The Denial of Peter

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Let’s now go to Luke 22:54-62, a few verses down.

Luke 22:54–62 NIV

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Let’s pray.

Who was the Apostle Peter, the person we saw in our reading?

We have been reading Luke,

and we haven’t really focused on Peter.

But he is in the text.

We just haven’t spent time on him because it would take forever to go through every verse in the book.

However, I would like to look at who Peter was, according to Luke.

We first find Peter in Luke 5:1-11.

One day, Jesus was by the Lake of Gennesaret.

And people were around him, listening to him preach the word of God.

Jesus saw two boats nearby.

And he began to teach from one of the boats.

After he finished speaking, Jesus looked at one of the boat owners—Peter

Peter was a fisherman.

Jesus asked Peter, also known as Simon--

Jesus asked him to catch more fish.

Peter, an experienced fisherman, said that he had already fished and there were no fish.

But he still listened

He said,

Luke 5:5 NIV

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Peter did so,

And they caught a large number of fish,

so much so that they needed to get other people to help them so the boats wouldn’t sink.

Peter listened to Jesus and was blessed in his business.

But he felt that he didn’t deserve to be blessed by Jesus.

Luke 5:8 states

Luke 5:8 NIV

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Peter felt unworthy.

He told the Lord to leave.

He didn’t deserve the blessings,

because he was a sinful man.

Peter was sinful.

But Jesus looked at him,

And said in verse 10

Luke 5:10 NIV

and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

Jesus looked at sinful Simon,

and invited this sinner to follow him.

And Peter and other fishermen who were with him,

left everything and followed Jesus.

In the next chapter of Luke,

Luke 6,

Peter is listed as part of Jesus’ apostles

Jesus had twelve apostles, who were his closest disciples.

And Peter was one of them.

In fact,

Peter was probably the spokesperson of the apostles.

There’s a story in Luke 8:40-56,

where a woman touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak for healing.

She touched the edge of Jesus’ cloak,

and she was healed.

Jesus asked the disciples who had touched him,

and guess which disciple answered him?

If you guessed Peter,

you are right.

Peter answered Jesus.

Then later in this same passage,

Peter was part of some disciples who saw Jesus bring a child back to life.

This one time, Jesus asked a serious question that we should all ask ourselves.

In Luke 9:18-20, Jesus asked

Luke 9:20 NIV

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Who do you say that Jesus is?

We have read Luke.

We know that Jesus is the Son of God.

God’s anointed.

God’s messiah.

But who do you say that he is?

Is he the Son of God for you?

Is Jesus your savior?

In Peter’s case,

he said the right thing.

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Peter saw Jesus as the one who brings salvation,

who brings God’s kingdom,

who brings eternal life,

who brings peace.

Peter not only confessed this.

But Peter lived as if Jesus was God’s Messiah.

In Luke 18:28-30,

Peter cried out that he had left everything for Jesus.

Luke 18:28 NIV

Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

Luke presents Peter in a positive picture.

But then we get to the text that we read.

We have Peter,

The Apostle Peter

The Apostle who correctly confessed that Jesus is God’s Messiah

And we have Jesus, saying something shocking for Peter.

Remember, Peter in Luke, was a fantastic disciple.

But here we have

Jesus saying that Satan would tempt Peter.

Our English word for Satan comes from the Greek word

Σατανᾶς

which sounds like the Spanish version—Satanas

The word Satan means adversary,

or enemy

It is used to talk about an adversary or opponent.

Here it seems to be talking about the Devil,

the same one who Jesus defeated in the desert.

Satan was going to tempt Peter.

Peter was going to face a satanic assault,

Satan was going to lead an assault.

On Satan, Cyril of Alexandria said,

New Testament III: Luke Satan Attacks Peter as a Leader in the Church

He says, “Satan has many times desired to sift you as wheat, that is, to search and try you and expose you to intolerable blows.” Satan usually attacks people who are above average. Like some fierce and arrogant barbarian, Satan challenges to one-to-one combat those of high reputation in the ways of piety.

New Testament III: Luke Satan Attacks Peter as a Leader in the Church

Satan preys on human nature, because it is infirm and easy to overcome. He is harsh, pitiless and unappeasable in heart

Satan was going to prey on Peter, who was above average,

who was bold in his faith,

and his commitment to Christ.

Satan is harsh and wanted to deceive the followers of Christ,

especially since he couldn’t defeat Jesus in the wilderness.

I thought about the amazing Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises.

The joker wanted to create more chaos.

He couldn’t really turn Batman into a murderer.

He saw he took the white knight, Harvey Dent.

And broke him so people could distrust the system.

Similarly, Satan is trying to break Peter,

so that the ministry and work of Jesus could end.

But Jesus wanted Peter to keep his faith.

Jesus actually prayed for Peter.

Isn’t that kinda cool?

Sometimes, we feel like we are alone.

That this faith battle is a battle that we do by ourselves.

Yet, Jesus is with us.

Cheering us on.

Praying for us.

To keep the faith.

