John 13 - Peter's journey

Hey guys, this is Chuck. And I hope all is well with you and our new way of worshipping together. As you know, we've been going through the series of following Jesus on his journey towards Jerusalem. Unk torches date with the cross and today we will be talking a little bit about Peter's journey and specifically I'll be asking you to be thinking about how you walk in Peter sandals and how you would deal with how what he was faced with whether you would deny Jesus the way that he did kind of hard to believe but a year ago, I preached to Maddox Road Baptist Church in view of a call and my house things have changed, you know, we have this virus going on and that's totally changed how we do things no a year ago. We certainly weren't meeting by the internet in addition to the virus. You know, there's tornadoes those are kind of common around here, but there was a bad tornado yesterday in Jonesboro. We need to pray for each other during these times. We need to pray for each other to help for help in dealing with this virus and just everyday life a part of that. We need to be thinking about how we can help our community. I know just the other day at least an hour contacted by a couple gentleman here in Jacksonville that are disabled or vehicle at broken down and they didn't have a way to get any groceries and I think they were down to one pack of ramen noodles and a can of soup or something like that, but we're able to find some food here at the church and some other food to help them and I have a feeling that that's going to be more, and I know the church at one point in time had a food pantry and I maybe think we need to review that and and start that back up again, but So this is all this this virus might change how we worship. But it's not going to change who we worship. You know, I miss seeing everybody shaking hands giving hugs. I'm a Baptist of course, so I missed the the the fellowship going out to lunch after service and a sew-in in lots of ways. It's different and what were used to but in all the important ways. It's exactly the same as Matthew and Matthew chapter 18 verse 20 says for where two or three are gathered in my name there. I am among them. So how we worship might change but we will never change who we worship you will see us through this and none of this is caught him by surprise. So as we continue to go through this virus meth, I'd like to encourage you to continue to read your Bible specifically, I would points U2 Psalm 91 and just asked you to read that meditate on it. And I'll read that ear and then we'll get into our regular a study but Psalm 91 says he who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord my refuge and my Fortress my God in whom I trust. He will deliver You From The Snare of the Fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions and under his wings. You will find Refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler. You will not fear the terror. Of the night nor the arrow that flies by day nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness nor the destruction that wasteth new day. A thousand may fall at your side ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your Dwelling Place the most high who is my refuge. No evil. Shall be allowed to befall, you know playing shall come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your way when their hands they will bear you up. Let you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the line and the adder Young Lion and the serpent will trample you will trample underfoot. This verse is talking in the voice of God. God will say because he holds fast to me in love. I will deliver him. I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and honor him with long life. I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Let's pray father. We just thank you for this time together how you've given us the opportunity to meet online and two again study your word and and learn your trews. Learn how you are sovereign Yuri control learn how you love us and that you have not will never leave us nor forsake us learn how none of this is caught you off-guard so father just pray that you would remind us of that daily and that we would lean on you and not our own understanding. Start scripture today as we continue. The series is in the Book of John the 13th chapter starting with verse 36 read those verses 36 Simon Peter said to him Lord. Where are you going? Jesus answered him where I'm going. You cannot follow me now, but you will follow me after work. Peter said to him Lord. Why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Jesus answered. Will you lay down your life for me? Truly truly. I say to you the rooster will not Crow so you have denied me three times. We've been following Jesus and his journey into Jerusalem of the first sermon in the series was talking about Jesus's triumphal entry into the city where he was welcomed as an incoming King the people recognized him as their Messiah the anointed one of God who would redeem redeem his people and they were getting shouts of hosanna to him and mine palm branches in front of him. And as long as he fit their image of what the king they were expecting everything was great, but as it became apparent that he was coming into the city to be a sacrifice then all this trough they didn't deram is the king anymore because that's not the king they were expecting. And so we had that the triumphal entry then we the next sermon was about the confusion among the disciples because Jesus was telling them I'm going away and winter I go you can't come I'm going in to prepare a place for you in my father's house. There are many mansions RV rooms and I'll come back and this caused all kinds of confusion among the disciples when Jesus told them look you don't need to worry about the specifics. You just need to worry about your relationship with me because I am the way I am the truth. I am alive. So we've been focusing kind of on Jesus's Journey, but I want to kind of look at Peter's Journey.

