2017-09-10-Luke 22: 54-62 Growing Up The Hard Way (2)- The Way Up

GROWING UP THE HARD WAY (2): THE WAY UP (Luke 22:54-62) September 10, 2017 Read Lu 22:54-62 – At a TGC conf in 2009, Philip Ryken said, “Sometimes people insist on avoiding the advice you give as a pastor and falling out of the Stupid Tree – hitting every branch on the way down.” If pastors feel that way – God must feel that way a lot. See there are two ways we learn. We can learn the easy way by obeying; or the hard way – the way of disobedience. Here Peter is learning the hard way. Even as a believer. God uses his failure to grow him up -- the hard way. Better to just obey. Peter exemplifies the hard way. First, there is I. The Way Down -- Peter boasted too much; prayed too little; acted too fast; disobeyed too willfully; and compromised too easily. When we rationalize our way into disobedience, we’re on a slippery slope that can only end badly. Some of us are on that slope today. But there’s a way back. It’s not necessarily easy. But it returns us to the realm of reality and obedience. Three points applicable to all of us: II. The Way Up A. Peter Saw Himself for the Sinner He Was Peter’s first epiphany of his human condition is in Luke 5. Jesus borrowed Peter’s boat to preach from, then told him to put out to sea and fish. Peter, the expert, replied they’d caught nothing all night and could expect nothing in broad daylight. Nevertheless, he obeyed. He caught so many fish the nets were breaking and the boat was sinking. Amazing that Peter didn’t off Jesus an immediate partnership in the fishing company! Instead Lu 5:8, “8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Peter saw his failed human condition up against God’s perfection. Seeing his true self was the first step toward his conversion. But grace isn’t just for one time. We need it continually to cover our ongoing failures. Jesus had told Peter earlier that night in Jn 13:10: “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.” In other words, you don’t need to get re-saved. You’re as saved as you can be. But to keep the joy of your family relationship, you must keep short accounts with the Father. On the way up, we need continued reminders of our disobedience bc that’s how we grow. It’s the hard way – but it’s the sure way. 1 That’s what Peter experiences. 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord.” This is a miracle of providence. All 4 gospel writers know about it. All 4 mention the rooster crowed “immediately” after Peter denied the Lord for the 3rd time. That triggered Peter’s memory of Jesus’ prediction. They all knew. But only Luke mentions “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter,” likely as Jesus transferred from Annas’ house to Caiaphas’ – perhaps as He passed thru a connecting alcove. In any case, just as the rooster crowed, Jesus entered Peter’s line of sight. With swollen face, black and blue from beatings, Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Peter knows Jesus doesn’t deserve what’s happening. Jesus has told him He could call 12 legions of angels to His rescue. But He does not. He’s paying the price of ultimate humiliation and pain to do the will of the Father – while Peter warms himself by the fire of the enemy denying he ever knew Jesus. The contrast could not be greater. As in Lu 5, when Peter sees Jesus, he also sees Peter, and he sees what a wretched man he is despite all his good intentions. Ever been there? We all need to be there occasionally. The more we see Jesus, the more we see how short we fall of God’s glory even as believers. But the point is not to bury us, Beloved. It is to elicit the heartfelt confession and restoration Peter experienced. But we can’t grow until we see ourselves for the failed individuals we are – in constant need of God’s overwhelming grace. That’s John’s point in I Jn 1. Writing to believers he says, 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The more we see Him, the more we know the sin in us. Then we have to choose. Deny or confess. Denial continues the downward spiral. Confession renews the joy of our relationship with the Father. But we are amazingly resistant to seeing ourselves as we really are. Like David’s sordid example. He saw Bathsheba, lusted after her and took her. When she got pregnant he called her husband home from war intending he’d spend time with her to cover the sin, but Uriah was so dedicated he refused the R&R with his wife. So David sent him back with his own death warrant – a sealed note to General Joab to send Uriah to the front and then withdraw from him, leaving him to be killed. It worked to perfection. David took Bathsheba as his wife and thought he got away with it. Admitted nothing to no one. 2 So a year later, God sent Nathan to David with a tough job. Nathan posed a situation to judge. A rich man with great herds lived next to a poor man with one little lamb he loved dearly. When a visitor came to the rich man rather than take from one his thousands, he stole the poor man’s one lamb and served it for dinner. Guess what? David still didn’t get it. Stone-cold self-deceived! II Sam 12:5: “Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” “I raised you from herding sheep to King! You took multiple wives; yet you stole the one wife that Uriah had. You’re the man, David. You’ve condemned yourself.” But it took that vision of God’s righteousness for David to see his own failure. How could that be? How could a man “after [God’s] own heart” (I Sam 13:14), grow lethargic, commit adultery, cover it with cold-blooded murder and not acknowledge it? Why? Because, as Calvin said, our hearts are idolmaking factories. Even believers can rationalize anything. Only against God’s perfections are we are brought up short. But brought up short we must be if we are to grow. Peter’s road to recovery started with seeing himself for the sinner he was; so must we. He had to see his pride in himself for what it was, and so must we. There’s no growth without seeing who we really are. B. Peter Saw the Word for the Truth It Is This is beautiful. