Luke 22:47-62 - The Disciples’ Failure
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Failing is hard to endure. Being March Madness, I figured I would start us off with a NCAA Basketball sports analogy of failure.
During the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the 11th seeded Northern Iowa Panthers were coming off of a big win against Texas. They seemed to be cruising to the Sweet 16 as they led Texas A&M 69-57 with 44 second left. Statistically speaking, with a 12-point lead with 44 seconds left, there is greater than a 99% chance that a team will close out the game with a win.
Unfortunately for Northern Iowa, this would be a game of historic proportions. Texas A&M began pressuring Northern Iowa and went on a 14-2 run to send the game into overtime. After two overtimes, Texas A&M prevailed winning the game 92-88.
This was one of the most epic basketball failures in the history of NCAA basketball. It seemed like they had the game won, yet the lead was blown and they lost.
As the legendary New York Yankee Yogi Berra used to say - “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
Today, we are going to see some failures as well. These failures are harder to watch than Northern Iowa. We will first see the failure of Judas. He saw Christ perform miracles, raise the dead, and heal the sick. Yet, he turns on the Savior and betrays Him.
Next, we will see the failure of the disciples to stay by Jesus’s side as they scatter like insects.
And finally, we will see, perhaps, the biggest failure of the disciples - namely the disciple Peter. Peter had been the one who stood firm when others were bolting. He had asserted that Jesus was the Son of God. He had stated at least twice that he was ready to go to his death for the Lord Jesus.
However, as we will see today, Peter provides an unfortunate picture of an epic failure.
But this account also provides comfort for us. Sometimes we feel like epic failures as well. We have those mountaintop experiences where we feel like we can do anything. We are excited about what the Lord is doing. We couldn’t imagine giving into temptation or stepping back in the face of persecution. We are on fire. And yet, some time passes, and we feel like a failure. We aren’t as strong as we thought we were.
May we learn from the example of Peter and the other disciples today as we study the failure of the disciples.
Read Full Scripture:
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,
but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance.
And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”
And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
And he went out and wept bitterly.
Prayer
Today we will see three ways that Jesus sovereignly reigns. The first is…
I. Jesus Sovereignly Reigns Despite a Disciple’s Wickedness (47-48)
I. Jesus Sovereignly Reigns Despite a Disciple’s Wickedness (47-48)
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
If you recall the scene from the Garden of Gethsemane from last week, it is clear that there is abrupt transition from praying in the garden to this crowd coming. We are told that this crowd is led by Judas. When looking at verse 52 as well as Mark 14:43, we see that the crowd consisted of the chief priests, the officers of the temple, the elders, the scribes, and a detachment of Romans troops from Jerusalem. This was quite a group of people! There were likely hundreds in this crowd that came armed with weapons and carrying lanterns with them (John 18:12). The Romans did not take any threat lightly. Insurrections from revolutionaries were fairly common at that time - consider Barabbas (Mark 15:7) - and so they were ready to squash any semblance of a rebellion.
As Judas approaches Jesus, we see in Mark 14:45 that he kisses Him. Jesus responds to Judas with a question as seen in verse 48. He sees the hypocrisy of such a move. In Jewish culture, a kiss on the cheek or forehead was something that was shared between family and close friends. Yet, Judas turned it into a sign of betrayal.
Jesus’s question shows some compassion, however. This question is meant to shake Judas to his core. In essence - Jesus is asking him how dark can he truly be? Can he not see the wickedness of what he is doing?
The old preacher Alexander Maclaren once stated:
“Thus to the end Christ seeks to keep him from ruin, and with meek patience resents not indignity, but with majestic calmness sets before the miserable man the hideousness of his act.”
Alexander Maclaren
Unfortunately, we know that Judas does not repent. He will eventually go on to regret what he has done and kill himself. But the mercy and grace of Jesus is nonetheless present until the end toward Judas. Jesus has welcomed Judas as one of His 12 Disciples. Despite Jesus knowing of this betrayal as well as the thievery that was occuring as Judas stole from the moneybag during His ministry (John 12:6), Jesus has continually shown Judas grace and mercy.
Sadly, this man, Judas, was doomed for destruction. He would refuse to repent.
Before getting to the next couple of verses, John’s Gospel gives us something that happens right after the kiss from Judas. Listen to John 18:4-6:
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
This is probably one of my favorite accounts in the Bible. Remember, this is an intimidating crowd of religious leaders as well as armed Roman soldiers - yet Jesus is not intimidated. He stands His ground and asks them a question - “Whom do you seek?” They assert that they are seeking Jesus of Nazareth. And then the unexpected happens.
