Perhaps the greatest denial is to claim Jesus changed my life and then not change.

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1 Introduction Do you ever try to conceal your identity as a believer in Jesus, as a follower of Christ? In this passage of Scripture observers try to reveal the fact that Peter is a follower of Jesus and Peter tries to conceal the matter. The dictionary definition of the word denial means to refuse a request or refuse to admit the truth or reality. Psychologists adopted and popularized the term denial to mean a defense mechanism meant to mask a painful circumstance or reality. Denial is either acting or saying or believing something didn t happen when in fact it did happen. We sometimes fail each other. It should come as no surprise that every Christian, at one time or another fails the Lord or denies the Lord. The surprise is not our failure, but God s willingness to forgive us and restore us and use us. We deny the Lord when we refuse Him, when we reject His command, when we decline discipleship, when we simply say no ; when He says go ; when we pedal forward when He says stay. We deny the Lord when we prohibit what he allows and when we allow what He prohibits. We deny the Lord when we pretend that Jesus doesn t matter. All four gospels record the denials of Peter. They all agree on these basics; the denials of Peter took place near the house of the high priest; all agree the first accusation was made by a female servant. The people in the High Priest s courtyard recognized Peter by two circumstances; he had been in the company of Jesus and he had been in the company of the followers of Jesus (Outline Studies in Luke; p ). We characterize the disciple of Jesus, the follower of Jesus as being a follower of Jesus and in the company of Christians. A true Christian is united both to Christ and Christians. Peter denies both Jesus and his fellow disciples. Peter denies Jesus to a world watching and wondering whether or not Jesus is real. Beware of worshipping Jesus as the Son of God, and professing your faith in Him as the Savior of the world, while you blaspheme Him by the complete evidence in your daily life that He is powerless to do anything in and through you. n Oswald Chambers, Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 11. Perhaps the greatest denial is to claim Jesus changed my life and then not change. Denial Begins When We Follow From Afar (vv.54-55) 54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest s house. But Peter followed at a distance. When Jesus was arrested he endured six trials. He was first taken to Annas; the father-in law of Caiphas, and former high priest. It has been suggested that former high priests 1

2 would retain the title, even after their service, much like former Presidents retain the honorary title of Mr. President. Second-Annas sent Jesus to Caiphas (Matt.26:57) who presided over the Sanhedrin. Caiphas was high priest from about 18 A.D-36 A.D. When the sun cam up, the Sanhedrin found Jesus, an innocent man, guilty (Luke 22:66-71). The Jewish Court did not have the right under the Roman occupation to execute criminals guilty of capital crimes (John 18:31-32) and third- sent Jesus to Pilate. Pilate not wishing to find an innocent man guilty and at the same time wanting to avoid undue antagonisms with the local government, sent fourth Jesus to Herod (Luke 23:6-12). Fifth-Herod sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:13-25). Pilate realizing he was not going to escape the judgment gave the Sanhedrin their desire, he condemned an innocent man and sent him to a Roman cross (see Warren Wiersbe; TBEC; Vol.1; p.270). According to the Mishna, and the rules of court, Jesus trial should have been dismissed for at least 27 different reasons. A few include, the Sanhedrin met in the Temple, but Jesus was led away to the house of Caiaphas; it was illegal to hold night court; there was undue haste, seeking and bribing witnesses, neglecting to tell witnesses of their solemn duties and consequences for perjury; forcing the accused to testify against himself; judicial use of a prisoner s confession; failure to release the prisoner; when the witness s testimony failed to meet the burden of agreement according to the Jewish Law. Peter followed Jesus for some three years. Peter was often the first to speak and what he said wasn t always right. Yet he did follow Jesus, he walked with Him and witnessed His ministry. Peter saw Christ s power over disease and demons and disaster and death itself. For someone so well educated and so well trained, by Jesus himself how could he find himself in such a predicament? Peter in spite of his courage, in spite of his zeal seemed totally unprepared for Satan s attacks. How did this happen? We would do well to remind ourselves of a few things. Jesus warned Peter about Satan s attack. We are making a mistake if we hear the warnings of Jesus and try to explain them away. We as Christians know Jesus continues to warn us. To do certain things, even if they are painful, and to refrain from doing other things that are sinful and harmful. Peter did not watch and pray as Jesus instructed in the Garden. The next step that led to Peter s denial was he followed from a distance. We must be careful here. We could easily fall into the exegetical trap of saying Peter followed from afar and we must not follow from afar. Peter was not supposed to follow at all Jesus warned the sheep will scatter and meet Jesus in the Galilee (Matt.26:31). John s gospel tells us that when the arrest took place in the garden Jesus said, Let these disciples go their way (John 18:8-9); a clear signal stay away for a while. 2

