HOPE

At CHRISTMAS, we often focus on the ADVENT themes to remind ourselves of this fact. This year, just after we’ve celebrated Christmas 2023 with this ADVENT emphasis, I invite you to join me in focusing on those themes we cherish—Hope, Peace, Joy, & Love—this Easter season. These important themes are certainly revealed in Scripture…

Isaiah 49:6 “he says, “It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.””

[[Galatians 4:4–6 “When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”” [U=v. 5].]]

HOPE…Serious Hope!

…And the one who brings hope does/shows it in many ways—even (especially) AT EASTER!

WARNING: HOPE ENDANGERED [John 13.36-38; Matthew 26.31-35]

The Warning(s)… [Why??—we too often (but not always) lose hope through sin/sinful distraction]

FIRST (In the Upper Room) — Introduction of Fact; Simple (plain, clear) statement

John 13:36–38 ““Lord,” Simon Peter said to him, “where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I tell you, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.”

Context = Upper Room; Lord’s Supper; Foot Washing; Judas Leaves; John 13.31-35…Son of Man glorified, You cannot come, Love One Another.

SECOND (On Road to Gethsemane) — Reiteration of Fact; Consistent statement

Matthew 26:31–35 “Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.” [U = v. 34]

JESUS KNOWS… (Who can give the warning that hope is in danger?)

Us [all our days planned; better than we know ourselves]

Everything [literally]

SEEING HOPE LOST [John 18.15-18; Matthew 26.71-75]

The Occasion… (The courtyard of the High Priest; Peter’s denials)

FIRST DENIAL — (At a charcoal fire; A simple question)

John 18:15–18 “Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” “I am not,” he said. Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.” [B = v. 18; U = v. 17]

SECOND DENIAL — (A singular accusation)

Matthew 26:71–72 “When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” And again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”” [U. = v. 71]

“Oath” = bringing God into this conversation; Invoking God’s blessing/discipline as guarantor of truth; ‘I swear to [promise before] God I…’)

“I don’t know the man!” = ‘I don’t know this (unnamed, unfamiliar; this ‘what’s-his-name’) guy!’

THIRD DENIAL — (Crowd-Sourced accusation)

Matthew 26:73–75 “After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.” Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.” [U = v. 73]

“Curse” (& further oath) = Colorful language (bad words)

“I don’t know the man!” = still claiming he didn’t know ‘that dude (whoever he is)’

JESUS’ DISCIPLES (FOLLOWERS) WILL FREQUENTLY FACE INCREASING ANTAGONISM (HOSTILITY) IN OUR LIVES.

[[Frequently—not constantly; not with an ever increasing and never decreasing intensity. How will we respond?]]

**The wake-up call…the rooster crows (Peter is startled, and reminded…and sorrow (feeling of failure, hopelessness) ensues.**

[[Thank God, this is not the end of the story…]]

SEEING HOPE RESTORED [John 21.1-19]

The occasion… (well, I don’t know - let’s go fishing; returning to shore; a charcoal fire; John 21.1-9)

FIRST QUESTION — (Simple question with a contexted challenge (contrast to [more than these others], rather than [more than fishing])

John 21:15 “When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him.”

SECOND QUESTION — (A simple restatement of the essential question)

John 21:16 “A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.”

THIRD QUESTION — (Compounding the question; opening the door to repentance and restoration)

John 21:17 “He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.”

“Lord, you know everything” = Grief over sin (Sin had not escaped Jesus’ notice)

GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET OUR ATTENTION (Charcoal Fire; Constant Conviction [by the Holy Spirit]).

…AND CAN SHOW US HIS GREAT PLAN FOR US DESPITE OUR SIN-LADEN DISQUALIFICATIONS.

CONCL—

Hope—the Hope which God brings—He shares with us well in advance of our need…

…AND to our greatest need…

Romans 5:1–5 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” [U = vv. 2, 5]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Hope

Renewed Enthusiasm

John 21:17 CSB

He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.

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