As Jesus says ‘I am He,’ we are told that the entire crowd drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6).
Don’t just gloss over that. His statement led them to fall to the ground. This is the power of the Son of Man - God-made-flesh.
This phrase is very similar to Jesus’s assertion of being the ‘I Am.’ This was the name God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 when speaking of Himself. This is also the name Jesus had called Himself in John 8:58.
It cannot be any more clear after this powerful showing that Jesus has given us, that He reigns despite the wickedness around Him.
Yet, He also sovereignly reigns…
Scripture References: Mark 14:43, John 18:12, Mark 15:7, Mark 14:45, John 12:6, John 18:4-6, Exodus 3:14, John 8:58
II. Jesus Sovereignly Reigns Despite the Disciples’ Waywardness (49-53)
II. Jesus Sovereignly Reigns Despite the Disciples’ Waywardness (49-53)
And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
It is now obvious to the disciples that this is not a friendly crowd. Jesus has called out the betrayer, Judas. And so the disciples prepare to battle.
If you recall, the disciples had stated that they had two swords in Luke 22:38. And so the two with a sword obviously ask about using them.
In verse 50 we are introduced to one of the two who doesn’t wait for an answer. We could probably guess which disciple that this is, however John doesn’t make us guess.
The one mentioned here is Peter as seen in John 18:10. Peter cuts off the ear of a servant of the high priest named Malchus.
Again, we see the disciple’s waywardness now. We have seen the wickedness of Judas, but now we see the whole group in an uproar. Jesus has let them know what is going to happen and now they, led by Peter, are seeking to oppose the will of God.
Peter refuses to wait for Jesus to answer their question about whether they should strike with the sword. Had he waited, he would have known that the answer was no. Jesus was headed to the cross to battle and destroy sin and death - not to battle these sinners.
Let’s take a step back from this action for a moment and reflect on this situation and consider it in our own lives.
How often do we, like Peter, not wait upon the Lord?
Maybe we say the prayer, but then before considering any further, we make a decision.
Lord is this the job you have for me? Two minutes later, we call accepting the position because we are afraid someone else will get it first.
Lord is this the house for me? Before the evening is over we are making an offer because we don’t want to miss out on this special piece of real estate.
There are countless examples of not waiting on the Lord. Waiting is one of the hardest spiritual disciples we must do. But waiting on Him is well worth it. It will protect us from many heartaches and mistakes.
Always remember Proverbs 16:9:
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Despite our plans, we must remember that the Lord is sovereign. Seek His will and follow in His ways.
Getting back to our action scene, we just saw Peter cut off a guy’s ear. Who says the Bible isn’t fun and action-packed? However, now we see something even more interesting…
But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.
Miraculously Jesus heals the man’s ear and commands Peter and the others to stand down. Peter, again, is getting in the way of the plan of God. Jesus has already called Peter Satan for trying to keep Him from going to the cross (Matthew 16:23). And yet Peter does it again!
Matthew records a further discussion with Peter and the disciples at this moment in time…
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
Jesus reminds Peter and the disciples that He doesn’t need defended by them. He could wipe these guys out in a moment. Yet, He is following the Father’s will on His journey to the cross.
Jesus could call down more than twelve legions of angels to defend Him. If you recall, one single angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrians under Sennacherib in 2 Kings 19:35. We can be sure that tens of thousands of angels would be able to a lot of damage!
Moving forward, Jesus addresses the crowd…
Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
Jesus calls out the sinful way that the religious rulers are arresting Jesus. Their hypocrisy is obvious. They are approaching Him as if He were a robber - the Greek meaning a revolutionary or insurrectionist. And yet, He was teaching in the temple day after day, and they didn’t have the guts to arrest Him then because of their fear of the people (Luke 22:2).
He states that this is their hour. This is the hour of darkness.
They are working under the domain and power of Satan. The idea of darkness being evil is commonly seen in the Scripture (fore example - Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:13). And so this opportune time that Satan had waited for as seen in Luke 4:13 after the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness has arrived. Their hour had come.
Yet, this was also an hour predestined before the foundation of the world. As Jesus asserts in His high priestly prayer in John 17:1, this was also God’s hour.
Despite the darkness present, the light would shine forth. The Son of Man would go on to be crucified. But the light would break through the darkness as the Savior would rise from the dead and defeat sin and death offering salvation to all who would repent and place their trust in Him.
Brothers and sisters, may we celebrate this amazing truth. I pray that all of you have repented and trusted in Christ as Lord.