Peter and I went and then on this road with Jesus for about 3 years and I want you to kind of put yourself in Peter's sandals Faith journey is just that it's a journey so it's a walk we don't get to the destination immediately. It's a day the day experience me. The road is Bumpy. So to speak the road has detours their high points in their low points in the road and what matters is not so much the journey, but the destination Peter been on this journey about 3 years in Matthew Chapter 4 Verse 18. We say that he's one of the first disciples to be joined to the team first 18 while walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother internet into the sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them follow me and I will make you Fishers of Men. How did Peter respond to that little true to character is kind of an impulsive guy? He he he heard the call and he answered the call. He dropped everything. He dropped his nuts. He dropped his livelihood as a fisherman and he dropped everything to become a disciple of Jesus. And so from this point forward the journey for Peter was going great. You know, if you think he's going on the journey on the road, everything's going up. Nothing's going down smooth sailing no rush selling involved this whole journey at least initially is coming from a position of strength because Jesus is performing all these Miracles people are flocking to Peter solid Jesus heal the sick. He saw Jesus cast out demons. He saw Jesus turn water. Turned into wine and calm storms of one of the biggest parts of his journey was Jesus was whenever he was allowed to walk on water himself Matthew 14 verse 26 when the disciples saw him Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified and said it is a ghost and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying take hard it is I do not be afraid and Peter answered him board. If it is you command me to come to you on the water. He said, sir Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus when he saw the wind. He was afraid and beginning to think he cried out Lord save me. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him saying to them. Oh you of little faith. Why did you doubt and when they got into the boat the wind ceased and double in the boat worshiped him saying truly you are the son of God. You don't have to look at Peter's Walk With Jesus. I don't think there's any doubt whatsoever that Peter love Jesus, there's no doubt that Peter was loyal. There's no doubt that Peter truly believed that Jesus was who he said he was looking Matthew verse or chapter 16 verse 13. Now when Jesus came into the District of caesarea, Philippi why he asked his disciples who the people say that the son of man is and they said some say John the Baptist other say Elijah others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He says in but who do you say that? I am and Peter standing up as the leader of the crew. You always see it when the disciples or Apostles or mentioned. He's always first of the list because he's the leader. I'm in Peter replied. You are the Christ the son of the Living God and Jesus answered him blessed. Are you Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. But my father who is in heaven and I tell you you are Peter and on this rock, I will build my church and the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven. Did he strictly charge disciples to tell no one and he was the Christ. Journeys going great for Peter. He's he's the leader. He's also you know in the top three of all the disciples in the gang of three. So to speak these Peter James and John were special in the sense. I guess that they were they were the only ones allowed to see the Transfiguration of Christ. They were the only ones to see Jesus raised Jarius his daughter from the dead. They were the ones that Jesus asked to pray with him while he was in the garden. The journey is going great. But the journey was about to take a bad. Turn Jesus told his disciples. Look I'm going away. Then he did something that they never the world would have expected. He washed their feet. And whenever is he that happened Peter said Lord, you're not going to wash my feet in. Jesus said well, if I don't wash you have no share with me then of course. They will not just my feet but my hands and everything. They had this last supper where again. Jesus is telling him. I'm about to die. I'm about to be a sacrifice For All Mankind and if that's not bad enough, I'll tell you this one of you will betray me and not only that Peter you will deny me. And it wasn't just that Peter would deny Jesus would deny Jesus Matthew chapter. 26 says this then Jesus said you will all because of me this night or it is written I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

