Solid as a Rock

Introduction

Can I ask you a question? Do you know someone who likes to stupid stuff, and just ends up putting their foot in their mouth? Like all the time? If you don’t know someone like that, then I have bad news: that person is you! But don’t worry because it’s also me. I’d like to think I’ve gotten better, but Myranda can probably tell you that I haven’t. In fact, there was no worse time when I was like this than my freshman and sophomore year of college. I would raise my hand and ask so many ridiculous questions. Several years later I had one person tell me, “Yeah, I remember when we had 7 am Old Testament together. I hated you, because you would never shut up.” And another time I tried to raise my hand, and the guy sitting next to me physically pulled my arm down so that I couldn’t talk. I was obnoxious for sure.

That’s honestly probably how the disciples felt about Peter. He just wouldn’t shut up. In fact, probably the best example of this was when Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a mountain and they saw his transfiguration. All we have to do is read Matthews account of this story to know exactly how the disciples felt in chapter 17. Moses and Elijah have appeared next to Jesus and Peter says, “Hey Lord, would you like me to make three tents real quick so you can all have a place stay?” What a dumb question! He’s seeing Jesus be transfigured, and he’s asking if he can build them some tents? I’d imagine James and John are telling him to shutup, but he just won’t! And then in verse 5 it says, “He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Peter is literally interupted by God himself. He just couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

This was Peter’s life in a nutshell. But despite all of his mishaps, one thing remained true: Peter was Faithful, and Jesus loved him no matter what. I think we often find ourselves in Peter’s shoes, and there are two instances in Peter’s life that I want to look at today and they both center around fire. Around one fire Peter failed, but around the other he found redemption. Turn with me to John 18.

Peter Followed

Peter followed Jesus walking on Water

Peter Failed

Fire number 1: Tell/read the story of Peter around the fire when Jesus was on trial and how he ultimately denied knowing Jesus three times.

Application: We find ourselves around this fire of failure. Maybe not direct denial of Jesus, but Sin, regrets, whatever it may be, it ultimately stems from failure. Just like Peter, we end up ashamed to even look Jesus in the eyes and we run away back into the darkness trying to hide.

Peter Found Redemption

Jesus reinstates Peter after the Resurrection

The second fire we find Peter around happens not too long after the first. Jesus dies, and is risen from the dead, and he appears to the disciples several times as well as over 500 people. But we start to get a glimpse into how Peter is really feeling after such a horrible night. He does what we all do, he tries to ignore it and pretend it doesn’t happen and he slowly slips back into his old way of life. For Peter, this meant fishing. News flash: He was a terrible fisherman! So we find ourselves in . The other disciples have probably noticed that Peter has been quieter than usual and when he tells them he just wants to go fishing, they go with him. True community doesn’t let us go through tough times alone.

Tell/read the rest of the story and Jesus making them breakfast.

Peter tried to hide his shame, and he tried to make up for it by obeying Jesus’ every command hoping Jesus would forget.

He didn’t, and Jesus addressed the issues head on, all three times.

Three times Peter failed around a fire, and three times Peter was redeemed around a fire.

Conclusion

Which fire are you at right now? If you are at the fire of failure, now is your chance to move to the fire of redemption. You can run away from your failure and pretend it didn’t happen, or “try to do better” but the reality is, Jesus still knows, and he’s waiting for you to come meet him at this fire. If you’re at the fire of redemption already, then I want you see one thing: Peter didn’t stay there. He left that fire, but not to run back into the darkness, but to run into the Light. See what Jesus says to Peter? “Follow me.” Peter followed Jesus the rest of his days. So if you’re at this fire continue to follow Jesus! Wherever you’re at, it’s time to move.