Preparing for Jesus - John 18/21 - Peter, Peter, Peter

Peter just can't get it right in John 18, can he?

First, he tries to go all West Virginia Ninja on one of the people trying to arrest him and then whats even more sad is that just moments after telling Jesus he'd never betray him, Peter finds himself doing just that.

He denies knowing Jesus three times. He had his chances. After the first, he should've been on high alert, after the second he should have been ready and prepared to make a stand but on the third occasion he faded into the crowd as someone who "didn't know that man."

But before we give Peter such a hard time... I think we can relate to Peter a little more than we might think.

The same can be said about us, can't it? How many times during the day do we have to prove to God and to others that we know him? Or do we find ourselves blending in, like Peter did?

If someone were to play back the last 24 hours of your life, would they recognize your Christian characteristics or would they see a hybrid of someone who knows Jesus when its convenient or would they be able to recognize Christ in your life at all?

Can you imagine what the next three days were like for Peter? He denied his best friend. He gave up on Jesus when Jesus needed him the most. And then over the next few hours he followed at a distance as he watch Jesus be shamed, humiliated, flogged, and then finally placed in the tomb.

What do you think Peter is going through the next few days?

• Shame
• Regret
• Failure
• Depression
• Greif

I couldn't imagine the amount of emotion that Peter went through.

But one thing that Jesus knew that Peter would late learn is that OUR FAILURE ISN'T FINAL BUT THE CROSS IS.

It shard for me to read John 18 without flipping over to see how John 21 finishes this story:

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Here are two videos to finish this chapter with:

First a short video from the Skit Guys:

And Second, Spend a few minutes in worship:

Todays Contributing Author: Roger Burns