Before getting to our next point…
Jesus had already asked that the officers let the disciples go before this skirmish (John 18:8), and so after Jesus tells the disciples to stand down and as He is addressing the religious leaders, they flee (Matthew 26:56).
This fulfilled the prophecy seen in Zechariah 13:7 which states - strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.
All of them are scattered. Yet, John and Peter end up following at a distance a little later. Which brings us to our final point…
Scripture References: Luke 22:38, John 18:10, Proverbs 16:9, Matthew 16:23, 2 Kings 19:35, Luke 22:2, Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:13, Luke 4:13, John 1:17, John 18:8, Matthew 26:56, Zechariah 13:7
III. Jesus Sovereignly Reigns Despite a Disciple’s Weakness (54-63)
III. Jesus Sovereignly Reigns Despite a Disciple’s Weakness (54-63)
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
After seizing Jesus, they take Him to the high priest’s house. It appears that Jesus is actually before two high priests. Matthew lets us know that the high priest is Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57), while John tells us that He is also brought to the house of Annas (John 18:12-13). It is likely that these two lived very close together as Caiaphas was Annas’s son-in-law. Annas would still be called high priest because he was the previous high priest, serving from around AD 6-15. His son-in-law Caiaphas then took over and was high priest during the time of Christ’s arrest and crucifixion.
This will set off a series of mock trials that will falsely accuse Jesus and end in His crucifixion. We will discuss these trials next week, but in the meantime, we are told that Peter was following the arrested Jesus at a distance.
A fire was kindled in the middle of the courtyard outside of the high priest’s home, and we are told that Peter joins those who sat around the fire. This was a charcoal fire according to John 18:18 which will become important a little later in today’s sermon.
Before moving forward, it is important for us to notice that Peter is putting himself into a tough spot. He is following the Lord - but at a distance. We are told that John had followed as well, but had actually been allowed to go in because the high priest recognized him (John 18:15). So we already see a difference between Peter and John as they follow Christ.
There is a good lesson for us in this.
How do we follow Christ? Do we seek to try to follow at a distance?
There used to a phrase that was given to those who were sold out for Christ and were outspoken about their faith. They were called Jesus Freaks. The idea of radically following Christ with all of your life was considered extreme. This concept is pretty similar in today’s church as well.
Lukewarm Christianity rules the day. So many try to follow Christ at a distance. They don’t take any chances of rocking the boat by expressing their views in public. Everything that is publically stated is politically correct. They would never ‘force’ their beliefs on another by sharing the Gospel.
Brothers and sisters, this version of Christianity is not Biblical. Frankly, it is not even Christian. Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow (Matthew 16:24). Jesus requires all of us. I pray that each of you here are sold-out believers for Jesus. I pray that you are all-in believers.
We see one other important lesson from Peter as well. As he follows Christ from a distance, he ends up sitting in the seat of scoffers (Psalm 1:1). If you recall Pastor Adam’s message on Psalm 1 a while back, he discussed a step-wise falling into sin. First, one may walk in in the counsel of the wicked, then one may stand in the way of sinners, and finally one may sit in the seat of scoffers. Scoffer is a word that means mocker. These are those who are adamantly opposed to Christ. And now Peter sits among those in the crowd that have just arrested Jesus.
Watch where you sit, my friends. Watch the company that you sit with.
Do you find yourself following Jesus at a distance and sitting among the scoffers?
If so, repent.
Do you catch yourself feeling more comfortable sitting among those with coarse joking and questionable language than with those discussing Biblical matters? If so, repent.
Do you catch yourself feeling more comfortable sitting among those who speak of worldly matters than those who speak of heavenly things? If so, repent.
This type of living does not turn out well. This is not true Christianity. Listen to how it turns out for Peter…
Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”
The charcoal fire that was kindled served as a sort of spotlight on Peter’s face. Peter was trying to warm himself by the fire without being noticed. However, one important thing to know about a fire is that it also puts off light.
The spotlight on Peter’s face allows a servant girl to notice who he is. She exposes his identity to those around.
Peter’s response is tragic. He denies knowing Christ.
There is a good lesson for each of us here.
If you want to be warmed by the fire of Christ, know that the light will expose your sins. You can’t have one without the other. But what is going to be your response when Christ convicts you of your sins? Are you going to repent or are you going to run away and deny the truth of Christ?
Many people want the comfort of the fire without having to give up their sin.
Many people want to enjoy the warmth of the fire. The thought of Jesus’s forgiveness and eternal life seems nice and pleasant. But few people are willing to allow the light to penetrate their lives, expose their sins, and repent.