You also see this that. Luke provides a little bit more detail about the conversation that Jesus had with Peter when he told him he would deny Luke 22 verses 31. Jesus said Simon Simon behold Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail and when you've turned again strengthen your brothers. So, how did Peter take this news? Well, let's look at the different gospel accounts and see in Matthew 26 Peter said those day off all away because of you. I will never fall away in Mark 14 verse 31, but he said I must die with you. I will not deny you and they all said the same. Luke 22 verse 33 Peter said to him Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death and then in the scripture that we are specifically said today John chapter 13 verse 37 Peter said to him Lord. Why can I not follow you? I will lay down my life for you. I don't think Peter was lying here was sincere. He wasn't boasting. He wasn't puffing himself up to make himself look better compared to all the other disciples. He believed every word that he was saying. But he relied on his own strength and that's I think the main thing that we're supposed to learn from studying the scripture. We may have the best of intentions. But if we are relying Upon Our Own Strength, but not seeking the strength of the lord. We are inside shape last week. I said, you know, aren't you glad that we have Thomas when Jesus told him I am the way the truth and the life and you know, no one gets to the father except through me and Jesus told him I'm going to prepare a place for you and you know the way and Thomas still cups is look we don't know where you're going. So how can we know the way of course, you know later on when Jesus appeared to the disciples first time Thomas wasn't there and so he said I'm not going to believe it until I can stick my fingers in the holes in his hands and his feet. So it away aren't you glad that you we have Thomas because we have question. Like that, sometimes we question our faith just like Thomas and aren't you glad Thomas's there but by the same token thankful that Peter is there, you know, Peter says some of the most ignorant things no court on 52020 and we can see it all after the fact but if there was ever a guy that was an example of ready fire aim, that's Peter. He puts his foot in his mouth over and over again. So Peter previously told Jesus I already I won't repeat the stupid. He tell Jesus we know that you're the Son of God. And so when this son of God deny me, how does Peter respond I will never deny you. I'm going to get my first.

What do you call that when there's a disconnect between what he said he believed and then how he answered the Son of God. I think what you call that is pride. Prince that's not unique to Peter. We are all caught up by that First Corinthians 10 verse 12 says therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

You know, have you ever talked to great game like Peter, you know, maybe said in a time of Good Times God. You're a good God God you are sovereign. Maybe you been in town in a pain sometimes and you said Lord. If you just get me out of you just fill in the blank get me out of this. I'll be in church every Sunday. I'll give my tithe. I'll be in church every time the door opens.

Peter said what we hope we would say if we're in his sandals. Words are not all that important. Are they what about his actions? How did Peter deny Jesus will be as we read the Scripture? It talks about how he followed him from a distance. And then on three different occasions, he was asked if part of his group aren't you part of his disciples. There was this server girl that saw him sitting with the guards outside the the the the garden of the high priests and she said look, aren't you one of his disciples and he didn't know that's not me the second time. There was another servant girl and this time he didn't just deny that he did not hide it with an O. And then the third time the different gospel accounts say either bystanders talk to him and said this or one gospel account says it actually malcus is relative. The guy that he cut off his ear so looked you're with your with Jesus. You're one of his crew and this time he not only on himself and he swore I do not know this man and then for this third denial the rooster crowed, And we see what happens on Luke 22 verses 60 Peter said man, I do not know what you're talking about and immediately while he was still speaking the rooster crow and the Lord turned and looked at Peter and Peter. Remember the saying of the Lord how he had said to him before the rooster crows today. You will deny me three times and he went out and wept bitterly. So can I ask you put yourself in Peter sandals, and then you can just imagine? What's going through his mind? He had to be selling yourself. Look I said I never would leave Jesus. I said I'd go to jail if I said hey with him. I mean, I don't know without a doubt. Any question. He is the Son of God and all these things that I said. I meant. I meant every one of them. He had to feel hopeless. Why did he do it if he believed all that, he knew Jesus was the son of God. Why did he do it? When you do if you read some different commentaries, they say they point out the fact that he's following from a distance. So maybe he's really not committed. He's hanging with the wrong crowd outside of the high priest deal instead of chime in in in in speaking up for Jesus. He's hanging out with the wrong crowd and you got basically kind of the Wade by the world.