3 We cannot follow from afar when we ought to be close but we must follow from afar when Jesus orders it. That is the key. Obey Jesus. Peter and John follow Jesus into the courtyard. The irony is not lost on most Bible teachers. You cannot be a disciple of Jesus and follow at a distance. It s oxymoronic like burning snowflake or Christian Stripper. We as Christians are to identify with Jesus Christ. We are to walk close to Him. If we fail to read our Bible, to pray, to focus, to discipline ourselves in the things of the Lord, our commitment can and will weaken towards the Lord; we get distracted by this world and its ways, sometimes we are stricken by fear we are afraid of our family, afraid of our friends, afraid of embarrassment, abuse, persecution, we are afraid we will be ignored, excluded. Paul wrote to Timothy and said; (2 Tim.1:7-8); For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Peter tries to blend into the crowd. Do you find it difficult to blend in with a world that rejects Christ? When someone says to you, Wow, you seem normal enough, you seem to fit right in. We hardly noticed you were a Christian. We could barely tell. Peter was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Peter should have been somewhere else. Praying, crying, trusting, encouraging, believing God s promises. He should have been with the other disciples, leading them to seek the face of the Lord, to look to God for understanding in a very dark hour. "Therefore Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty. " (2 Corinthians 6:17-18, NKJV) Denial Continues When We Pretend Not To Know Jesus (vv.56-57) 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, This man was also with Him. 57 But he denied Him, saying, Woman, I do not know Him. Peter sinks deeper into the pit of denial. Peter pretends that he doesn t know Jesus. A few moments earlier, Peter was ready to go to war for Jesus. He assaulted a man and cut off his ear in an attempt to kill the man. No Peter is being stared down by a certain 3

4 servant girl, sitting by the fire. She looked intently at him and the fog of anonymity lifted from Peter s face. You were with Jesus. Peter interpreted the statement as a threat. Peter was in a place where he didn t belong and now what should he do? He should have told them the truth. He should have told them he was with Jesus because Jesus promised salvation; forgiveness of sins past; sanctification; the promise of a life of change; satisfaction and fulfillment. What we need we find in Christ. We suspect John was somewhere near. We are not told if John kept his composure and witness. Peter caved in. He pretended he didn t know him. He left the girl with the distinct impression he did not want to have anything to do with Jesus. In verse 57 the word denied is the Greek word arneumai-which is a heavy laden word in the early church. It meant to abandon the faith (see 2 Tim.2:12-13; if we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself ). Denial Deepens When We Declare We Are Not Disciples (v.58) 58 And after a little while another saw him and said, You also are of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not! Peter had been accused of being with Christ and now Peter is accused of being with Christians; You also are of them. Why didn t Peter tell them the truth? Peter could have said Yes! I am with the followers of Jesus in order to experience oneness of life in Christ; the Holy Spirit animating; oneness of love for Christ; the Holy Spirit inspiring; oneness of labor for Christ; the Spirit directing. We are united because we must be united. There are two sure signs of discipleship; being with Christ and being with Christians. What does Jesus mean to you? What do your fellow Christians mean to you? Discipleship comes from abiding in Christ (1 John 2:5-6); and abounding in love to others (1 John 2:10; 3:10). Denial Darkens When We Claim Ignorance (vv.59-60) 59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean. The Galileans had a very distinct speech pattern. The word confidently affirmed is the Greek verb diischyrizomai (die-sick-rids-o-mai). The word appears only here and in Acts 12:15 it means to vehemently insist or to maintain firmly; we might say no I m quite sure in fact certain. 4

