Twists & Turns (VBS 2023) - Various Scriptures

Introduction

Everyone’s journey with Jesus is filled with starts and stops, ups and downs, and twists and turns.

It was that way for Peter.

It’s that way for me and you as well.

This morning I want to take you through Peter’s journey with Jesus (the same journey that we studied during VBS this past week).

As we examine Peter’s journey with Jesus, I want you to see that following Jesus really does change everything, but following Jesus especially changes the one who follows.

[PRAYER]

[TS] Let’s look at five SCENES from Peter’s journey with Jesus noticing the TWIST and the TURN in each…

Major Ideas

SCENE #1: Jesus calls Peter (Luke 5:1-11)

We have a lot to cover, so I won’t be able to read every verse, but let me give you a summary as you turn to that passage.

These verses describe the call of Jesus’ first disciples. It begins with Jesus teaching a crowd, and then using Simon Peter’s boat to teach that crowd from the water. Then Jesus told Peter to let his nets down for a catch. Peter seems to hesitate because he had been fishing all night with nothing to show for it, but then he obeys Jesus and pulls the largest catch of his life. The nets were straining, the boats were overflowing with fish, and they barely made it back to shore before sinking!

But look at the TWIST in Luke 5:8…

Luke 5:8 NASB95

8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

Why would Peter tell Jesus to go away after Jesus just helped him catch the most fish ever?

It wasn’t because Peter thought something was wrong with Jesus.

It was because in the presence of Jesus, Peter knew something was wrong with him.

After the great catch came in, Peter knew that Jesus was holy in the same way that God is holy; Jesus was righteous and pure and absolutely sinless.

Peter immediately understood that only God’s power and God’s knowledge could’ve bought in a great haul of fish like the one Jesus just had them bring ashore.

Well, if God’s power and God’s knowledge were in this Jesus, God’s holiness must be in Him too.

Before the holiness of God in Jesus Christ, Peter knew that he wasn’t worthy.

The holiness of Jesus convicted Peter (v. 8).

Peter felt the awkwardness of a sinful man like him being in the presence of a holy God-man like Jesus.

(App) Not one of us is perfectly holy like Jesus. His holy sinlessness should convict us all of our utter sinfulness.

Peter was convicted but…

The holiness of Jesus also changed Peter (v. 10b).

Luke 5:10 NASB95

10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”

Jesus didn’t go away when Peter said to go away. Instead Jesus stayed and began to change Peter.

This is the major TURNING POINT in Peter’s life; Peter and the rest of these men were changed from fishermen to fishers of men.

(App) As soon as we meet Jesus and trust Him, he begins to change us, to transform us, to redirect the purpose of our lives so that we are most concerned about helping others know Him.

The holiness of Jesus consumed Peter (v. 11).

Luke 5:11 NASB95

11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

Peter, along with his brother, Andrew, and their fishing partners, James and John, dropped it all and went after Jesus.

The rest of their lives would be consumed with Jesus.

(App) Most human beings are consumed with a passion for something.

We ought to be consumed with a passion for Jesus.

Let us leave everything behind to follow Him.

[TS] Jesus is holy, and if we know that, it changes everything.

Turn to Matthew 14, and let’s look at the next SCENE…

Scene #2: Jesus walks with Peter (Mark 6:47-48; Matthew 14:22-32)

Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands of people, and wanting some time to pray in solitude, He dismissed the people and sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee where He would meet up with them later. But as Jesus prays, a storm blows in and threatens to wipe out His disciples.

Notice…

In the story of Jesus walking on the water, Jesus SEES His disciples (Mk. 6:47-48a).

Mark 6:47–48 NASB95

47 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.

Though far away on the mountain, Jesus still sees His disciples as they strain against the storm on the sea.

(App) Though it may seem that He is far away, Jesus always sees the storms we are facing.

In the story of Jesus walking on the water, Jesus SHOWS His disciples (Mk. 6:48b).

Mark 6:48 NASB95

48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.

Look at that last statement, “He intended to pass by them.” It doesn’t mean that Jesus intended to walk on by without helping them. It means that Jesus intended to come alongside them to show them a glimpse of His divine glory to encourage their faith.

This is what YHWH did with Moses and Elijah in the OT; He showed them a glimpse of His glory to encourage their faith.

It’s the same thing Jesus did for His disciples as He walked on the water to them in the middle of the storm.

(App) When we are in a storm, we can trust that Jesus will come alongside us to show us a little more of His glory to encourage our faith.

In the story of Jesus walking on the water, Jesus SAVES His disciples (Matt. 14:28-33).

Matthew 14:28–33 NASB95

28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

In a TWIST that no one in the boat saw coming, Peter asked to walk on the water with Jesus, and Jesus said, “Come.”

Peter walked on the water at Jesus's command!

And then Peter sank in the water at the sight of the wind.

And the sinking, I believe, is the TURNING POINT in this scene.

Peter walked on the water, but Peter wasn’t Jesus; he wasn’t the Savior; Peter needed saving.

Drowning in the storm, Peter called out for the Savior, and although he only had a little faith, it was enough to save him.

