Peer Pressure
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· 39 viewsPeter falls into the peer pressure and denies Christ
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The Distance
The Distance
Here Christ is being taken to stand before Pilate to be judged. Peter has an opportunity to make a stand for his faith, however he fails under pressure.
It is obvious that Peter was close to Christ physically, he even spent some of the most intimate moments with Him.
Peter was present at the transfiguration, this a time of Christ’s glory being revealed which was reserved for those who would be the “inner circle” of the disciples.
Luke 9:28-
And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto 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: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Peter was not only present to witness the glory of Jesus revealed, but he also had access to His prayer closet, a place of great secrecy and possibly the most intimate area of Jesus’ life.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
Matthew 26:36
Luke
He thought to trim the matter, to follow Christ, and so to satisfy his conscience, but to follow afar off, and so to save his reputation, and sleep in a whole skin.
The Discernment
The Discernment
The maid, most likely a simple servant of the house.
She looked on Peter, watching him and realizing this was not a known person of the group. Particularly one who would be with the high priest. She realizes this guy is a stranger and the time
of day gives away that there would be no loitering of strangers.
The Denial
The Denial
He was charged by a sorry simple maid, that belonged to the house, with being a retainer to this Jesus, about whom there was now so much noise. She looked wistfully upon him as he at by the fire, only because he was a stranger, and one whom she had not seen before; and concluding that at this time of night there were no neuters there, and knowing him not to be any of the retinue of the high priest, she concludes him to be one of the retinue of this Jesus, or perhaps she had been some time or other looking about her in the temple, and had seen Jesus there and Peter with him, officious about him, and remembered him; and this man was with him, saith she
Just as Peter stood out in this group, his efforts to blend in with the “cool” crowd were flawed. So our efforts to blend in with the world are flawed, we cannot expect to hang out with them and be in their surroundings without them noticing a difference in us.
The Denial
The Denial
His fall itself was disclaiming all acquaintance with Christ, and relation to him, disowning him because he was now in distress and danger.
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1904). Peabody: Hendrickson.
His denial of Christ was refuting any association with Him, it was an attempt to cover his relationship for reputation. We also have this habit when we deny having a girlfriend to save our reputation, we do this when we are typically young and want to look cool in front of our peers. This is the failure we have in peer pressure. The friend brought pressure to us and we gave into that pressure.
The Despair
The Despair
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
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.
Here we find a heartbroken Peter, not as we have seen him in the past bold and fierce. Now he is broken, wounded in the heart of his failure.
Luke 22:
When we give into peer pressure it will cause damage to us, if can lead us into the place of fear and cause us to create barriers that create a distance between us and those around us. It is also easy for us to do this with the Lord. - If we continually live in the moments of our failures we will create a larger barrier and distance from God-
Note, Christ takes more notice of what we say and do than we think he does. When Peter disowned Christ, yet Christ did not disown him, though he might justly have cast him off, and never looked upon him more, but have denied him before his Father. It is well for us that Christ does not deal with us as we deal with him.
This is a different Peter, not the same who walked on water or cut off the priest’s ear moments ago. This was Peter trying to hide.
The Difference
The Difference
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. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
The look that Christ gave prompted Peter to make a move
Luke 22:61-
It was Profound that it demanded response
It was Peaceful in remind him of Words of Christ
It was Personal in the message recieved
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Lamentations 3