Mark 14:66-72
Will You Deny Me?
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Sermon Summary
Will you be ashamed of Jesus? How do we prepare ourselves to stand for Jesus?
Peter’s Denial
Mark 14:66-72 vividly recounts Peter's denial of Jesus thrice, despite his earlier vehement assertion of loyalty. This event is a profound reflection on human weakness and fear. The passage also teaches us of Jesus’ foreknowledge and plan for what was happening.
Why would God allow this to happen?
The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 5 Paragraph 5 is helpful in understanding why God, in his holy and wise providence, puts us in situation where failure is all but guaranteed. Peter was put in this situation to learn humility and learn of the remaining corruption that was still in him.
5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they be humbled;a and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support unto himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.b
a. 2 Sam 24:1; 2 Chron 32:25-26, 31. • b. Psa 73 throughout; Psa 77:1-10, 12; Mark 14:66-72 with John 21:15-17; 2 Cor 12:7-9.
What about those who deny Jesus?
Had Peter committed the unpardonable sin? Jesus said in Matthew 10:32-33 that He would deny them who denied him. Do we consistently disown Christ? If we do, Christ will disown us.
How do we not disown Christ?
You must have the Holy Spirit. The change in Peter from Mark 14 to Acts 2
Find your strength in God alone. Psalm 18:1-2
Know that trials of faith and persecution will come
Don’t worry about what you will speak
Recognize you are not greater than your master
Rest assured they can not kill your soul.
Take comfort in God’s care for you.
Love Jesus more than anything or anyone.
Receive the prophets and the righteous
Fill your life with good deeds
Know it is a blessing to suffer for righteousness
Sanctify God in your heart
Be ready to give a defense for the reason you have hope
Have an attitude of - meekness, fear, and a good conscience
Sample Bible Study
Sample Bible Study: Standing Firm in Faith
Objective: To explore biblical and historical examples of standing firm in faith, understanding the role of providence, and applying principles to withstand trials for Christ.
Scripture Study:
Mark 14:66-72: Analyze Peter's denial and reflect on the pressures that led to his failure.
Matthew 10: Study Jesus' instructions on facing persecution and the promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance.
1 Peter 3:13-17: Examine Peter's counsel on suffering for righteousness and being prepared to defend our hope.
Discussion Questions:
What were the immediate fears that led to Peter's denial of Jesus? How do we face similar fears today?
How does understanding God's providence help us in facing trials for our faith? Why would God place us in these situations?
Looking at Acts 2, Matthew 10, and 1 Peter 3, What practical steps can you take for standing firm in faith?
Discuss the stories of Polycarp and the modern nurse. How do these examples inspire you to stand firm in your faith? What stories can you remember of saints overcoming the world and temptation to turn from Christ?
Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms:
WCF Chapter 5, Paragraph 5: Discuss the providence of God in allowing trials and the purpose behind them.
Westminster Larger Catechism Q&A 195: Reflect on the importance of prayer in seeking God's help to stand firm in trials.
Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 26: Explore the role of Christ as King in defending us against our enemies and the assurance it provides.
Practical Application:
Identify areas in your life where you feel pressure to compromise your faith. Pray for strength and wisdom in these areas.
Consider memorizing key Scriptures that remind you of God's strength and your identity in Christ.
Encourage one another in your community or church group, sharing stories of faithfulness and praying for each other's trials.
Closing Prayer: Seek God's guidance and strength to face trials with courage, relying on the Holy Spirit and the truth of the gospel to stand firm in faith.
Weekday Devotionals
Monday Devotional: The Fragility of Human Resolve
Scripture Reading: Mark 14:66-72
In the cold courtyard, as Peter warmed himself by the fire, he faced a test of faith that would forever mark his journey with Jesus. This passage from the Gospel of Mark highlights not just Peter's denial of Christ but reflects the vulnerability we all harbor within our spirits. It's a powerful reminder of the frailty of human resolve when confronted with fear and opposition.
Reflection
Peter, once boisterous in his declaration of unwavering loyalty to Jesus, finds himself in the throes of fear and self-preservation. The stark contrast between his bold claims and his subsequent denials serves as a mirror to our own lives. How often do we, fortified by the comfort of community and the warmth of familiar surroundings, pledge unwavering faithfulness to God, only to falter when faced with the chilling winds of trial and persecution?
This account is historical. But it is not just death history. It's a living narrative that breathes life into our souls, urging us to think about and even question our own faithfulness. Are we like Peter, vehement in our declarations yet vulnerable in our actions?