The reason he did it cuz he was scared fear. And what would you have done if you were in his shoes is sandals.

Do you like Peter? Thank you with never deny Jesus no matter what. And if you think that or you doing that based upon your own strength again, you know, we have a lot of school shootings and stuff. Unfortunately in our country and one of the very first ones was in Columbine and when that happen, they're one of the students that was their vows. He already been shot and she had 34 different wounds in her arms and torso and she started crying out. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God, don't let me die. And then one of the shooters came up to her and said do you believe in God? Is she said? Yes I did and he said why and her answer was pretty simple because I believe in my parents brought me up that way and he said that she said that he started loading his gun again for some reason he was distracted and you walked away and she survived another girl supposedly was at the same question and when she answered yes, she was shot and killed her name was Cassie Bernall. You know, we deny Christ to just like Peter. I was listening to the sermon from a pastor named Jesse Lockridge SE stands for

SM Lockridge Shadrach Meshach Lockridge, and you know, I've told you at the outset I've been your pastor for a year and I'm always trying believe it or not trying to improve how I preached and so I was listening to this gentleman and he pointed out that a sermon really has four reasons for being an existing stretch your mind. Another is to Tan Your Hide there another reason is to warm your heart. And then lastly it's to challenge you to act is so with that in mind.

And you denied Christ has this sermon Tan Your Hide in anyway, you know when it gets down to it what really matters? Our actions are actions show what we really believe sometimes we failed to speak. We may not have been put into a position like Peter and these girls at Columbine to wear how you answered literally is a life-or-death situation, but maybe the way things are going but we have been put in positions where someone has dragged the name of Jesus through the mud made fun of people because they believe in Jesus and sometimes when that happens, we don't speak up we had opportunities to tell others about Jesus yet. We've kept silent. We kept silent by just not showing up. Sometimes we make decisions. Skip church and our actions show really what we believe because if we decide to skip church what we're saying is something else is more important than going to church maybe we've made the decisions not to tithe. And we sometimes we fail to act maybe we're guilty as Jesus was talking about the crowd in Matthew 15. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me our actions really show what we believe and sometimes we get distracted by the world, but Peter is not the only one with a denial problem here. We are all prone to do it. I'll restate again in Luke 22 when Jesus was telling Peter to look you're going to deny me. He he prefaced it by saying Simon Simon behold Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail and when you have turned against strengthen your brothers, you know an English. We don't really see this singular but here when Jesus says Simon Says Simon behold Satan demanded to have you use their is plural. So Satan is seeking to see if not just Peter but all of us yet in the second part of this verse when Jesus says I've prayed for you that's singular Jesus prays for each one of us individually to help us to with stand any of this temptation.

