What Happens when Fear drives the Car

Luke 22:24–34 CSB

24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 You are those who stood by me in my trials. 29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

Luke 22:47–60 CSB

47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? 53 Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour—and the dominion of darkness.” 54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” 57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.” 58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. 59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

Intro:

This is story about a man who was a proud strong, thug! Known to be aggressive at the drop of a hat.

Fear is generated by unbelief, and unbelief strengthened by fear. Nothing can cure us of fear till God cures us of unbelief.

Francis Crawford Burkitt (Patristic Scholar)

I. The Argument

Luke 22:24–30 CSB

24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 You are those who stood by me in my trials. 29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

A dispute rose among who?

(24) There were 12 disciples who followed Jesus like students following a teacher. Jesus taught this men how to live a Christian life through conduct and word. Well they got into an argument over who would be the greatest in the kingdom. Or who would have the most prominent position in Jesus’s Kingdom.

(25-26) Jesus tells them. Men in the world we live in people get power and prominence through force. But in my kingdom power and prominence will be giving based on service.

(27) Jesus says “Who is greater the one at the table? or the one serving?” then he tells them I am the one serving. And I will be do this paying the ultimate sacrifice with my life.

(28-30) He then tells them and anyone else “Who has stood by Christ?” Those who have stood by Christ will be apart of his kingdom oneday.

What does it mean to stand by Christ?

As Christian we have three enemies. If you are not a Christian you are actually an enemy of Christ.

Our three enemies are

The Flesh

The World

The Devil & Demons

All of these things will cause you to Fear them instead of Fearing God. When these become your God. They will cause you to disrespect God yet fear man.

Jesus promises in this set of scripture that “Whoever stands with him, will also reign with him!”

Peter the loudest of the group got a special prophecy from Jesus.

II. The Prophecy

Luke 22:31–34 CSB

31 “Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 “I tell you, Peter,” he said, “the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

(31) Jesus calls Peter by his ole name Simon!

Why you think he called him by his ole name?

Because he acting like the ole Peter.

(31-32) Jesus tells Peter “satan wants to tear you up” This tells us an important fact about Spiritual Warfare. Satan cannot mess with a believer without Our Father’s permission. That is important to recognize. When you are a believer your life is totally in the hands of God. There is nothing that can come against you that he does not allow. This truth should help you begin to overcome your fears.

How does Peter respond to this prophecy by Jesus? Does he respond with humility and prayer?

(33) Lord, he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

Tell me what you hear in Peter response to Jesus? Jesus essentially told him be on guard on of the most powerful beings in the universe is coming after you?

Sounds like us when we were in the world. Thinking we could take over the world. Thinking we had nothing to fear. Thinking we are so powerful in our own strength. Look at how Jesus responds to him:

During this time Peter

(34) “I tell you, Peter, he said, “The rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me!”

Transition Statement: Let’s see how Peter did

III. The Pain

Luke 22:47–60 CSB

47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal? 53 Every day while I was with you in the temple, you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour—and the dominion of darkness.” 54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” 57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.” 58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. 59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

(47-49) This is the arrest scene when Jesus was tied up. Judas showed up and kiss Jesus on the cheeks so the soldiers would know who to grab, then Ole Pete got hot and cut off a soldiers ear.

Peter was about that life! He was not playing. Peter was looking to start a revolt and war.

(51) Jesus checked him hard. “No more of this!” He immediately put the ear back on the man who’s ear was cut off. Then they lead him away.

(54) Notice Peter following from a distance.

The Fall

Luke 22:55–62 CSB

55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” 57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.” 58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. 59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

1st Denial

Luke 22:55–57 CSB

55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” 57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”

(56-57) When confronted by the woman Peter said “I don’t know him!”

2nd Denial

Luke 22:58 CSB

58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said.

(58) After some time somebody else said “You are one of them too!” Then Peter responded “Man, I am not!”

3rd Denial

Luke 22:59–60 CSB

59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

(59) One of the man kept insisting. Sounds like one of the men from earlier not convince the Peter was telling the truth, said certainly you are a Galilean and friends with Jesus, and Peter bodly proclaimed in front of everyone “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” “I don’t know him!” in Matthew Gospel it tells us Peter swore that he did not know him. Let’s go back to Luke 22:33

Luke 22:33 CSB

33 “Lord,” he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

What Emotion took him from this to fully denying he knew Jesus?

Fear, but not just fear. This was a fear of man!!!!

what did fear of man lead to in Peter life?

Luke 22:61–62 CSB

61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

(61) Luke tells us the moment Peter betrayed the Lord Jesus looked at him. Now it’s hard to see it in the text.

What kind of look do you think Jesus gave him?

It was not the look of anger or disgust it was a look of disappointment. When Peter caught Jesus eyes look what happened

(62) His heart broke!!!! Fear of man will always lead to a broken heart. When you fear men more than you do God it will lead to a broken heart.

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)