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord.” “Saying” is literally λογος – word. When Jesus looked at Peter, He was pointing him back to the Word. In this case, the words Jesus had spoken. For us, His written Word, serving the same function. What word of Jesus did Peter remember? Luke tells us: “And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times” (61b). Jesus has set this all up ahead of time. The rooster crowing and Jesus’ look brought Peter back to reality. The devastating failure happened just as Jesus predicted. That would bury anyone, right? But wait!! That’s not the only word Peter had from Jesus. Remember? Just before Jesus told Peter he would deny him 3 times, he told him something else. Lu 22: 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter could not have remembered the predicted denial without also 3 remembering that Jesus prayed for him, predicted he would turn again (repent) and be restored to service. That was Jesus’ word, too! What a beautiful picture of grace mediated thru God’s Word. Think of Peter’s despair had he not had these words. Satan intended this test to defeat Peter – like every test of obedience. Without Jesus’ word, Peter might well have been buried – lost forever in the throes of intolerable guilt and failure. But in remembering Jesus’ word, hope flickers. Peter sees what he didn’t see before. Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. Jesus expected him to fail more than he did. But Jesus also knew he’d repent! What a beautiful pix of grace! Some here today need God’s truth in your life. Satan’s lie is that some past failure has disqualified you. You’re done, washed up. But the truth is God expects you to sin more than you do. And the beautiful truth of God’s Word is, “If we confess sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” All! God’s truth is “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psa 103:12). God’s Word is, “19) He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic 7:19b). God’s truth is, “20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom 5:20). So do you choose God’s truth or Satan’s lie. “The truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32), not the lie. Forgiveness is so wonderful we find it hard to accept, especially if it is a pervasive sin that keeps coming back. But heartfelt confession always results in forgiveness -- not because we do better, but because Jesus died for that sin. It’s not what we did or will do but what He has done that matters. Samuel Goldwyn’s secretary once asked if she could destroy files that were more than 10 years old. Goldwyn replied, “Yes -- but keep copies.” Thankfully God doesn’t keep any copies. God forgave David; God forgave Moses; God forgave Peter and God will forgive you, too, the moment you turn to Him. You have His Word on it! C. Peter Saw Jesus for the Savior He is Keep in mind, even tho Jesus looked at Peter, that wouldn’t have helped had Peter not also been looking at Jesus. Right? Jesus is always available. We’re not. So the Bible has many reminders like Isa 45:22: “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God and there is no other.” Or Heb 12:2, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” He is always looking for us. He came “to seek and to save that which is lost” (Lu 19:10). 4 But we must look to Him to receive His forgiveness. This was the difference between Peter and Judas. Judas hanged himself; Peter looked to Jesus. That look started his restoration. What was in Jesus’ look? Questioning? Disappointment? Accusation? If those had been there, Peter might well have gone out and hung himself, too. Instead “he went out and wept bitterly” (62). Judas went into the darkness of betrayal and denial, and he never came out. Peter went into the darkness of betrayal and denial and he came out. Why? Because he looked to Jesus. And he saw love there. He saw forgiveness. He saw the gospel. He saw how bad he was, yes. But he saw how good Jesus is. Jesus told Peter, “Simon, you’re going to deny me. But I’ve prayed for you. And when you turn to me, I’m going to turn you into a leader.” That’s the gospel. On one hand you’re more wicked than you ever dared believe. On the other, you’re more loved than you ever dared hope. That’s what Peter saw. “I know you have failed, Peter. I expected it. But I’m going to save you anyway. This beaten face is the beginning; I’m going all the way – for you.” “The Lord turned and looked at Peter” (61). See, it’s not enough to believe with your head. The HS has to give help our heart see Jesus, chained, beaten, bleeding and forsaken by all, including His own Father – all for you. That’s what we all need – an industrial strength love – someone who will never forsake us – not even when we fail Him. Think of that. He came to seek and to save. How? By taking our guilt; by becoming sin for us; by being abandoned by the Father for us; by suffering our hell. So, if He has already taken hell for you, do you think your failure, however despicable, is going to knock Him off stride?! No! That’s why He died in the first place. He’s already taken the absolute worst for you. Look to Him. He will never let you down. When you look at Jesus and see this, it will melt your heart. This is why we need the gospel all the time. We need it to be saved, yes. But we need it every day to continually renew our relationship. We need His love more than we need life – and it is always there. When Peter looked at Jesus he saw his Savior, and we’ll find the same Savior by looking to Him. Mark Strand had a guilty conscience. During his first year of college, while Mom and Dad were on vacation, he crumpled the side door on Dad’s pickup. When his dad returned, Mark denied any knowledge of it. To his surprise, the hired man admitted he did it. He’d passed the pickup one day while pulling the cultivator, heard a loud noise, and assumed he had caused the damage. Mark breathed a sigh of relief. But he had no peace. At long last, he could not hold out any longer. “Dad, I need to tell you. You know the pickup door? I 5 was the one who did it.” Mark tells what happened next: “Dad looked at me. I looked back at him. For the first time in weeks I was able to look him in the eyes. To my utter disbelief, Dad calmly replied, “I know.” Silent seconds, which seemed like hours, passed. Then dad said, “Let’s go eat.” He put his arm around my shoulder, and we walked to the house, not saying another word about it. Not then, not ever.” That’s forgiveness. After the resurrection, Jesus met Peter at the Sea of Galilee. First, Jesus fed him breakfast. Then, 3 times He gave Him opportunity to affirm His love for Jesus – one for each denial. Beautiful restoration. The road up is wonderful, Beloved. Look to Him. Whatever you haven’t confessed, look to Him. Conc – Learning the hard way. Tough. But worth it. C. S. Lewis said in Mere Christianity: “Though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him. “Make no mistake,” He says, “if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, [because of what] it cost Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect— until my Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said He was well pleased with me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less.” Amazing grace!!!! Let’s pray. 6