Simon, Simon: Peter as a Picture of the Gospel

Of all the 12 disciples, we know that Jesus seemed to have an inner circle. Peter, James, and John.

When Jairus came to Jesus, imploring him to heal his daughter who they then found out was actually dead and in need not just of healing, but of raising, it was only Peter, James, and John that Jesus allowed to go into the house with Him.

In the chapter we will look at today, Matthew 26, we find that Peter, James, and John were the three that Jesus took with him for prayer in the garden before his arrest and crucifixion.

And, you will probably remember from the account of the transfiguration, that Jesus took with Him these three men, Peter James and John, to be witnesses of his glory shining through like blinding, white, glistening light.

These were special privileges, wonderful experiences, certainly magnificent memories for these three men. We don’t know exactly why Jesus chose them for this special role, we do know that He used them in special ways in their lives.

They were great men. Men who would go on to preach and lead many thousands of people to Christ. Men who would be able to perform miracles in the name of Jesus. Men who would see the spread of the Gospel like wildfire in their days.

They were also men who would all be severely mistreated and persecuted for their faith in the Lord. And why we don’t know the reason he chose these three, We can say that Jesus was certainly preparing them for what their ministry would be.

Peter, then, was one of those men. Why was Peter chosen? We can only speculate. We know he was one of the earliest disciples chosen, one who had been with the Lord the longest. We know he was hard working man, a fisherman who would become a fisher of men. We know he was bold in his personality and speech.

This Peter was the one, after all, in Matthew 16 who would be able to proclaim of Jesus,

Matthew 16:16 ESV

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

For this, Jesus called him blessed! He was a privileged man! He had learned this from God the Father and been able to speak it boldly, perhaps the first great confession of this kind from the lips of a man.

But while Peter was a man of great strength, he was also a man of great weakness. His weakness was often seen in his personal strength. Just after that great confession, when Jesus foretold his death and resurrection to come, Peter took him aside and rebuked him!

Matthew 16:22–23 ESV

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Yes, Peter. One of the greatest Apostles. A writer of scripture. A worker of miracles. An evangelist with many thousands of true converts. Yet Peter was a man.

We all are flesh and blood. We all wrestle with our strengths and weaknesses. We all are prone to failure and sin. In the story of Peter, there is great hope. There is great encouragement. In the story of Peter we find one who followed Jesus and failed. He followed and fell. But in the story of Peter we also see one whose life as a whole is not marked by his failures, but by his faithful Lord who took him and used him despite his failures.

How bold are we in our failures, and how deep does the redemption of Jesus go? Simon Peter’s story preaches a beautiful sermon on these questions.

1. Peter’s Boldness - Matt. 26:30-35

We’ve already spoken of this boldness, but it is perhaps what Peter is known best for. Peter’s boldness is important, because it seems to be part of his personality - part of his strength of character and fortitude. Boldness might have been stitched into Peter’s DNA, but boldness untempered by the Holy Spirit is not in itself a virtue.

In this, we find an excellent reminder. As you get to know people, you learn their strengths. You start to see the high points of their personality and character profile. You might find someone is a great listener, a great encourager, a great helper. You might find someone to be very personable and talkative, or someone to be very quiet and calm.

People might come by these things somewhat “naturally” we say. Although all things come from God, and strengths of character can be seen as gifts to be used for and by Him.

But the same strengths can be our downfall, too, if we’re not careful.

A quiet and calm person could be timid when they need to speak up. A great encourager might persuade someone to do the wrong thing. A great helper might help others to the neglect of his own family. A great listener might hear but never learn. And a bold and outspoken strong personality can be just as bold in sin as they are in righteousness.

Let’s pick up in Matthew 26, and see our first example of Peter here.

Matthew 26:30–32 ESV

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Matthew 26:33–35 ESV

Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

We find Jesus and his disciples having just finished their Passover meal, having just learned of this new covenant of Jesus blood for their forgiveness. They went out to the mount of Olives, and Jesus tells them something that will shock them all.

He had already told them that one would betray him utterly. That would be Judas. But now he tells them that all of them will fall away - they will stop following, at least for a season, because of Him.

Now, he gives them a hopeful promise in this - he is simply telling them that in their fear, in their doubt, in their human experience, they will fall away. They will run and hide, so to speak. But that he would come to them.

Now isn’t that a great little nugget? Jesus tells them, you are going to fail. But I will come to you. That is just a picture of this whole story, let me tell you. You will have failure, but I will come to you. You will all fall away, but I will never leave you or forsake you. This is our Lord. Do you know Him?

Peter, like he always does, speaks up. He says, “even if everyone else falls away, I will never fall away!”

That is the definition of a bold statement. That is the definition of drawing the line in the sand, staking your ground, leading the charge.