Jesus pulled him out of the water and back to the boat.

(App) Don't miss that a little faith in Jesus was still enough to save Peter from drowning.

It's the quality of Jesus that saves us, not the quality of our faith.

Jesus is trustworthy even when I doubt.

Look at how this scene wraps up in vv. 32-33…

Matthew 14:32–33 NASB95

32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

(App) We too should worship Him.

We too should confess to Him, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

[TS]…

Scene #3: Jesus Forgives Peter (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62; John 21:1-19)

The night before He was crucified, Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed (i.e., three times before the sun came up). Peter promised that he wouldn’t, saying in Luke 22:33, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” But then Peter broke his promise and denied knowing Jesus at all…

Look at the denials…

"This man was with Him too." Luke 22:56

"Woman, I do not know Him." Luke 22:57

"You are one of them too!" Luke 22:58a

"Man, I am not!" Luke 22:58b

"Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too." Luke 22:59

"Man, I do not know what you are talking about." Luke 22:60a

After the denials, the rooster crowed.

And the Lord looked at Peter.

And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times."

And then Peter wept.

He wept because he had committed a great sin, a great sin he swore he wouldn’t commit.

Peter had denied knowing Jesus, the Son of God, as he went to the cross.

[TS] Soon Jesus was dead and with Him died any hopes Peter had of being forgiven; a dead Savior can’t forgive anyone.

But then the TWIST! Three days after Jesus died on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead!

(App) And a resurrected Savior can forgive sinners like Peter and sinners like me and you.

Look at John 21…

The resurrected Jesus appeared on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Peter and the others were fishing once again, and just as we saw earlier, they weren’t catching anything.

Jesus took Peter back to the beginning (John 21:6).

John 21:6 NASB95

6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

John knew that this was Jesus and told Peter, “It is the Lord.” Peter flung himself in the water to swim to Jesus, to swim toward forgiveness.

Once on shore, Jesus used the fish to make breakfast for His disciples.

And then…

Jesus took Peter through his denials (vv. 12-17)

John 21:15 NASB95

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”

Peter had bragged, "Even though all (i.e., all the other disciples) fall away because of You, I will never fall away," (Matthew 26:33), but then he denied Jesus three times.

Peter had boasted of his total-commitment to Jesus, his willingness to sacrifice himself for Jesus if necessary, but it was empty pride.

John 21:16–17 NASB95

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.

There are two words used for love in the questions and answers between Peter and Jesus.

Agape is often used to describe self-sacrificial love, a total-commitment kind of love.

Phileo is a brotherly kind of love and affection—a love between good friends.

Phileo is a good word for love and is sometimes used as synonym for agape but it pales in comparison when laid next to agape as it is in this passage.

In the first two questions, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him with an agape kind of love, but Peter only answers with the word phileo instead of agape.

In the third question, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, but Jesus now uses the word that Peter has been using all along, the word phileo, and Peter again answers with the word phileo.

We need to be careful here; we shouldn't understand Peter as admitting that he doesn’t love Jesus as much as he should.

We should understand Peter as saying, "Jesus, I'm not going to boast in myself anymore. You know all things; You know I’ve denied you three times, but You know I love you even if my love for you is imperfect.”

This was another TURNING POINT: Peter had been humbled.

After taking Peter through his denials…

Jesus took Peter to his future.

Jesus said that Peter would one day be killed for following Him.

Church tradition records that Peter was persecuted by the Roman Emperor Nero, being crucified upside-down because he didn't consider himself worthy to be crucified right-side-up like His Lord.

That courage to die as a witness for Jesus was fueled by a humble gratitude for forgiveness rather than a prideful boasting in self.

(App) All our living for Jesus, and if necessary our dying for Jesus, should be motivated by a humble gratitude for the forgiveness He has given us.

Jesus is forgiven even when we sin.

[TS]…

Scene #4: Jesus Emboldens Peter (Acts 3:1-4:24)

Acts 3 starts with Peter healing a beggar who couldn’t walk. A crowd gathered round to watch the man dance with joy. Peter told them that the healing was done in the name of Jesus. It was the power of Jesus that healed the man; and then Peter began to speak about Jesus with great boldness.

In Acts 3, Peter was bold in the portico.

Peter boldly told the truth.

Acts 3:13–15 NASB95

13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

(App) We all need to hear and believe the truth that it was our sin that crucified Jesus. It was our sin that put to death the Prince of life.

Peter boldly called for repentance.

Acts 3:19–20 NASB95

19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,

(App) We all need to repent of sin so that our sins can be wiped away by the forgiveness in Jesus.

Peter boldly spoke of grace.

Acts 3:26 NASB95

26 “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

(App) We all need to understand and believe that God sent Jesus for us so that we would turn from sin and come back to Him.

[TS] But Peter wasn’t just bold in the portico…

Peter was also bold before the bozos (Acts 4).

This is our TWIST in this scene from Peter’s life; it’s one thing to speak boldly for Jesus in the portico but quite another to speak boldly for Him before powerful bozos who threaten your life.

