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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (11)

 

Peter Denies His Lord

Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:17-18, 25-27

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    A lot had happened in the court room of Caiaphas. 

1.      Jesus admitted that He is the Christ.

2.      The Jews sentenced Jesus to death.

 

B.      However, there was also a lot going on outside the court room.

1.      Two disciples had followed closely behind Jesus after his arrest (Matt. 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54).

a.      One was the disciple whom Jesus loved.

b.      The other was the disciple who had affirmed that he would never deny the Lord (Mark 14:29, 31).

2.      They both were given entrance into the halls of the palace.

3.      One of these disciples was about to have his life changed forever. 

 

C.     Tonight, we are continuing our series entitled:  “The Sayings of the Crucifixion.”

1.      This is the 11th study in this series.

2.      The subtitle of tonight’s lesson is:  “Peter Denies His Lord.”

 

I.                   THE DAMSEL AT THE DOOR (Matt. 26:69-70; Mark 14:66-68a; Luke 22:55-57; John 18:17-18)

 

A.    Peter was admitted into the palace after John had spoken to one of the maids of the high priest who kept the door (John 18:16).

 

B.      John’s gospel reveals that “it was cold” that night (John 18:18).

1.      Thus, the servants and officers within the palace had built a fire in order to keep themselves warm (John 18:18).

2.      Peter immediately gathers by the fire to keep warm as well (Luke 22:55).

 

C.     It was at this point that “a certain maid” (Luke 22:56), in fact, “the damsel that kept the door” (John 18:17), confronts Peter’s identity.

1.      “Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee” (Matt. 26:69).

2.      “And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth (Mark 14:67).

3.      “This man was also with him” (Luke 22:56).

4.      “Art not thou one of this man’s disciples?” (John 18:17).

 

D.    Question:  How did she know Peter was a disciple of the Christ?

1.      Perhaps it was a guess.

2.      She may have seen Peter with Jesus in the streets of Jerusalem in the past.

3.      The fact that Peter gained entrance with the help of John may have given it away.

 

E.      NOTE:  Now was Peter’s chance.

1.      He had said he would never deny the Lord (Mark 14:31)

 

But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.

2.      How did Peter perform?  We all know the answer.

a.      Matthew 26:70

 

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

 

b.      Luke’s gospel involves a more emphatic statement (Luke 22:57).

 

And he denied him, saying, Woman I know him not.

 

F.      Application:

1.      We are pretty hard on Peter.  He was not faithful to his word.  He was not faithful to Jesus.

2.      How many times are we given a chance to stand and fail?  We are asked questions about our faith, our doctrines, and our values.  And, instead of taking a bold stand, we dodge and, perhaps, even deny just as Peter did.

3.      When we are directly confronted with regard to our allegiance to the Christ, we must manifest faith and boldness to say what needs to be said.  Paul understood this (Eph. 6:19)

 

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make know the mystery of the gospel.

 

II.                THE MAID OF THE HIGH PRIEST (Matt. 26:71-72; Mark 14:68b-70a; Luke 22:58; John 18:25)

 

A.    After his first denial, Peter withdrew to a porch in the palace (Matt. 26:71; Mark 14:68b).

 

B.      While there, “another maid” saw Peter and recognized him as well.

1.      “This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matt. 26:71).

2.      “This is one of them” (Mark 14:69).

3.      “Thou art also one of them” (Luke 22:58).

 

C.     John’s gospel reads differently (John 18:25).

 

And Simon stood and warmed himself.  They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples?

 

1.      After the maid had pointed Peter out, the officers and servants probably began to probe his identity.

2.      They, too, asked him:  “Art not thou also one of his disciples?”

 

D.    Peter is now given a second chance to show his loyalty to his Master.  He was nervous the first time.  Now that he has had a little time to think, surely he will answer correctly.  Again, we know the answer.

1.      John 18:25

 

…He denied it, and said, I am not.

 

2.      Matthew give us even more detail (Matt. 26:72).

 

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

a.      He had been with Jesus for over three years now, and says:  “I do not know the man.”

1)      He will not even acknowledge Jesus’ name.

2)      The word “man” could also mean “the fellow.”

b.      He made this statement with an oath.

1)      Peter wanted them to believe him.  He may have even thought that they suspected he was lying.

2)      Therefore, he took made an oath to confirm his words.

a)      It was a pledge or affirmation that what he was saying is true.

b)      It would be similar to our saying:  “I promise.”