5 60 But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are saying! Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. Peter claim s ignorance; Man, I don t know what your talkin about. We may claim ignorance but the Bible is still true and the Word of God remains. The Bible is true when it speaks about judgment, and the Bible is true when it speaks about grace. There are many reasons Christians deny the Lord. We find ourselves in a dried out condition, running on empty, drained, trying to live the Christian life in the resources of our flesh, forgetting that our flesh does not love the Lord. Drained and dried some people feel all alone. The truth of the gospel is distorted by unbelievers, or masked by the hypocrisy of pretend Christians. Some people deny the Lord when they experience a devastating condition, the loss of job or the loss of a child, or the loss of a life. People experience the weight of affliction, that sense of pressure so intense that we seem unable to get past our despair. Disciples become disillusioned or defeated, or disheartened. We can deny Jesus in what we believe and in how we behave. Denial Ends When We Express Godly Sorrow (vv.61-62) 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly. Warren Wiersbe writes; While the bystanders were watching Jesus, Peter slipped out and went off and wept bitterly. It is to Peter s credit that all the Lord had to do was look at him to bring him to the place of repentance (TBEC; Vol. 1; p.271). Jesus looked at Peter. Isn t it interesting that when Jesus looked at Peter and Peter looked at Jesus Peter remembered the word of the Lord. Only Luke mentions this moment, this look. It could be that Jesus was being led out of the high priest s home, perhaps he was bound and standing in the courtyard under guard, or perhaps he was being transported to the next trial. Jesus was looking all along. In eternity past Jesus saw Peter s failure and Peter s future. Jesus has been watching you all along. Peter remembered the prophecy of Jesus. He would deny the Lord three times. Peter heard the word of the Lord. Peter had failed to pay close attention to the words of Jesus, he argued with it, disobeyed it, ran ahead of it but now he remembered. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren. " (Luke 22:31-32, NKJV) 5

6 I wonder if he remembered the rest of the prophecy of his future restoration. Peter went out that means he left. He went somewhere to be by himself. Imagine his anguish, his grief, his pain for having failed the Lord. Luke records and wept bitterly. Wept is a strong word for sobbing with disappointment. The bitterly probably refers more to humility and contrition. Peter was a broken man. Broken in humility and grief over his betrayal. The fall of a strong man is a tragedy. The recovery of that strong man is a triumph (Ray Summers Commentary on Luke; p.291). Peter was a broken man. Have you ever lived in a broken world? They can happen to anyone at anytime. Peter trusted his own strength and his own heart. His heart was unprepared. Peter s private failure would become a very public failure. C.S. Lewis once said, Think of me as a fellow-patient in the same hospital who, having admitted a little earlier, could give some advice. Peter could say the same thing; Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13). "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10, NKJV) Tears do not produce repentance. Tears do not always indicate repentance. It is possible to cry your eyes out and not repent. Peter repents. Peter will be restored. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NKJV) "Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God, And have scattered your charms To alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice, says the Lord." (Jeremiah 3:13, NKJV) "And I said: O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens." (Ezra 9:6, NKJV) Conclusion When the rooster crowed did Peter want to continue the charade? Did Peter put two and two together? If Jesus could predict this could his other prediction about rising from the dead be true? Is Jesus still on control of all things, even though he is the prisoner of Caiphas? Peter watched Jesus change water into wine, Peter watched Jesus command wind and fish and disease and even death! When Peter heard 6

7 the rooster crow did he remember that he could be forgiven? When he was converted he would strengthen his brethren? Have you disappointed someone? Have you denied the Lord? Remember the word of the Lord. Jesus is willing to give you grace to rebuild your broken world. Remember grace is something given, not deserved, never demanded, never self-sufficient. If you have been pushed down, or fallen down, there is really only one solution get up and finish the race (see Gordon MacDonald s Restoring Joy To Your Inner World Table of Contents). It is characteristic of our age that people want to have God but do not want to have the Devil. People are inventing gods for themselves, with what I have elsewhere called their do-it-yourself God Kits. But they are gods who do not demand much of them, and they certainly are not gods who punish, although they are allowed to reward. On the contrary, their gods absolve them from conflict and doubt, massage them, pat them on the head.... But above all they are gods who will not trouble them with the fact of evil. The problems of evil, suffering, and death are not confronted, but evaded and dismissed. -- Henry Fairlie. Leadership, Vol. 12, no. 3. 7