Acts 4 starts with Peter and John arrested because of the healing and preaching in the name of Jesus in Acts 3. The bozos, the Jewish religious leaders who had earthly power but no spiritual knowledge, they didn't like that so many people were believing in Jesus, so they arrested Peter and John.

We might expect that Peter and John would then cower before them, but…

Peter spoke boldly when arrested by the bozos.

Acts 4:10–12 NASB95

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Peter spoke boldly even when threatened by the bozos.

Acts 4:18–20 NASB95

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

And Peter spoke boldly when released by the bozos.

Acts 4:31 NASB95

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

You’ll notice that v. 31 says, “And when they had prayed...” Listen to one part of that prayer in v. 29…

Acts 4:29 NASB95

29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,

This is a TURNING POINT for Peter and the other followers of Jesus.

They do not pray for the threats to go away.

They do not pray for safety.

The pray for boldness.

(App) To speak boldly for Jesus, we must pray boldly for the glory of Jesus.

We pray and speak boldly even when arrested and threatened because Jesus is worth following even when it gets tough.

Scene #5: Jesus Sends Peter (Acts 10)

In Acts 10 we see that Jesus is for Cornelius. Think about that phrase "for Cornelius”.

How do we know that Jesus was for Cornelius?

Well, Jesus sent a vision for Cornelius.

Cornelius was a good man...

a patriotic man

a devout man

a family man

a praying man

but Cornelius was a Gentile man… and Jesus was Jewish.

Was it possible for Gentiles like Cornelius to be saved by the Jewish Savior, Jesus?

Is Jesus for really for everyone?

The answer is yes, but Cornelius was not yet a Jesus man, but look at Acts 10:3-5…

Acts 10:3–5 NASB95

3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;

Jesus sent a vision for Cornelius to prepare Cornelius to hear about Him.

(App) It probably wasn't a vision, but when we were not yet Jesus people, Jesus sent something for us to prepare us to hear about Him.

Then Jesus sent an Apostle for Cornelius.

By this point, Peter was throughly a Jesus man.

He had been called by Jesus, saved by Jesus, forgiven by Jesus, emboldened by Jesus, and now he was being sent by Jesus to Cornelius.

Here in Acts 10, we see that Peter is a praying man and a hungry man.

While waiting on lunch one day, Jesus sent a vision for Peter to prepare him to tell Cornelius about Jesus.

He sees the vision of clean and unclean food and is commanded to eat without distinguishing between the two.

Peter refuses, but by the end of the vision, the Spirit has commanded Peter to go with Cornelius's men and Peter is beginning to realizes the vision was about more than food.

The thrice-repeated "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy,” is still rolling around in Peter’s mind, when there’s a knock at the door.

Cornelius’s men have come to invite Peter to Cornelius’s house.

And the Holy Spirit tells Peter to go.

The next day Peter and some others set for Cornelius’s house.

(App) It wasn't an Apostle, but when we were not yet Jesus people, Jesus sent someone for us to tell us about Him.

Maybe it was a friend.

Maybe it was a mom or dad.

Maybe it was a Vacation Bible School teacher.

Whoever it was, we should be thankful for them because Jesus used them to tell us about Him.

Jesus sent the Spirit for Cornelius.

Peter arrived at Cornelius’s house.

Cornelius recounted his vision, the request for Peter's visit, and made clear his readiness to hear the Word of God that people would speak.

Peter shared the Gospel (the Good News) of Jesus Christ.

He told of Jesus's perfect life.

Acts 10:38 NASB95

38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

He told of Jesus's crucifixion.

Acts 10:39 NASB95

39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.

He told of Jesus's resurrection.

Acts 10:40–41 NASB95

40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

He told of the forgiveness offered in Jesus.

Acts 10:43 NASB95

43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

And while Peter was speaking, Jesus sent the Spirit for Cornelius and the other Gentiles (v. 44)!

Now this was a TWIST that Peter would’ve have believed when he first started following Jesus!

Peter wouldn’t have believed that Jesus is for everyone who believes whether they are Jewish or Gentile!

But Peter couldn’t deny it. Peter knew it was the Spirit of God that fell on the Gentiles as they heard about Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection because he had experienced and witnessed the Spirit of God fall on the Jewish people on the Day of Pentecost.

Peter knew in that moment in Cornelius’s house that Jesus is for everyone.

[TS]…

Conclusion

Jesus is for everyone. He is for Jews like Peter and Gentiles like Cornelius and everyone in between.

Jesus is for you…

…even if you don’t think you’re of much use.

If Jesus used a fishermen like Peter, he can use you.

Jesus is for you…

…even if you don’t think you have enough faith.

If Jesus saved a doubter like Peter, he can save you.

Jesus is for you…

…even if you think you're too bad.

If Jesus forgave a denier like Peter, he can forgive you.

Jesus is for you...

…even if you think you’re too afraid.

If Jesus can embolden one like Peter, he can embolden you too.

Jesus is for you…

…even if you think you're the wrong kind of person.

But Jesus is for everyone who believes.

Do you believe?