 

E.      Question:  How well do you do with second chances?

 

III.             THE SERVANT OF THE HIGH PRIEST (Matt. 26:73-74; Mark 14:70b-71; Luke 22:60a; John 18:26-27)

 

A.    According to Luke’s gospel, about another hour passed before Peter was confronted again (Luke 22:59).

 

B.      This time, the person who confronted Peter was a servant of the high priest.

1.      Listen to the description of this man that John provides (John 18:26a).

 

One of the servants of the high priest, his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith…

 

a.      This man was a kinsman of Malchus.

b.      Too, he was in the Garden of Gethsemane earlier that night (John 18:26b).

 

…Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

 

2.      He also said more than this to Peter.

a.      He charged him with being a Galilean (Luke 22:59).

b.      He said that he could tell he was a Galilean because of his speech (Matt. 26:73; Mark 70).

c.       Why would a Galilean Jew be in the palace area?  Peter had to be one of the disciples of the Christ.

 

C.     This is Peter’s third chance.  Surely, he will make amends and acknowledge his association with the Christ.  Again, we know this is not the case.  His denial only gets worse.

1.      “Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man” (Matt. 26:74a; Mark 14:71; Luke 22:60a; John 18:27a).

a.      He began to curse.

1)      Some believed that he used profanity in his denial of the Christ.

2)      Others believe that he called down curses upon himself if his denial as not true.

b.      He began to swear.  The Jews swore by many things in an attempt to affirm the truthfulness of the words they spoke (See Matt. 5:34-36).

 

D.    Application:  What was it that was keeping Peter from affirming his relationship to Jesus?

1.      Fear of man?  Fear of persecution?  Fear of death?

2.      Jesus had taught His disciples about fear in Matthew 10:28, but Jesus’ words were not practiced by Peter on this occasion.

 

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

IV.             THE CROW OF THE COCK

 

A.    All four writers of the gospels mention the last crowing of rooster (Matt. 26:74b; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:60b; John 18:27).

 

Peter then denied again, and immediately the cock crew.

 

B.      Only Mark mentions the first crowing of the rooster.  It took place after Peter’s first denial.  He withdrew to the porch, “and the cock crew” (Mark 14:68).

 

C.     Jesus had predicted this event (Mark 14:30).

 

And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

 

D.    Question:  I wonder what went through Peter’s mind when he heard the first, then the second crowing of the rooster?

1.      The Bible says:  “And Peter remembered the word of the Lord.”  Oh, the sting of memory.

2.      Jesus’ words are true.

3.      How could I have done such a thing?

4.      I am a sinner.

 

E.      There is another element in the Biblical text that is important here.  It is recorded only by Luke (Luke 22:61a).

 

And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter.

 

F.      Conviction:

1.      Being caught in our sins and convicted is never a pleasant experience.

2.      However, this is precisely what is needed if change is going to occur.

 

V.                THE WEEPING OF PETER

 

A.    Mark’s gospel simply says:  “And when he thought thereon, he wept” (Mark 14:72).

 

B.      Both Matthew and Luke tell us:  “And Peter went out, and wept bitterly” (Matt. 26:75; Luke 22:62).

1.      Bitterly

a.      Strong (4090):  bitterly, that is, violently

b.      Thayer:  bitterly…with poignant grief

c.       Vine:  it comes from a root that means “to cut, to prick.”  It involves that which is extreme.

2.      Peter’s actions are much different than the actions of Judas.

a.      Judas acknowledged his sin, returned the silver, and went out and hanged himself.

b.      Peter went out and wept bitterly.

c.       The difference involved the hearts of the two men.

1)      One was caught in his own trap.

2)      The other was truly penitent.

 

C.     LESSON:  When we are caught in sin, the outcome will depend on the condition of our heart. 

1.      Our prayer is that all of us will manifest the quality of Peter and go out and weep bitterly. 

2.      NOTE:  Peter will soon be used again in wonderful service to the Master.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Prior to his temptation, Peter was fully convinced that he would never deny the Lord.

 

B.      We learn a very important lesson that Paul sets forth in I Corinthians 10:12.

 

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 

C.     Instead of being sure we will never fall, we need to get on our knees and pray the words found in Jesus’ model prayer (Matt. 6:13a).

 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

 

D.    If we do find ourselves in sin, let us resolve that we will not be completely defeated by the loss.  Let’s resolve that we will repent of our sin and ask God to forgive us.  If we do, the Lord will forgive us (I John 1:9) and will use us for great things in His service.