That is not how it works though, my friends. If you want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, He is going to expose your sins and change you from the inside out. True believers will grow. There is no such thing as a Christian who keeps looking like the rest of the world. Followers of Christ are fully submitted to His Lordship.
Unfortunately for Peter, his testing is only beginning. Listen to the next encounter in verse 58…
And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
When placing the four accounts together, it seems that there are a couple of people actually accusing Peter of being a follower of Jesus this second time. The servant girl, it appears, has gotten a couple of others together to check this disciple out. Peter addresses one of the men in the small group and denies being a follower of Jesus - thereby denying Christ a second time. In Matthew, Peter also denies even knowing Christ.
Peter likely feels like the proverbial walls are closing in on him. He has sought to follow Christ from a distance, but the full moon shinning during this Passover time, the light from the charcoal fire, and the lanterns all around him keep shinning light upon him.
As they always say - you can run but you can’t hide.
Which brings us to our final accusation against Peter…
And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
Interestingly, Peter has seemed to sneak into the shadows this time. He has gone around an hour seemingly unnoticed. Maybe all of the commotion of the false trials going on has shifted the attention away from him.
However, eventually, the eyes of the crowd turn back toward him. When looking at the accounts together, we see another small group approach Peter again with accusations. They assert that Peter’s accent has given him away. Galileans must have had a unique accent that the people noticed.
Peter, for the third time, denies knowing Jesus. During this final time, we are told in Mark 14:71 that Peter even invoked a curse on himself and swears that he didn’t know Jesus.
Yet, before he could even finish his denial, the rooster crowed.
Isn’t that how sin works? Sometimes we feel exposed. But then there are times where we might think we are getting away with it. However, the light of truth will shine upon us again. Our sin will find us out. And Peter found this out first hand.
Just when it doesn’t look like it could get any worse for Peter, it does…
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Being in the middle of these sham trials that had begun, Jesus turns and looked at Peter. I cannot imagine the weight of that look.
All of the memories of Jesus’s recent prophesy of Peter’s denial come flooding back.
Peter knows that he has been found out. He has undergone an epic failure. The man who had said he would go with Christ unto the death has denied even knowing him three times. His self-confidence has come crashing down like a house of cards. And in his shame we see in verse 62 that…
And he went out and wept bitterly.
Peter is broken. As we discussed last week, Peter found his confidence in himself instead of His Savior.
Jesus had to allow Peter to be broken in order to truly use him. This charcoal fire had shone a light upon who Peter really was. Despite his tough exterior, he was actually weak inside.
As long as Peter controlled the narrative, he seemed strong. As long as he was the aggressor - like cutting the ear off of Malchus, he was ready for battle.
But he was unable, at this point, to follow the lead of the Lord. He thought he was ready to go to prison and even death for Jesus. But as soon as the testing began, he floundered quickly.
But praise be to God this is not the end of the Peter’s story. We mentioned Peter’s restoration last week. John 21:15-19 gives us a beautiful account of Peter being restored to Jesus. Interestingly, Jesus made a charcoal fire before this restoration of Peter. Remember the charcoal fire that we mentioned earlier today from John 18:18 - the fire that shown like a spotlight on Peter revealing his hidden identity?
The same fire that exposed Peter’s weakness was the same fire that ignited the flame of Christ in Peter’s heart to minister in a mighty way. He went on to do many amazing things for Christ. Jesus saved him and changed him from the inside out.
And this restoration can be your story as well. You might feel like Peter. You haven’t measured up. You realize that your whole life has been spent doing things in your own power and in your own way. You have never truly humbled yourself before the Savior. You have never allowed Him to break you and remake you.
May today be that day.
Your failure does not have to be final. Instead, it can lead to a future of faithfulness.
Only let Christ change you into who He has made you to be. Repent of your sins, believe in His sacrificial death on the cross for your sins, and submit to His Lordship.
Scripture References: Matthew 26:57, John 18:12-13, John 18:18, John 18:15, Matthew 16:24, Psalm 1:1, Mark 14:71, John 21:15-19
Conclusion:
As we come to a close, I pray that you see the beauty of Christ shining even through the darkness in today’s account. Christ reigns supreme and sovereign despite the wickedness, waywardness and weakness of His disciples. And He will continue to reign supreme despite our struggles as well. Trust in Him. For the 11 disciples that did not betray Jesus - they went on to live lives that glorified Christ. 10 of the 11 died a martyr’s death for Christ while the other, being John, was persecuted to the end. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit to stand firm unto the end. They were radically changed by Christ. That can be your story as well brothers and sisters. Your story can end with faithfulness and eternal life with Christ. Only submit to the Lord and live for Him.
