Life Changing
Knox, Port Carling & Zion Torrance Presbyterian Pastoral Charge
Sunday March 8, 2019 ~ 2nd Sunday in Lent - Reverend Glynis Faith:,
Scripture John 13:36-38; 18:12-18, 25-27
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.563
He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
MESSAGE ‘Life Changing’
2 Questions and 1 declaration:
The questions:
1) Where are you going Lord?
2) Why can’t I follow you?
The declaration:
1) I would lay down my life for you Jesus!
Where is Jesus going?
Well, in the short term, Jesus is heading towards the Cross to take upon Himself the penalty of human sin.
In the bigger picture, Jesus is returning into the presence of the Father and Holy Spirit; paving the way for those who will follow Him.
Why can’t Peter follow?
Jesus only says Peter can’t follow right now, but that He will follow later. (interesting)
Would Peter really lay down his life for Jesus?
Not right away he wouldn’t. Jesus tells Peter that instead of laying down his life, he would actually deny Jesus three times before the night was over.
Here are the denials of Peter:
‘I am not a follower of Jesus.’ (doesn’t sound like Peter wants to know where Jesus is going anymore, cause he is not following Jesus to jail, or worse)
‘I am not that man’s disciple.’ (here he denies wanting to follow, as well as having followed)
‘I do not know the man.’ (I guess Peter is not yet ready to give up his life for Jesus)
Do you have a favourite of Jesus’ disciples? Mine is definitely Peter; basically because I can relate to his personality. Impulsive, devoted, often taking the left foot out of his mouth to make room for the right one, often reprimanded by Jesus, yet having enough hope and determination to never give up. (kinda like a devoted mischievous puppy)
It is hard to imagine how Peter felt the moment that rooster crowed… One moment he is declaring his unwavering commitment to Jesus, “I would lay down my life for you,” to denying even knowing the man.
It must have smarted when Jesus questioned his loyalty, “Will you really lay down your life for me Peter?” And if questioning his loyalty were not enough, to suggest that he would deny Jesus was unthinkable.
But then everything happened so fast. The Roman soldiers and the High Priest’s servants came and took Jesus. Judas, one of His own disciples betrayed him. Although Peter tried to follow to see what would happen, fear took over and he did exactly what Jesus had said he would do….he betrayed his Lord
“Will you really lay down your life for me?” Jesus asked. “Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
Can you imagine the crushing humility Peter felt? What must he have thought of himself upon realizing he had turned away from someone he loved? Wait, not just someone, God’s Son?
Have you ever said or done something that you instantly regretted? Have you ever hurt someone, and wished you could take back your words or your actions?
Jesus knew Peter’s denial would come. Jesus also knew that the realization of what he had done would become a life changing moment for Peter. Peter would certainly be humbled by his denials of Jesus, but he was not defeated by his sins.
Remember Jesus’ words to Peter, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Peter was not ready to follow Jesus to the Cross, but Jesus knew that one day he would be ready. Jesus knew the man Peter was, and He also knew the man Peter would become.
Peter is sometimes referred to as Simon Peter. Simon was the name given to him by his parents, but when Jesus first met Simon, He gave him the name ‘Cephas,’ or ‘Peter,’ which means stone or rock. From everything we know about Peter through the Gospel accounts, it is unlikely that Jesus gave Peter a name meaning ‘rock’ for the character he had; but rather, for the character Jesus knew Peter would develop.
Peter was an impulsive person. He was prone to speaking before thinking. On more than one occasion Jesus rebuked Peter for doing so. When Peter declared he would lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus questioned whether Peter had thought that through. The comment likely smarted, but it was truth!
Peter was often a little to full of himself, making bold claims and jumping to the defensive like an overprotective big brother. It was Peter who pulled out his sword and lopped off the ear of the High Priest’s servant when Jesus was arrested, and it was Peter who stepped out of the boat and walked towards Jesus on the water.
Peter was also compassionate and loyal. There is no doubt that Peter believed himself willing to die for Jesus. Peter wanted to have the faith to walk on water, and Peter is the first disciple to acknowledge his belief that Jesus is the son of God.
But he was also fearful and timid. When Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat and walk on water, it was fear of the winds and the waves that caused him to sink. When Jesus was arrested, it was fear of association that caused him to deny knowing Him.
Yet Jesus knew Peter would become the rock on which He would build His church. I suspect the sound of the rooster’s crow became a life changing moment for Peter, a realization of his own sinful nature.
Peter was humbled (how could he not be), but he was not crushed. Peter returned to his place with the remaining disciples and he eventually became ‘rock solid.’ Because he stayed put instead of giving up, Jesus reinstated him as an apostle after the resurrection.
Peter’s life changed:
- He was the first one to step into the empty tomb when the women brought the news Jesus had risen.
- Peter recognized the risen Jesus on the shore and quickly jumped out of the boat to go to Him.
- It was Peter who gave the very first public sermon to tell the people the Good News.
- Peter stands out as the leader of the apostles in the book of Acts.
- And when the persecution of the Christians began, Peter no longer denied knowing Jesus; but rather he boldly professed his faith in the risen Christ.
- Peter would eventually die for his faith. No running, no hiding, no denying. Peter accepted his fate, because Jesus had told him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Peter could not follow Jesus to the Cross, it was a journey only Jesus could take.
Peter could follow later, and he did.
Friends, you and I are called to follow Jesus too. Jesus has shown us the way, and when we choose to follow Jesus in life, we also follow Him through death into the resurrection into eternal life. The light of Jesus shines a bright path through death for all who declare Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It is the only Light that will lead us back to the Father.
Please pray with me:
Lord Jesus, we are grateful that you know our character yet still love us. You know where we will faulter and You allow us to learn in our own way and time. We are thankful that you know who we can be, and we are thankful for those life changing moments that transform us. With joyful hearts we give You thanks. AMEN