Peter probably meant that. Peter probably welled up with emotion in his being when he heard Jesus’ words that said, “no! I will never do that! I love you too much.” And Peter did love Jesus. We will see that in a later passage.

And wouldn’t we all, probably, if given the chance, say something like this? We would all like to believe and be able to say boldly, I will follow you no matter what, Jesus! I will not fall down, I will not lag behind, I will carry your name and your testimony come what may.

There is nothing wrong with boldness for the Lord, of course! Boldness for the Lord is needed!

But Peter went wrong in one very simple way - he didn’t listen to Jesus.

Here is where strength of character and personality comes into temptation. Peter was bold, but he didn’t listen to His Lord. We have seen this before, when Peter rebuked Jesus for predicting his death. Now Peter, essentially, rebukes Jesus for predicting his own falling away.

God can use your strength, be it boldness or any other characteristic. In fact, God probably gave it to you for glorious and providential ways. But the same thing that he gave you for good can be used in the flesh. When we allow our strengths to override, to overcome, when our “instinct” becomes a louder voice than the voice of Jesus to us, that is when we get in trouble.

We read then that Peter’s boldness led a rally cry! All the disciples there agreed, they all said the same thing. But in just a few short hours, in verse 56, we read that they all would be scattered and run away, just as Jesus predicted.

What is it that makes us charge on in our boldness without listening to our Lord?

2. Peter’s Weakness - Matt. 26:36-41

And that question leads us right into the next scene.

Jesus leads them to the Garden of Gethsemane. This is a pivotal place. Jesus’ prayer here is remarkable. We see so much passion, agony, and the submission to the Father in his prayer.

We will see his betrayal and arrest in this garden. The kiss of Judas that betrayed him. Perhaps one of the most famous kisses in all of history.

But we also see the disciples humanness in this passage, especially of Peter, James, and John. And Jesus gives a simple little statement that helps us answer that question, what makes us charge in our boldness without listening?

Matthew 26:36–38 ESV

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

Matthew 26:39–41 ESV

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We will spend more time in Jesus prayer, and his words here when we look at the account of his death. I don’t want to skip that, but I want to look at his teaching. Even in Jesus’ agony, in his sorrow, in his tears and heartache, he was teaching. He loved his disciples and taught them, right to the end.

He asked Peter and the sons of Zebedee, we know them as James and John, to go with him to pray. He allowed them to see him in his sorrow and troubled spirit. He invited them to witness his agony even before his death.

And in that, he asked them to be with him. To “watch” with him. The call to watch is no more complicated than just “stay awake with me!” He wanted their fellowship, their friendship, their attention, their companionship.

But they fell asleep.

He turned to Peter, and said, “You couldn’t even stay awake with me one hour?”

I wonder, in this, if there was a gentle rebuke. “I will never leave you! I will never fall away from you! I will be with you even to death!” We have heard from Peter.

But one little thing served as a lesson - simple human tiredness. Sleep.

This was such an object lesson. Peter, you are a strong and bold person. But the tiniest thing can get in the way of your own determination.

Matthew 26:41 ESV

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Pray that you don’t enter temptation. The Spirit is willing, bu the flesh is weak.

That is a daily reminder for us. Stay awake, pray that you don’t enter temptation. Your spirit is willing! But your flesh is weak.

And this is the battle we all fight. This is that strange relationship between the old and new man.

The Apostle Paul fought this battle.

Romans 7:15 ESV

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Romans 7:18–20 ESV

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Paul fought the same battle that Peter fought, and Peter fought the same battle that we fought. We can be truly following Jesus, part of his Kingdom, redeemed by Him, but we all fight the sin that dwells within us.

Our flesh is a soft target for the attacks and arrows of the evil one until the day we are called to be with the Lord.

Jesus call to “watch” is right there with “pray” because we must stay alert. In a moment of spiritual high and fellowship we might boldly say, “I will follow no matter what!” But in a moment of comfort and letting our guard down, our flesh will say “no thanks.”

It is the same call Jesus made in chapter 24, “stay awake, for you don’t know the hour when your Lord is coming.”

A call to follow Jesus is a call, as much as anything else, to be alert and prayerful. We must be alert and prayerful because temptation is real, but temptation is real because we are really susceptible.

The Lord calls people to do great and wonderful things in his strength and Spirit. And the Lord can use people. But the flesh is weak. And there will always be points of weakness.

There is not one person, regardless of how long they have walked with the Lord, that can ignore Jesus’ call to “watch and pray.” Not one person has been a follower long enough to sidestep the need of watchful prayer. Because not one person has grown past the point of Jesus words, saying “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

There is comfort in this, because Jesus says the same thing that we read from Paul there in Romans 7, that it is possible to have good and righteous desires, but at the same time fall prey to fleshly weakness. The battle is constant. And the point is not to look backwards and say, “I can’t believe i failed! My desires were good! I had good motives!” That may be true, but the flesh is weak. So watch and pray.

