Proud Peter's Prediction
Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve • Sermon • Submitted
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· 24 viewsLook out pride can get the best of you
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Always prepared
Always prepared
Like a good boy scout Jesus was always prepared. It was not always by foreknowledge, it oftentimes was by faith. In our journey through Passion week we have seen Jesus preparation, and His proclaiming truth’s the disciples needed to hear, consider this as we go through our passage today:
(Always Prepared)
Prepared for the opposition
The chief priest, scribes, elders of the people
Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians
Prepared for misunderstanding
People were looking for worldly king
Misunderstanding the spirit of the law vs the letter of the law
Prepared for the enmity of orthodox religion
Placing law over relationship with God
Placing worldly traditions equal with godly standards
Prepared for betrayal
The betrayal of one of the 12, one who walked and did His works with them
Prepared for agony of the cross
He knew what He was going to have to suffer for man to be reconciled to God the Father
He was prepared for all things and today we see one more thing, remembering that Jesus is fully God and fully man. He felt all things as person would. How do you think He felt?
(Abandoned Picture)
When do you need your friends the most? Have you ever been abandoned by your friends or family when you needed them most? (develop this more; insert personal experience)
Jesus was prepared, but Jesus must be hurt by many of these things, but especially by being abandoned (ever though it was predicted). When man needs someone the most, in the thick of the battle, in the thick of a tribulation, oftentimes that is when man disappears. Jesus view from the cross would have noticed who was missing, his friends (except for John, Mary and some of the women).
Point to consider:
Are you confident that your faith is strong?
Are you certain that you would never deny the Lord?
Our text today we can see pride (over-confidence) demonstrated, not just in Peter, but in all the apostles.
27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ 28 “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Mk14:27-28
29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.”
31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
The Narrative
The Narrative
When looking at the narrative it may be easy to look and draw a conclusion that Peter is proud, Peter is arrogant, but he was not alone. Jesus prediction was not the first prediction of this foretelling (Zech13:7).
Jesus who was always prepared clearly predicted here didn’t He? What was the prediction (v.27)?
This foretelling was foretold previously by Zechariah
7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
6 “And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will say, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’ 7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, And against the man, My Associate,” Declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; And I will turn My hand against the little ones.
Let me share something I read when I was preparing for this, while it was written many years ago the novelist, a preachers kid from late 1800’s in book entitled fortitude whose classic was about a man named Peter who lived by the montra “it isn’t life that matters, but the courage you bring to it.” He had this to say at the close of the book of trials, tribulations, heartaches, disappointments, discouragements, abandonment.
“
“Blessed be pain and torment and every torture of the body. Blessed be all loss and failure of friends and the sacrifice of love. Blessed be all failure and the ruin of every earthly hope. Blessed be all sorrow and torment, hardships, and endurance's that demand courage. Blessed be these things —for of these things cometh the making of a man.” Peter fell to praying, “Make of me a man. . . to be afraid of nothing, to be ready for everything, love friendship, success. . . to take it if it comes, to care nothing if these things are not for me. Make me brave, make me brave, give me courage.”
“
Does courage, bravery come natural to you or do you have to experience things so that you become brave and courageous?
Still more foretelling, prophesy, look at (v.28) what do you see?
Still more foretelling, prophesy, look at (v.28) what do you see?
He speaks of his resurrection and his reunion in Galilee
Now here is where pride and over-confidence kicks in.
What is Peter’s confession and rebuttal (v.29, 31)?
Even though all may all away I will not (v.29)
Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny You (v.31)
Stop, I think there is some serious significance to these verses, but in keeping in context look again at (vv.29-31)
29 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.”
31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.
In looking at (v.30) what was Jesus response to Peter’s proclamation?
This very night you will deny Me!
Have you ever said one thing, or that you would “never” and then you did it? (Rhetorical question)
How sure of himself was Peter when you look at (v.31)? - don’t miss the fact that they (the apostles) were all saying the same thing.
Now, again, we cannot judge Peter and his pride here, or even the apostles for there is much to consider from this text for our own application.
But first let me jump ahead to the fulfillment and just show it then we will move on (Mk14-49-50, 66-72).
49 “Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” 50 And they all left Him and fled.
66 As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”
Mk14:
Mk14:
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out onto the porch. 69 The servant-girl saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!”
70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.” 71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!”
72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he began to weep.
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Don’t let pride get in way of your walk with Christ, pride is a stumbling block (see Mk14:50, 66-72 too).