He cares about you and your faith.

Jesus saw that Peter would fall.

He would return to a life without Christ.

Jesus knew this would happen.

So he gave the suggestion:

when this happens,

when you fall, Peter,

turn back.

Even though Jesus knew that Peter would fall prey to Satan,

Jesus believed that Peter would return,

and he would strengthen his brothers.

That’s kinda crazy.

Here is Jesus.

Telling Peter,

The Apostle Peter

that he is going to return to his former ways.

But Jesus has so much grace, that he is willing to welcome Peter back.

And not only that, but this fallen Peter

this fallen, but restored Peter,

can strengthen other disciples.

Jesus had a different outlook than us.

We might think that somebody might be out.

That there is no hope for Peter.

But Jesus knows that somebody,

that Peter,

will be restored.

that he will return with the ability to strengthen God’s people.

Peter heard Jesus saying that he’d fall.

Peter wasn’t fond of it. — I mean, I get it.

He didn’t recognize his frailty.

Instead, Peter said something admirable,

but he failed to do what he said he would do.

Peter brashly said to Jesus that

If following Jesus meant going to prison,

Peter’s ready.

If following Jesus meant dying,

Peter was also ready.

Admirable words from Peter.

Words that I hope every one of us can say.

But Peter failed to assess himself and the words of Jesus.

He should have asked for strength from Jesus.

He was fervent in spirit, warm in his love toward Christ,

but he was blind to his own weaknesses.

Peter failed to realize the seriousness of his own weaknesses.

He was overconfident.

If someone ever tells you,

“I will never do that.”

It is very likely that the person would do that.

That’s what happened with Peter.

But Jesus continued to say,

that today Peter would fall.

Today, before the rooster crows,

Peter would have denied Jesus three times.

According to Jesus, Peter

The Apostle

The one who declared Jesus as God’s Messiah

Peter would deny Jesus.

From being an Apostle, Peter became an apostate,

since he denied the Lord Jesus Christ.

And Peter did deny that day.

Peter did deny that he knew Jesus, three times before the rooster crowed.

Jesus said that Peter would fall,

but Peter will repent, regain his courage,

and be a source of strength for the others.

And that’s what happened.

Jesus was apprehended.

One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas, betrayed him.

Judas ratted Jesus out,

and the Pharisees apprehended him.

They wanted to kill him for what he was preaching and doing.

Jesus was not accepted in the social world.

Just like in the beginning when he born, there was no place for him to be born,

now there was no place in human society for Jesus.

The Apostle Peter was following Jesus from a distance.

They ended up at the house of the High priest,

the Jewish religious leader.

And the High Priest happened to have a courtyard, where Jesus would be tried by the religious leaders.

And at this courtyard, Jesus would be physically abused and tortured.

There was a crowd there and a lantern was lit.

So people could see each other.

Peter was among the crowds,

he was not with Jesus.

Peter is following Jesus.

So that’s good.

You know, part of following Jesus up to death.

But Peter,

he follows at a distance.

Here’s a picture from Caravaggio of the scene.

[kaa·ruh·vaa·jee·ow]

Caravaggio, the Italian, painted this painting, called

The Denial of Peter

He painted this back in 1605.

And it is believed to be one of his last works.

We see Peter being confronted.

And you could feel the intensity within the picture.

A certain slave saw Peter,

and said that Peter was with Jesus.

Satan tempted Peter through a confrontation.

Peter could have said yes he knew Jesus

I mean he said that he was willing to go to prison for Jesus,

But it’s ironic.

Peter had the opportunity to confess Jesus as lord but instead

Peter denied it.

Peter, the Apostle, said,

“I do not know him.”

Peter refused to recognize Jesus.

He denied that he was a disciple of Jesus.

We are to confess Christ or acknowledge him,

and deny ourselves.

But Peter does the reverse.

He denied Christ for his own interests.

Here was the Apostle who previously said that he was ready to go to prison with Jesus.

He was ready to die with Jesus.

But apparently, he wasn’t ready.

When a woman confronted him, he denied that he knew his master.

Peter denied that he knew the one whom he had called God’s messiah.

After some time,

another person came and maybe remembered seeing Peter with Jesus.

So the man confronted Peter:

You come from him.

And Peter, again, denied it.

The scholar, Joel Green, whom I have often quoted since I respect him and value what he has said on the book of Luke.

I think we should study in community of others who have studied the book.

Joel Green noted,

Rather than deny himself,

rather than lose his life for the sake of Jesus (9: 23– 24),

Peter will seek to save his life by denying Jesus.

And we see here,

that despite doing what he said he would do,

Peter would deny Jesus.

And before the hour passed,

another person insisted Peter,

“You were really with Jesus. You are Galilean like Jesus.”

Peter was furious.

And he hissed,

“Man, I have no idea about what you are talking about.”

Joel Green wrote,

It is ironic that Peter had boldly proclaimed that he was ready to go with Jesus to prison and death (v 33), then denies that he was with Jesus at all (vv 59– 60);

A man who was zealous for following Jesus was now vehemently denying Jesus.