Watch and pray, new christian who has just started walking with the Lord.

Watch and pray, old Christian who has known him since you were a child.

Watch and pray, sunday school teacher who has taught hundreds of boys and girls these things.

Watch and pray, church member who has been here since before the dust on the ceiling fans.

Watch and pray, young teenager or young adult who is learning to navigate life.

Watch and pray, mother or father who now have other little souls to care for.

Watch and pray, Pastor, Elder, Deacon.

The Spirit is willing, but he flesh is weak.

3. Peter’s Zealousness - Matt. 26:46-54

If from Peter’s boldness we learned a lesson about listening to the voice of Jesus over our own reason or emotion, and if from Peter’s weakness we learned to watch and pray, for the flesh is weak, then from Peter’s Zealousness we learn to trust in the Lord rather than taking matters into our own hands.

We read on, and find that after Jesus was done praying and teaching the 11, Judas, the betrayer comes.

Matthew 26:46–49 ESV

Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him.

Matthew 26:50–52 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Matthew doesn’t name Peter here. It’s curious why, because Luke does name him. And we’re not surprised, really, that it is Peter who shows this kind of zealousness.

Maybe Matthew decided to give poor Peter a break and leave him anonymous.

This is an amazing story, even more with details that the other Gospels add.

Like the fact that Jesus not only rebukes Peter, but puts back the servant’s ear! There is a lesson about loving your enemies in there, and that is one thing we can draw from this.

But the lesson we see from Peter here, really ties in the last two that we’ve seen.

Peter didn’t listen to Jesus, and peter’s flesh was weak.

That culminates here in a moment of passion.

Surely, Peter was scared, shocked, acting on impulse. Peter is probably angry at the betrayal by Judas, he’s outraged that the leaders of his own people are turning against their messiah. He is zealous for his Lord, to protect him at all costs. And he is probably a little zealous for his own life, we would be.

But in his zeal, he fell prey to the warning of a proverb that he probably knew from childhood.

Proverbs 19:2 ESV

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

Desire, or zeal, without knowledge is not good.

That is simply what we see here. Peter has zeal, but it is not tempered by knowledge.

Knowledge is not mere facts, of course, but understanding. It is part of Wisdom. But it is not less than knowing some facts.

And what facts did Peter know? Well, he knew that now many times Jesus had told them, I am going to die. I am going to be betrayed and die. I am going to be delivered up by these very people and killed and die.

But he also knew the facts in front of him, that a mob with swords and clubs were approaching. So the facts were competing!

Peter knew, in his mind, that this was part of the plan. He knew the facts, but the facts alone as bare facts did not equate to “understanding” or “wisdom” in the moment.

A life of hasty actions leads to chaos. That is the message of that proverb. A life of decision without understanding leads to chaos. Thus Jesus’s words, “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.”

The “sword” for Peter pictures his zeal without knowledge. His quick passion. His hasty decision.

Anyone who lives by the “sword” in this way will die by the “sword.”

How many quick decisions in a moment of passion lead to an entire life being ruined? How many “loose canon” rampages in a fit of anger have lead to a life in prison, or even death?

How many impulsive decisions have left years of debt? How many passionate moments of lust have destroyed marriages and betrayed families?

We all probably have a “sword” that we are prone to swinging. Maybe it is our temper, maybe a lack of self control with money or with food. Maybe it is lust.

In all these things, it is not just the bare facts that we need, it is understanding.

Peter needed to understand that Jesus had been telling them this was going to happen. It was supposed to happen. It was part of the plan.

Matthew 26:53–54 ESV

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

And here is a simple call - we lack understanding and wisdom when we fail to heed what the Lord has told us and taught us in a moment of passion. Zeal without understanding will always get us in trouble. And to fight temptation in a moment is a real battle, but what peace comes when we submit to what our Lord has told us?

To trust the Lord’s words, his plan, his call even in a time where it would really make more sense to take things into our own hands, that is wisdom and understanding.

Yes, Peter failed. Peter sinned. He sinned boldly. But haven’t we all?? And don’t we all?

Isn’t it amazing, as irony to us, but really providence in the Lord’s doing, that the same events that peter fell into temptation within, were the very events that were predestined for Jesus to go and pour out his blood for Peter’s forgiveness?

4. Peter’s Sureness - Matt. 26:69-74

5. Peter’s Sadness - Matt. 26:75

6. Peter’s Process - Luke 22:31-32

7. Peter’s Forgiveness - John 21:15-19

8. Peter’s Eyewitness - Mark 13:9-11