How Rebellion Keeps You From Running

Intro

On the morning of the Resurrection, we see Mary has come to the sepulchre and that the stone has been rolled away. She runs into Peter and John and tells them that someone has taken away Jesus’ body and don’t know where He is. They both take off at the same time, but John outran Peter to the sepulchre.

Could it be that the sin of Peter denying the Lord hindered him from running with all that he had to the Lord?

The writer of this book names himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” It’s not the Jesus loved John more than the others, but that John loved Jesus and had a special relationship with him.

(John was close) John leaned on the bosom of Jesus.

(John was at the cross) John was the only one of the 12 to be at the foot of the cross.

(John 19:25-27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” )

With Peter’s unrepentant sin, could it be that it hindered him from getting closer to where Jesus was to be and believing Jesus?

Simon Peter seeth the linen clothes, but John saw and believed. (vs.6-8)

Could it be that the knowledge of his denial prevented Peter from believing?

What a thought to know that he had denied Christ 3 times, that Christ would look on him and that would be the last time Peter would see Christ before Christ died. What humiliation he must have felt about his sin. Sin should humiliate us, but we need to realize that it also hinders us.

- Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Peter was Self-Confident

Luke 22:31–34 KJV 1900

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

We need to be careful in our racing towards Jesus that we don’t get confident in ourselves.

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Peter was confident he was fit. (I am ready)

While we should be ready to go with Jesus, we should never feel like we are at the top of readiness, that we feel like were complete for the job. He said “I am ready.”

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Peter was confident in fellowship. (go with thee)

Peter had the right desire, but his flesh was weak.

1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

When we feel like we’re close to God and can do anything, be careful that you don’t feel confident in yourself, but in God.

Peter was confident in his faithfulness. (until death)

Peter’s desire to go unto death wasn’t wrong either. We should always be ready to die for the cause of Christ. DON’T PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN YOU; PUT IT IN CHRIST.

Peter was Sleepy

Matthew 26:36–41 KJV 1900

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Peter was Unconcerned. (My soul is exceeding sorrowful)

We need to be concerned with the things that Jesus is concerned with.

Peter was Unconscious. (Findeth them asleep)

Some Christians are in a state of unconsciousness. They come to church, but they are not there. They try to pray, but they are not there. They try to worship, but they’re not there.

Romans 13:11-12 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

Peter was unchanged. (Jesus came a second time, and then come third time and they were still asleep.)

The words of Christ should change us. Being a sleepy Christian will not change us into the image of Christ and help us race towards Christ.

Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

To “press” means to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after, to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal.

If you’re sleepy, you ain’t gonna run! If you’re running, you won’t get sleepy! If you stop running, you’ll get sleepy!

Peter was Scared

Luke 22:54–62 KJV 1900

Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Deny - to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone.

Peter denied Jesus for the shear fact that he didn’t want to go through what Jesus was going to go through.

Peter’s Association (he followed afar off)

Peter still wanted to follow Jesus, but didn’t want to be associate with him.

Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

We need people who will cleave to Christ and be associated with him!

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Peter’s Answer (I know him not, Man I am not one of them, I know not what thou sayest)

Peter answered very clearly that he didn’t know Christ, he wasn’t a disciple of Christ, and that they were crazy for thinking that.

Peter’s Agony (wept bitterly)

Peter remembered what the Lord had told him, was ashamed of himself when the Lord looked on him, and left his presence.

You’ll always be in agony and pain when you willfully go against the word of God and not ask God to forgive you when you failed.

Peter was Sorry

Peter went back to doing what he done before he met Jesus. He went back to fishing. They couldn’t even get a nibble. Peter was probably frustrated. But Jesus came and talked with him and when Peter heard it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat, for he was naked, and cast himself into the sea (remember back when Adam and Eve sinned and they made themselves coats of skins cause they saw their shame?) When you hear the word of God, it will cause you to react. Peter was obedient to the word of God, brought in 153 fishes, and Jesus wanted to have dinner with them. Then, Jesus and Peter have a conversation.

John 21:15–19 KJV 1900

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

For every time Peter denied Christ, Jesus asked him if he loved Him. Jesus told Peter to follow him, and he went.

Whenever we sin, we need to come and talk with Jesus, tell him we love him and that were sorry, and he’ll say, “FOLLOW ME.”

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Peter was Sprinting

Peter and the apostles we’re all filled with the Holy Ghost. Peter preached and 3000 souls were saved.

Peter went up to the temple and healed the lame man the gate called Beautiful.

Peter started preaching at Solomon’s porch.

Peter went into prison, but 5000 got saved. Peter Jesus Christ to the rulers and that “neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Acts 4:13 KJV 1900

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

The man that had once denied Christ three times had now started running for Christ! Wherever and whenever he went it was JESUS, JESUS, JESUS!

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Take Jesus and run with Him! Don’t be hesitant to run towards Christ.