Denying Eyes

Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and our loyal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our midweek Lenten sermon series is entitled, "Eyes on Jesus". Two weeks ago, we looked at Jesus through the betraying eyes of Judas; last week through the sleepy eyes of the disciples; and tonight through the denying eyes of Peter. 

Most of all, though, we look at things through the loyal eyes of Jesus, who never denied His Heavenly Father, nor the mission He was sent to earth for. 

Late on that first Maundy Thursday night, in the Upper Room, Jesus and the 11 disciples, after having celebrated the Passover and Lord’s Supper, sang a hymn.   It was their post-Communion or closing hymn. Then they headed for Gethsemane. 

There were only 11 disciples because Judas had already left to arrange for Jesus’ betrayal.

Jesus told the disciples they would all run away and leave him to be arrested and taken away in chains, all alone. It was the fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”

So if it was prophesied that they would desert Jesus, how could they be blamed? 

God foreknew it, but he didn’t cause it. They choose to run away in fear.  

Peter thought he was above the prophecy, and above his fellow disciples. Proudly Peter exclaimed, “Though they fall away, I won’t”. (Mark 14:29). 

“They’re cowards; I’m the brave one. I’ll stand by you. You can depend on me.”

Jesus said to Peter, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” 

“Not only will you desert me, you will deny that you even know me; and not just once, three times before the sun rises.” 

But Peter, full of himself said, “Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You.” (v. 31). And they all said the same!

Soon their false confidence would be shattered. As we saw last week, they fell asleep, instead of staying vigilant and watching for Jesus’ enemies.

When his enemies finally came, and Judas had kissed Jesus to identify him, Peter grabbed a sword and struck at them, cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Peter was probably aiming for his head, but the man may have dodged, or Peter may have been so panicked that he was just slashing wildly. 

Either way, Jesus stopped him from fighting. The time had come for Jesus to be arrested, and tried, and crucified, and on the third day, risen again.

Rather than boldly standing beside Jesus, and being arrested with him, Peter and the other disciples ran away to save their own necks. 

When Jesus had quoted the prophecy of Zechariah, He had actually added a couple words to it. He said, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Mark 14:27). 

The full quote from Zechariah is, “Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, against the Man who stands next to Me,’ declares the Lord of hosts. ‘Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered’ ” (Zechariah 13:7).

God would strike his own Son in order to save the world. Jesus wouldn’t run away and hide. He was willing and courageous to die for the sins of the world, like a lamb led to slaughter, Isaiah prophesied.

After a while, Peter and John came sneaking back. It seems they had been following at a distance. 

They came to the high priest’s home. John had some kind of connection with the high priest, so he was allowed into the compound with Jesus. But Peter was barred from going in. Then John vouched for Peter, and Peter was let in to the courtyard.

It was a bit chilly, so Peter warmed himself at the fire the guards had built. And that’s where it started. 

Peter had 3 chances to keep his promise and prove his loyalty to Jesus.

First, a servant girl recognized Peter. She said, “This man was with him when he was arrested.” Peter denied it, “I don’t the man.”

A bit later she said it again, “This fellow is one of them.” Fellow was derogatory. “This scum is one of them.” That made Peter even more afraid, and again he denied it.

Then after awhile, someone said, “Surely you were with him; you’re a Galilean; you’re accent gives you away.”

Peter became hysterical with fear. He cursed and swore, “I don’t know what you’re talking about; I don’t even know the man.” “With God as my witness I don’t know him!”.

Peter’s big words that he would be loyal to Jesus unto death, turned into words with which he perjured himself before God.

Then, Luke says, “Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. 

Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

But that wasn’t the end of the Christian life and ministry of Peter, as sadly, it was for Judas.

Peter didn’t let despair take over and end his relationship with Christ, as Judas did. Peter repented in faith, and was restored.

After Jesus died and rose again, He appeared to the disciples a number of times, once along the shore of Lake Galilee, where Jesus repeated a miracle similar to what he had done when he first called Peter, telling them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, and it was suddenly filled with fish.

On shore, Jesus showed himself, ate with them. Then He took Peter for a walk. Jesus used his formal name and asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others?” 

Remember Peter had made that claim when he said that even though the other disciples might desert and deny Jesus, he never would.

Peter replied, “You know I do.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus asked a second time, and again Peter said, “You know I do”. And again Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus asked a third time, “Peter do you love me”, and Peter was distraught. He had to have remembered that he had denied Jesus three times.   

He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know how much I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my lambs.” 

Peter had been reinstated as the spokesman of the apostles.

Then Jesus said to him, “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 and carry you where you do not want to go.” 

Jesus was telling Peter that he would be put in chains as Jesus had been.

And traditions says that like His Savior, Peter was crucified.

From this we learn, that when we repent in faith, Jesus forgives even our times of fear, when we fail to take a stand for God and His Word. And he restores us with full forgiveness, to continue to follow and serve Christ.

We also learn that we need God’s help to be faithful. Peter couldn’t do it alone, and neither can we. God gives us His Spirit to help us, His Word and Sacraments to strengthen us, and the fellowship of believers to support and encourage us.

In our increasingly secular culture, let us look all the more to God and His people for help, keeping our eyes on Jesus as our example, and trusting the Holy Spirit to make us bold and faithful. 

Jesus was courageous to suffer and die for you. He helps you to be more like him, to have the courage to love the Bible, which many scorn and mock; to confess your faith in Christ, even when it means ridicule or worse; and to love your Lord, and serve others in His name.

Jesus was loyal to His Heavenly Father, and to you.  May God bless you to always stand up for and follow Christ. 

And as you do, God’s peace, which passes understanding, will guard your heart and mind, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.