And while he was still speaking,

things happened as Jesus had said.

Peter had denied Jesus three times,

and the rooster crowed.

The rooster crowing emphasizes the prophetic nature of Jesus.

Jesus can foretell the future.

He foretold that Peter, the loudest disciple, would fail, before the rooster would crow.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Jesus has power and foresight.

He knows.

Disciples, even the best of them, even the ones with admirable motives and desires,

Disciples fail.

Peter failed.

And then something happened, that I’m unsure how I would have responded.

After denying Jesus,

I am uncertain how I would have responded to what Jesus did after Peter had denied him.

So the text tells us

that Jesus then turned around in the courtyard,

and he looked intently at Peter.

I wonder what it would feel like

to have Jesus’ eyes intently look at you

after denying him.

I love what Leo the Great, the Bishop of Rome in 440-461 said,

New Testament III: Luke The Gaze of Truth

Then “the Lord looked at Peter.” Christ stood in the middle of the priests’ insults, the witnesses’ lies, and the injuries of those that struck him and spat on him. He met the troubled disciple with his eyes, the same eyes that had foreseen that Peter would undergo a struggle. In so doing, the gaze of truth entered Peter, directed toward the place where the amendment of his heart would be grounded. It was as if the Lord’s voice were echoing within Peter, saying, “What are you thinking, Peter? Why do you withdraw into yourself? Turn to me, trust in me”, and “follow me.” This is the time for my passion. The hour of your suffering has not yet come. Why do you fear what you yourself will also overcome? Do not let the weakness that I have accepted disturb you. I was anxious for you, but you should not worry about me.”

Jesus just looked,

Jesus’ voiceless stare pierced Peter’s heart like a sword,

and cause Peter, a brave man, to open a fountain of tears.

Peter remembered.

He remembered everything that Jesus had said, about the rooster crowing and about him denying Jesus.

It happened just like Jesus had said.

The word of Jesus is divine.

What he says, happens.

Peter remembered and left outside,

crying bitterly.

Jesus had said that Peter would fall.

Peter said, “No that won’t happen. I’m willing to die for you.”

But when push comes to shove,

Peter denied Jesus three times.

Yet, Jesus still said that Peter would be restored and strengthen God’s community.

Jesus’ look triggered Peter’s memory.

And Peter had felt remorse for what he did.

He felt so bad for what he had done that he couldn’t contain his tears.

Remorse is the first step towards repentance and restoration.

And eventually Peter would be fully restored.

I like what Ambrose said,

New Testament III: Luke Imitators but No Equals

Although Peter was ready in spirit, he still was weak in physical love. Christ rebuked him before he denied the Lord. Not even Peter could equal the steadfastness of the divine purpose. The Lord’s Passion has imitators but no equals. I do not criticize Peter’s denial, but I praise his weeping. The one is common to nature, but the other is peculiar to virtue.

Look,

Being a disciple of Jesus is awesome.

You are with God’s Messiah, who brings salvation.

But it’s a journey, full of ups and downs.

Like Peter, we will have downfalls.

We deny Jesus.

Maybe not with our mouth, but with our actions.

We basically tell the world that we do not know Jesus when we live just like the world.

Maybe we have been embarrassed when somebody asks us about Jesus.

We say, “Yeah, I don’t know him.”

But yet, on the previous Sunday, you sang about loving him.

We will fall.

It’s the sad truth, but it’s part of being human.

But Jesus doesn’t want us to stay on the ground.

Jesus looks at you.

And believes that it is possible for you to be restored.

It is possible for you to be an admirable Christian,

an admirable disciple of Jesus,

even if you denied Jesus.

Jesus’ grace is so great that you can be restored,

just like Peter was restored.

You can be restored and you can also be a disciple,

who once denied Christ,

but now strengthens God’s community.

Jesus’ grace is amazing.

And if you have denied Jesus recently.

If you have sinned against him,

run to him to be restored.

And he will be merciful and restore you.

Jesus was merciful to Peter, and Peter became one of the leaders of the early Christian community.

Earlier in the message we read a quote from Joel Green,

Green continued to say,

Rather than deny himself, rather than lose his life for the sake of Jesus (9: 23– 24), Peter will seek to save his life by denying Jesus. Even this can be forgiven, however, assuming that there is subsequent repentance.

You can experience forgiveness.

H. G. Wells said,

The Gospel of Luke Peter’s Tragedy (Luke 22:31–8 and 54–62)

‘A man may be a bad musician, and yet be passionately in love with music. No matter what Peter did, however terrible his failure, he was nonetheless passionately devoted to Jesus. There is hope for the person who even when sinning is still haunted by goodness.

If you are following Jesus, and you fall, but you are still wholeheartedly following Jesus,

there is hope for you.

Peter got through it.

And you can too.

If this is the first time that you hear about Jesus’ amazing grace,

I encourage you to run to him and encounter his love and grace for you.

His grace is so great, that he knows that you will fail him, yet he still offers forgiveness.