Don’t judge others by their words, know you are going to stand one day to account for your own.
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Application for consideration
Application for consideration
Instructions are written on just about everything, instructions are for the application, application is not always so easy though.
Things to consider regarding application
The limits of our self-knowledge (Jer17:9-10; Ps139:1-16, 23-24; Heb4:12-13)
How well do we know ourselves (Jer17:9)? - stop and ask the question, how well do you think you know yourself? - look at what Jeremiah says:
9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
How we can know ourselves better (Jer17:10; Ps139:1-16; Heb4:12-13)
10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
Is it important to know ourselves, how can we get the right perspective? Might I suggest looking at Psm139, well at least a part of it, we have some time this morning to do that, turn in your bibles to Ps139.
1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.
Know that the Lord knows you, knows everything about you.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
Know that the Lord not only knows you, He intimately knows you and all your ways, He knows your thoughts, your words, your ways, even before you do.
Ps139:5-6
5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
OK, now your turn, what can you see and learn from (vv.5-6)? - - - - stop here, let the scripture speak to their hearts and let them answer.
Having the right perspective of how God see’s us, knows us and even tests us may help us to be humble and not proud.
More ways (Ps139:23-24)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
What is the component to know yourself better and to have the right perspective that is not prideful or selfish?
Don’t let selfishness take your comfort (MK14:28; Rom8:31-39; 2Cor1:3-4)
Words of comfort about resurrection and reunion (Mk14:28)
Jesus had given them words of comfort about the resurrection and the reunion in Galilee but it seems they missed it, didn’t they? How can we draw that conclusion (have to look in context (vv.29-31).
If God is for us who can be against us (v.31, 33-39) - the answer is no one!
Scripture (v.32) offers the illustration that God is for us, That God gave us His Son so we can find comfort that He will not hold anything back from us.
Comforting words are plenty, don’t miss out of them (Rom8:31-39; 2Cor1:3-4)
Paul gives great words of comfort in Rom8
If God is for us who can be against us (v.31, 33-39) - the answer is no one!
Scripture (v.32) offers the illustration that God is for us, That God gave us His Son so we can find comfort that He will not hold anything back from us.
Paul, speaking of the illustration of he and the apostles and for us too in 2Cor1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
When does God comfort us? Why does God comfort us?
Don’t let pride get in the way of your walk with Christ (Mk14:29-31; Pro16:18)
Peter’s proud prediction (Mk14:29-31)
We have looked at it already, saying he would not deny, but die for Jesus, we have also looked that, that did not hold true.
But Peter was not alone (Mk14:31)
And the other apostles were agreeing with Peter and it did not hold true for them either.
Can we be guilty of the same type of pride (Pro16:18)?
Stop, ask the question, can we be guilty, how can we be guilty?
Remember the words of the teacher about pride (Pro16:18)
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
Maybe we should look at some ways to be humble so not to be prideful or selfish
Sometimes humility comes at the hand of God (Jn21:15-18; 1Pt5:6-7)
In the restoration of Peter after the denial in Jn21 then that brought the challenge from Peter to be humble.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Be humble by casting all your cares, your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.
By God’s grace we can find favor in humility (Jm4:6)
6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
God’s given grace which is sufficient can bring even greater grace!
Know that God’s grace is sufficient to bring you humility (2Cor12:9-10)
Here is the passage on God’s sufficient grace
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Need to stop here just for a minute, pick these verses apart, keeping in mind where we started today abandonment by friends, having said that what do you see in this passage?
Gods grace is sufficient for power perfected in weakness
boast in your own weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell, be apparent in you.
Be content with your weaknesses, in insults, distresses, persecutions, difficulties be willing to share in the sufferings and that includes abandonment's. Christ forgave on the cross!
Humility comes from the fear of the Lord (Pro22:4)
4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life.
Humility has riches that come from the fear of the Lord.
Best way, know Jesus example of humility and follow it (Php2:5-8)
God’s greatest example of riches.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
What can you learn form (vv.7-8) to prevent pride and selfishness?
OBEDIENCE - And obedience is not easy is it? Jesus died for it!
So, the take away from this is
Know your limits of knowledge of self (or self-knowledge)
Don’t let pride keep you from the comforts found in God’s Word
Be careful of prideful proclamations.
Know that the solution to pride is found in the scripture may we turn there and operate under God’s power and wisdom to be humble.
(ask for final thoughts, and then pray)