| |
Book: John
 Print ( PC Only )
John 18:15
I. "And Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple."
A. Who was the other disciple?
1. Traditionally it has thought to be John.
a. He knew the name of the servant of the high
priest whose ear was cut off by Peter.
b. He usually did not refer to himself by name.
2. Unlikely that he would know the high priest since he
was just a fisherman from Galilee.
a. When John has referred to himself in the 5
other passages in his gospel it was always as
the disciple whom Jesus loved.
b. Maybe it was Nicodemus, or Joseph of
Arimathaea.
c. Both of them would be known to the high
priest, and would both have entry into the
palace of the high priest.
B. The other gospels inform us that Peter followed afar off, or
from a distance.
1. Peter has gotten a lot of criticism for his flaws and
denial. Yet let us give him credit, he was close by
his Lord, whereas all of the others had forsaken Him
and fled.
2. His heart and mind were no doubt very confused at
this point.
3. He still had the grand view of the Messiah.
4. To see the mistreatment of Jesus must have been very
disconcerting to him.
C. We are told that Peter was standing outside of the door.
1. Then that other disciple that was known to the high
priest went to the girl that kept the door and ordered
her to let Peter come in.
2. Again this would signify that he had some prominence
around the official circles, remember that Nicodemus
was a ruler of the Jews.
D. Perhaps as he was entering the room this girl that kept the
door, just a servant girl said to Peter, "Are you not one of
this man's disciples?" and Peter answered, "I am not."
1. It is amazing to me that we are so often ready for the
big trials, we will swing with our swords and give our
lives to defend Jesus, yet when questioned by a servant
girl, stumble and deny the Lord.
2. It is often when flushed with victory that the enemy
attacks in the most subtle ways.
3. Let a man take heed when he thinks that he stands lest
he fall. ICOR 10:12
E. The servants and officers had made a fire of coals, for it was
cold, and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
1. I think that there is a lesson for us here, against
seeking to warm ourselves by the enemies fire.
2. With many when the love for Jesus begins to wax cold,
they return to the enemies fires to try to find warmth.
a. They may go out to a night club to try to warm
their soul.
b. They might go sit in a bar to find solace, or
perhaps companionship.
c. You are in a dangerous spiritual state when you
seek to find warmth at the enemies fires.
II. Verse 25 picks up the story again of Peter warming himself at their
fire. "And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself."
A. They said to him, "Are you not also one of His disciples." He
denied it and said, "I am not."
1. The other gospels tell us that this second accusation
came from another maid. But again Peter denied it.
B. Then one of the servants of the high priest who was a relative
of the servant whose ear Peter had cut off said, "Did I not
see you in the garden with Him?"
1. At this point the crowd got into it, and began to say,
"You must be one of His disciples, for you are a
Galilean and your accent gives you away."
2. It was at this point that Peter began to swear and
curse declaring that he did not know Him.
3. Upon this third denial, the rooster began to crow and
Peter remembered the words of Jesus, before the
rooster crows, you will have denied Me three times.
4. Luke tells us that the Lord turned and looked at Peter,
and Peter went out and wept bitterly.
a. Have you ever wept over your failure?
b. Have you ever wept because of the weakness of
your flesh?
III. Let us observe the path that led to the denial.
A. First Peter was guilty of boasting, he was self confident.
1. When Jesus had announced to the disciples that all of
them would be offended that night because of Him, Peter
answered, "Lord, though they may be offended, I would
never be offended.
2. It was then that Jesus predicted that before the
rooster crowed, Peter would have denied Him three
times.
3. Again Peter expressed his self confidence declaring,
Even if they would slay me, I would never deny you.
4. Again take heed when you think you stand, lest you
fall.
5. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit
before a fall.
B. Next he found himself arguing with the Lord.
1. Jesus had told him that before the rooster ever crowed,
Peter would have denied Him three times.
2. Peter contradicted the Lord and declared, "If they
would kill me I would never deny you.
3. This points out the fact that the Lord knows you better
than you know yourself. "The heart is deceitful above
all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?"
4. Also it shows that if you find yourself arguing with
the Lord, you are wrong.
C. Then we find him sleeping instead of praying.
1. When Jesus came back to the disciples and found them
fast asleep, He said, "Simon, sleepest thou ?" Watch
and pray lest you enter into temptation, for the spirit
indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.
2. How many times the lack of prayer has gotten us into
trouble.
D. Next we find him trying to follow the Lord afar off.
1. There is only one way to follow Jesus and that is just
as closely as you can.
2. I feel that trying to follow afar off is a sign of
denial in itself.
E. Next we find him warming himself by the enemies fire.
1. These are all the steps that led to the denial.
2. The minute you think that you are better than others,
you are in real trouble.
3. When you start arguing with the Lord, with the
scriptures you are on the way to falling.
4. When you seek to follow the Lord afar off trouble is
very near.
5. When you can find warmth from the enemies fires, you
have drifted dangerously far.
F. The next thing you will find yourself saying, "I don't know
Him."
G. We can deny our Lord by our actions as well as our words.
I. It is interesting to me that when Jesus restored Peter and
recommissioned him, He gave him three opportunities to affirm
His love for Jesus. I do not hear Jesus saying, "Peter, you
have disqualified yourself forever from ever being an elder in
the church, for you are not above reproach. The qualification
to the place of serving the Lord by feeding and tending the
sheep was love. "Do you love Me?" There are those who would
see Peter as totally and forever disqualified from ever
ministering again because of his denial and blaspheming. I am
glad that Jesus was more gracious than they.
|