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Book: Matthew
 Print ( PC Only )
Matthew 26:69-75 The Road to Denial
Intro. We have all with Peter experienced the bitter taste of the tears
from personal failure. There were things that I swore I would
never be guilty of doing but yet I did it. How could I have ever
let My Lord down like that? I weep for shame and weakness. How is
it that a man who has walked in such close fellowship with the
Lord, and who has made such a strong personal commitment to the
Lord ever fail the Lord so completely?
I. The warnings of Jesus to Peter.
A. "Satan has desired to have you that he might sift you like
wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail thee
not, and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren."
1. I believe that this is true of every servant of God,
that Satan desires to have you that he might sift you
like wheat.
a. I also believe that the greater your prominence
in the ministry the greater is his desire to
have you.
2. Jesus had told him that He prayed that his faith fail
him not. Peter's courage failed, but not his faith.
B. Jesus had warned Peter that before the rooster would crow,
Peter would deny Him three times.
1. Peter vehemently protested the statement of Jesus
declaring that he would die for the Lord.
2. And yet, here we find him weeping bitterly.
C. Jesus warned him that the flesh was weak.
1. Why is it that we start out we think that we are
super saints from the planet Krypton, and though others
may be guilty of weakness, we are strong and will
defeat the powers of darkness singlehandedly?
2. We so often make the mistake of thinking that we can do
it on our own, somehow I do not need the Lord's help.
He is so busy helping all those other needy people He
should give His time to them, I will be able to triumph
on my own, and I will just bring the trophies of
victory to Him.
II. Let us follow Peter on this road to denial, and hopefully learn from
His mistakes.
A. His first mistake was arguing with the Lord, and the
scriptures.
1. When Jesus predicted that all of the disciples would
be offended that night because of Him quoting the
scripture "Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be
scattered."
Peter responded, "Though they may all be offended, I
will never be offended."
2. It was at this point that Jesus predicted Peter's
personal failure. That before the rooster crowed he
would have denied Him three times.
3. Peter continued to argue, declaring that he would die
for the Lord.
4. It is a mistake to argue with Jesus, if ever you find
yourself in the position of arguing with Him, know
this for sure, YOU ARE WRONG !
B. We notice in his argument with the Lord, how he boasts of his
commitment. He was not sure about the other disciples, the
Lord may not be able to count on them, but you can always
count on Peter.
After all did not his name mean rock. "Lord, you can count on
Rocky. He in a sense was setting himself above the other
disciples.
1. Beware of boasting in your flesh, or having any
confidence in your flesh.
2. Paul said, "I know that in me, that is in my flesh,
dwelleth no good thing."
3. Paul writing to the Philippians declared "We glory in
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
4. Jesus said,
MAR 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil
thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
MAR 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an
evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
MAR 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
5. That is what is in my flesh. I am no different than
anyone else, and if you think you are, you are only
deceiving your self.
6. The wise man wrote, "Pride goeth before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall."
C. Next we find him sleeping when he should have been praying.
1. Jesus had asked the disciples to watch and pray with
Him, in the garden of Gethsemene, when He returned to
the disciples He found them asleep, He said unto
Peter, "Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch
and pray lest you enter into temptation." He then
declared the problem, the spirit indeed is willing
but the flesh is weak." vs. 40
2. I am certain that if would only pray more, we would
sin less.
3. We so often find ourselves doing things other than
pray. We are sleeping or watching T.V.
D. In the next episode we find him drawing his sword and
beginning to swing away and those who had come to arrest His
Lord. vs.51
1. In this he showed courage and the truth of his
commitment he indeed was willing to die for His Lord.
2. Many times people find it easier to die for the Lord
than to live for Him.
3. Isn't that interesting, it takes more courage to live
for the Lord than to die for Him.
E. As Jesus was being led away by the arresting officers we
read, "But Peter followed Him afar off." vs.58
1. That is a great problem for many believers today,
they seek to follow Jesus afar off.
2. They desire to walk on the fence with Jesus on one
side, and the world on the other.
a. The result is they have too much of Jesus to
be fully comfortable in the world, and too
much of the world to be happy in Jesus.
b. They are miserable when they are living in
the worldly scene because of the conviction
they feel. They are miserable in church for
the same reason.
3. I do not advocate trying to follow Jesus afar off, it
will usually end in denial of our Lord.
4. In following Jesus it pays to stay as close to Him as
possible.
F. In the next scene we see Peter outside of the judgment hall
warming himself by the fire that the soldiers had made.
1. This is when the little maid began her probing
questioning of Peter.
2. Satan who has desired Peter now has him where he wants
him. Proud and boastful of his own resolve, lacking in
his prayer life, trying to follow the Lord afar off,
now finally trying to find warmth at the enemies fire.
3. It is always a dangerous place to be, at the enemies
fire. Trying to find warmth in the worldly scene.
Seeking to find comfort or pleasure in a worldly
environment. Before lone someone is going to ask you,
"What are you doing here? I thought you were a
Christian."
4. As the soldiers joined the attack with the maid on
Peter's commitment to Jesus, saying that his speech
gave him away, probably referring to a Galilean accent.
He began to swear and curse as he denied His Lord.
He sought to prove by his speech that he was not
related to Jesus. At this point the rooster nearby
began to crow, and the sound of the rooster was like
a dart going through the heart of Peter.
III. Is there any hope for one who fails his Lord so completely in the
hour of trial? Can the Lord ever count on him again? Could he ever
be used by God in a prominent place in the ministry again? Will God
give a second chance to one who has failed?
A. You had better believe it, or there is no hope for any of us.
1. I have found Him to be a merciful, gracious God of the
second chance, and the third chance and the fourth
chance, loving, patient, forgiving.
2. The sin is not so much the stumbling in the mud, but
that of just wallowing there making no effort to get
up.
a. The Psalmist said, "He lifted me up out of
the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and
established my goings."
b. That is something that we can all echo. We all
know what that miry clay is about.
3. There are many of you who have stumbled this week, you
failed the test, you by your action and maybe your
words have denied our Lord, you have been tasting those
bitter tears because of personal weakness.
B. Another gospel tells us that as the rooster crowed that Jesus
turned and looked at Peter, in that fateful moment their eyes
met. What kind of a look do you suppose it was?
1. Was it a "Peter, how could you?"
2. Maybe a "I told you so." look.
3. Maybe a "You spineless failure, get lost, I never want
to see you again.
a. This is what Satan would like you to think.
b. One strike and you are out, two strikes, three
strikes.
4. I know from the subsequent events that it was a look
of tenderness, of compassion that said, "That's all
right Peter, I understand, I forgive, I still love
you."
5. How do you suppose Jesus is looking upon your failure
today?
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