Want to pray that you may not enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. Wikipedia realize his actions didn't match up with his words. He was convicted he was cut to the quick and we see that here in Luke 22 verse 60 the Peterson man. I do not know what you're talkin about in a mediately while he was still speaking the rooster crow and the Lord turned and looked at Peter in can you just imagine that and you just imagine being in Peter sandals and doing what you just did and denying the creator of the universe and as soon as that rooster crowed having the Lord's eyes just boring holes in Jean and Peter. Remember the saying the Lord how he had said to him before the rooster crows today. You will deny me three times and he went out and wept bitterly. You know Peter felt lower than a snake's belly, but there's good news here. The story doesn't end there cuz I know me just tell you about Jesus. Jesus is gracious. Jesus Loves You Jesus will forgive you of all sense. If you will only turn to him and ask for that forgive 1st, John 1:9 says if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Turn to John 21 and we see the graciousness of the Lord after all this it happen peed a Jesus had been crucified it appeared to the disciples that then went away and then don't know what but at some point. I'm Peter just said look I'm going fishing some people think that he was giving up that he was going back to his previous profession because Jesus wasn't there anymore but let me just say the third time is the charm here before we get to that in John 21. Peter had gone fishing East all night and they hadn't caught a thing and then as the dawn broke a man appeared on the shore and he cried out to them said look put your name on the right side and they did that there was some of these guys are Sailors. I'm sure there was some color forward as the man told them and they caught more fish than they could haul in and when that happened John said, it's the Lord and Peter to the simple truth is impulsive nature jumped in to swim to Shore and when they got to shore they saw that Jesus had already prepared a charcoal fire with fish and bread. And then that's where we pick up in John 21 verse 15 when they had finished breakfast. Jesus said to Simon Peter Simon, John. Do you love me more than these? He said to the yes, Lord, you know that. I love you. He said to him feed my Lambs. He said to have him a second time Simon son of John do you love me? He said to him yet sword. You know that I love you. He said to him feed my sheep art in my sheet. Verse 17. He said to him the third time Simon son of John. Do you love me Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time. Do you love me? And he said, you know everything you know that I love you. Jesus said to him feed my sheep. Truly truly I say to you when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you carry where you do not want to go. Jesse said the show by what kind of death he was going to glorify God then after saying this he said to him follow me. My gracious God we serve. We just point out. What Peter did was sinful it was a sin he denied his maker. And you can get around that their sin and something has to happen to that sin. But Jesus didn't have ties or belittle Peter. But he also didn't ignore the sin. He corrected it the night that Peter denied Christ. He followed Jesus to the high priest. How did it go in? But you still outside with the servants and guards and if you'll go back and look you'll see they were standing around a charcoal fire here on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus grease Peter standing beside a charcoal fire. on the 9th

The night that Peter denied Christ he was asked three times about Jesus, aren't you one of the disciples? Aren't you one of his disciples? Didn't I see you in the garden with me? And he did not him three times here on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus asked him three times. Do you love me? And don't you know that every time that me he was asked. Do you love me? He remembered each time that he denied Jesus on his third denial the rooster crowed and Peter realized what he had done and he went out and a cry duet. Here on his third time saying that he loves Jesus keeper Peter remembered what he had done and he was grieved. You know, we're on a journey 2. We are in Christ. We may fall out of Fellowship will never lose our salvation. That's important to remember. What if you're on this life's journey all by yourself? You know, you're sending just like Peter but your pride and your sin separates you from a holy God and the only thing that God can do to stand is punishment.

Are you like the prodigal son? You know that story from the Bible. If not, You know the prodigal son was tired of staying around home. He wanted to go out and do his own thing. So he got his inheritance early from his father, which was just as in is insulting that you could get that you just didn't do that like hurry up and die dad. Give me my money so I can go and play. So he got his money and everything seemed great for a while while he still had money. But before too long he realized they are of his wedding and he had gone off to this far country to his own thing and then he came to realize that all he was doing was flopping feeding the Hogs and he wanted to return home. So he turned from his old ways and he turned back towards the father and the father was waiting on him when he got there and that's the same way that Jesus will do to you. So, you know, it's one thing to deny Jesus when you have a relationship with him. That's a sin Jesus will correct you for that as a loving savior using imagery imagery of the Shepherd Hill, correct you is Rod and his staff knock. But if you do all that If you deny Jesus without knowing him as your personal savior, you're in a world of hurt is Jesus is The Sovereign creator of this universe and he's coming again. But the next time that he comes he's not coming as a king triumphal entry the next time that he comes he's coming as a judge and our world today than ever before. when things are already his is something altogether different if you did not him and have

let's pray. Although I just pray that you would be with all of the members of Maddox Road Baptist Church in the Jacksonville Community as we go through this time of struggle with the virus was just pray that you would use this to draw all of your children closer to yourself that you use it to bring others don't know you into your kingdom that you would use it to let them know of their sinful nature and if they're need for a savior and as we draw closer to Easter just remind them that you provided a way of salvation for them and your son Jesus Christ that he went to the Cross to die for their sins and that he is the only way he is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through him. I pray that all that we say and do would bring honor and glory to you. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.