren.”
31 Es sprach
aber der Herr: Simon, Simon, siehe, der Satan hat euch begehrt, um euch zu
sichten wie den Weizen;
32 ich aber habe
für dich gebetet, daß dein Glaube nicht aufhöre; und wenn du einst umgekehrt
bist4, so stärke deine Brüder!
This
is so important….. The Lord allowed this
sifting to help Peter to see himself….. And to prepare him for many years of
fruitful ministry ahead….. It was a terrible lesson…. Those were very
difficult times for all of them….. But victory
was certain… and Jesus had prayed for them….
Peter´s faith did not fail….. He repented…..
He was restored and was used Mightily….
.
Peter preaches on Pentecost, one sermon three thousand are saved….. Preaches
again, five thousand more are converted to Christ…..
Peter
is a great teacher for us… His disasterous failures are recorded to help us
understand how to face temptation and not be overconfident….. We can also learn
from Peter….. how to face sin and
failure with hope…..
Let´s
listen to Peter himself as we close… After the resurrection…. After Pentecost
we see a humble and Bold man Proclaiming the Good News….. Thousands are saved
in one day!
God
had used those dark and difficult times to clean the garbage out of his
heart….. Now he knows he has no reason to be proud and self confident…. He
knows he has to stay close to Jesus…. Peter more than many understands the
grace and mercy of God…… He also understands to reasons for the trials and hard
times very well….Turn with me to 1 Peter 1…v3
1 Peter 1: 3-9 NKJV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us
again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith
for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though
now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that
perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory
at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen[a] you love. Though
now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and
full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1: 3-
9 Schlachter 2000
3 Gelobt sei der
Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, der uns aufgrund seiner großen
Barmherzigkeit wiedergeboren hat zu einer lebendigen Hoffnung durch die
Auferstehung Jesu Christi aus den Toten,
4 zu einem
unvergänglichen und unbefleckten und unverwelklichen Erbe, das im Himmel
aufbewahrt wird für uns,
5 die wir in der
Kraft Gottes bewahrt werden durch den Glauben zu dem Heil2, das bereit ist,
geoffenbart zu werden in der letzten Zeit3.
6 Dann werdet
ihr euch jubelnd freuen, die ihr jetzt eine kurze Zeit, wenn es sein muß,
traurig seid in mancherlei Anfechtungen4,
7 damit die
Bewährung eures Glaubens (der viel kostbarer ist als das vergängliche Gold, das
doch durchs Feuer erprobt wird) Lob, Ehre und Herrlichkeit zur Folge habe bei
der Offenbarung Jesu Christi.
8 Ihn liebt ihr,
obgleich ihr ihn nicht gesehen habt; an ihn glaubt ihr, obgleich ihr ihn jetzt
nicht seht, und über ihn werdet ihr euch jubelnd freuen mit unaussprechlicher
und herrlicher Freude,
9 wenn ihr das
Endziel eures Glaubens davontragt, die Errettung der Seelen!
That’s
the kind of faith you have. You have the kind of faith that can be tested, it
can be tested in the fire and it will not perish. In verse 9 he says, “You have
the kind of faith, the outcome of which is the salvation of your souls.” Peter
never got over this faith that cannot fail, that will not fail.
His
final words are in 2 Peter 3:17.
2 Peter 3: 17, 18 NKJV
17 You therefore, beloved, since you
know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness,
being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3: 17,
18 Schlachter 2000
17 Ihr aber,
Geliebte, da ihr dies im voraus wißt, so hütet euch, daß ihr nicht durch die
Verführung der Frevler mit fortgerissen werdet und euren eigenen festen Stand
verliert!
18 Wachst
dagegen in der Gnade und in der Erkenntnis unseres Herrn und Retters Jesus
Christus! Ihm sei die Ehre, sowohl jetzt als auch bis zum Tag der Ewigkeit! Amen.
If you can…. And you need to…. Read The
letters of Peter completely through…… We can see the fantastic way that the
Lord used Peter´s failures for his and our good….
Here´s
the last thing Peter wrote…. Beware…. Watchout!
Peter
encourages us… Grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him…. Don’t engage in
spiritual pride and prayerlessness…. Don´t follow Jesus at a spiritual
distance…. Don´t be a fan….. Stay close to Jesus….. hide his word in your
heart…..
We
are a family…… We have a deep responsibility to each other…. and that includes pointing others to the only
place where they can find mercy and grace…. We need to show our own brothers
and sisters and as we have been reminded today….. We need to show our own
children to way to Jesus… to teach and encourage them…. and each other….. What
a privilege….. What a blessing……. It´s true…we will have trials and
temptations…. We will be sifted as wheat….. And remember Jesus has prayed for
us……. Our faith will not fail……
Let´s
pray….
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