Peter

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-18-2024

John 18:15-27

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Tonight, I want to look at the life of the Apostle Peter for a few minutes.  We have just read the short version of his thrice denial of the Lord on the night before His death on the cross.

 

B.  Peter, like Thomas, got a bad reputation because of his denial that night but followed the Lord when every one of the other disciples forsook Him.   

 

1.  How many of us have denied the Lord by keeping quiet in the presence of persecution of some sort or even by not witnessing when the chance was there. 

 

2.  Peter denied the Lord when saying that he was one of the disciples would have cost him his life! 

 

C.  Who was this man called Peter who denied the Lord thrice that night?

 

D.  Peter – (Petros or Rock)?  The Bible has more to say about Peter than all the other disciples named and put together.

 

1.  His name was Simon Peter.  Sixty eight times, he is called Simon Peter in the Bible.

Acts 10:5  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

 

2.  One hundred and fifty five times the name Peter is used in the gospels and Book of Acts.  More than all the rest of the disciples put together.

 

3.  History tells us that Peter was born about 1 B.C. and lived until about 67 A.D. when he was martyred for the cause of Christ.  Tradition tells that he chose to be crucified upside down because of his unworthiness to be crucified the same as his Lord.

 

John 21:18-19  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  (19)  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

 

4.  Peter, along with his brother Andrew, was a fisherman from the city of Bethsaida.  Peter’s beginnings were humble as fishermen were not the elite of society in those days, as fishing was a dirty, smelly work.  The first of the disciples to be called and immediately left his occupation to follow the Lord. 

 

Matthew 4:18-19  And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  (19)  And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

 

5.  Peter was a man poor man of common birth with no formal education.

 

Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

 

6.  Peter was a family man whose home the Lord frequented.  The Lord frequented the house of Simon Peter. 

 

Mark 1:29-31  And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  (30)  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.  (31)  And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

 

7.  Peter was named first when the Lord called, ordained, and empowered His disciples.

 

Mark 3:13-16  And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.  (14)  And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,  (15)  And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:  (16)  And Simon he surnamed Peter;

 

8.  Peter was one of the “inner three” who were closest to the Lord.  This was by choice and not election nor selection by the Lord.  We can get just as close to the Lord as we want!

 

Matthew 17:1-2  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,  (2)  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

 

9.  Peter was outspoken and the spokesperson for the disciples on many occasions.  Peter was a bold witness for his Lord.

 

Matthew 16:15-16  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

10.  Peter was the most rebuked by the Lord for his outspokenness. 

 

Mark 9:5-6  And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (6)  For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

 

John 13:8  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

 

12.  Peter confessed that Christ was the Son of God.

 

Matthew 16:15-17  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  (17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

 

13.  Peter answered the question: “Will ye also go away?”

 

John 6:67-69  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  (68)  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  (69)  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

14.  Peter loved his Lord!

 

John 21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 

15.  Peter was willing to die for the Lord!

 

Matthew 26:34-35  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  (35)  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

 

16.  Now, we come to the night of betrayal.  Peter wanted to die his way, not the Lord’s way.

 

John 18:10  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

 

17.  Though Peter failed many times, if it were possible, I believe that he would have erased this night of denial above all the others.

 

18.  Peter was possible the greatest of the eleven disciples who traveled with Christ.  What an example of how God can use the least to make the best!  God used Simon Peter to be the Apostle to the Jews and also him to write First and Second Peter

 

E.  In our text:

 

1. Verse 15:  Simon Peter and John followed Jesus to the palace of the High Priest.  There, Simon Peter stopped but John went in.

 

2. Verse 16: John saw Simon Peter stop and went back and brought him into the palace.

 

3.  Verse 17:  Simon Peter’s First denial.  The woman who kept the door questioned Peter as to if he were one of Jesus’ disciples.  Peter said, “I am not.”

 

4.  Verse 18:  Simon Peter warmed himself by the fire with the soldiers and servants.  The verse said, “He stood with them.”  John did not as he separated from the crowd while Simon Peter “blended in.”  The same wording found when Judas Iscariot brought the crowd to take Jesus in verse 18:5: “And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.”

 

5.  In Verses John 18:25-27, we see Simon Peter’s denial which Jesus spake of.

 

“And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.  (26)  One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?  (27)  Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”

 

6.  The full account is found in Luke 22:55-60:

 

“And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.  (56)  But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.  (57)  And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.  (58)  And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.  (59)  And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.  (60)  And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.”

 

7.  Luke 22:61-62  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  (62)  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

 

F.  What brought Peter to the point of denial?  I believe that it is found in these verses:

 

Mark 14:29-31  But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.  (30)  And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.  (31)  But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

 

1.  Self-Confidence.  “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I … But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.”

 

Psalms 118:8-9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  (9)  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

 

Jeremiah 17:5-7  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.  (6)  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.  (7)  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

 

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

a.  Peter’s Confidence should have been in Jesus.  Psalms 28:7-8  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  (8)  The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

 

b.  Confidence in the Power of God.  Matthew 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

 

c.  Confidence in the Providence of God.  Isaiah 46:9-10  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  (10)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

 

2.  Failure to heed the Lord’s Word.  “And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.  “

 

a.  Peter did not heed Jesus’ Word. 

 

Psalms 119:9  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 

 

Peter was bad about hearing without listening.  Sound familial to all you ladies concerning the selective hearing of the men. 

 

Time and time again, Christ spoke about His sacrifice for sin.  They all should have know that man cannot stop that which God promised to do from Genesis, chapter 3, to the present. 

 

b.  Peter did not heed Jesus’ Warning.  Heed God’s Warning. 

 

Matthew 26:33-35  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.  (34)  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  (35)  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. 

 

If Peter had heeded Christ words, he would have probably just fled like the others.

 

c.  Peter did not heed Jesus’ Way. John 18:10-11  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.  (11)  Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

 

They too thought that Christ had come to set up His kingdom instead of hearing John the Baptist declare His sacrifice.  Nothing and no one could stop Christ’s death, burial, nor resurrection.

 

When Christ said something, it was not of man to change it.  Swords were not the weapons of choice for our Lord, yet Peter took upon himself to draw his sword and attack.  Peter did not mind dying but, when the Lord rebuked him before all, Peter quit!