Prayer Prompt
Pray for the courage and strength that comes not from our own resolve but from the Holy Spirit. May we seek forgiveness for the times we've denied Him, whether through our words, actions, or silence. Pray that God would fortify our hearts. May he be our rock and refuge. May God make us steadfast in our faith, especially when faced with the pressures and temptations of this world. Lord please do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. But, when temptation comes give us strength to endure it.
Tuesday Devotional: The Power of Remembrance
Scripture Reading: Mark 14:72
The moment of Peter's realization is a testament to the power of memory and the words of Christ. As the rooster's crow pierced the night, so did the memory of Jesus' words pierce Peter's heart, leading him to weep bitterly. This sorrowful acknowledgment of his failure marks the beginning of a new phase of grace in Peter's life. He needed to know Jesus was the true rock.
Reflection
The significance of remembrance in our spiritual journey cannot be overstated. It is in remembering the words of Christ, His promises, and His teachings that we find the strength to face our own moments of trial and temptation. We must remember. Peter's tears are a symbol of contrition. He didn’t know if there would be a path to redemption. But Jesus did. It would take time but Peter would eventually remember all of this had to happen.
This narrative invites us to reflect on the times we've forgotten God word. Are there moments we've acted as if we did not know Him? It challenges us to remember, to hold fast to the Holy Spirit. The passage calls us to remember the truths of Scripture, and to allow those truths to guide our actions and decisions.
Prayer Prompt
Let us pray for a heart that remembers, that holds tightly to the words and promises of Jesus. Pray for a spirit of repentance, that in recognizing our failures, we may also embrace the grace and mercy that Christ offers.
Wednesday Devotional: The Light in Darkness
Scripture Reading: Mark 14:66-72
In the narrative of Peter's denial, the courtyard, a place of warmth and light, becomes the stage for a spiritual battle within Peter's heart, reflecting the battles we face in our own lives.
Reflection
The darkness of the world around us often manifests in trials and temptations that challenge our faith. We must be reminded how easily darkness can envelop us when we rely on our own strength.
This passage teaches us that no matter how deep the darkness, God's light can still penetrate and guide us back to Him. Sometimes the Lord uses the greatest darkness to shine forth His light. We are called to remain vigilant, to be aware of the spiritual battles we face, and to trust in God's ability to lead us through the darkness into His marvelous light.
Prayer Prompt
Pray for the awareness to recognize the spiritual battles around us and the humility to admit our weaknesses. The enemy is to great to fight on our own. Our hearts are too distractible and foolish to understand the warfare engulfing every side. Ask God to shine His light in our hearts, revealing the areas where we've allowed darkness to take hold. Pray for the strength to stand firm in faith, trusting in His guidance and protection against the forces that seek to undermine our relationship with Him.
Thursday Devotional: The Restoration of Faith
Scripture Reading: John 21:15-19
Following his denial, Peter's journey did not end in despair. In John's Gospel, we witness a poignant moment of restoration as Jesus, after His resurrection, reaffirms Peter's place in His ministry, asking him three times, "Do you love me?" This act of divine grace highlights the process of restoration that is available to all who falter in their faith.
Reflection
Peter's restoration is a powerful testament to the depth of Jesus' understanding and forgiveness. Peter was not saved by his strength. Peter was not saved by his courage. Now was this THE litmus test for Peter. His salvation did not rest on his own deeds. The narrative reminds us that our failures are not the end of our story. Just as Jesus restored Peter, He is also willing to restore us, to reaffirm our call, and to entrust us with His work.
This narrative encourages us to look beyond our failures. There is potential for renewal and greater service in God's kingdom. It's a call to embrace the grace that is extended to us, to rise from our moments of denial, and to humbly step into the purpose that God has for our lives.
Prayer Prompt
Pray for the grace to accept God's forgiveness and the courage to move forward in faith. Ask for the humility to learn from our failures. Ask go to allowing your failures to refine rather than define you. Pray that God would use our stories of restoration to encourage others, showing them that through His love and grace, we can be restored and renewed for His glory.
Friday Devotional: Standing Firm in the Faith
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:8-10
In his letters, Peter writes with the wisdom of one who has experienced the depths of failure and the heights of restoration. He encourages believers to be sober-minded, to watch out for the adversary, and to stand firm in their faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by their brotherhood throughout the world.
Reflection
Peter's transformation from a man who denied Christ to one who boldly proclaims the faith is a testament to the power of God's work in a believer's life. Peter’s exhortation to stand firm is born out of personal experience. Peter had walked this road. Peter issues us a call to persevere through trials with the assurance that God will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.
This message is especially relevant in a world that often demands we compromise our faith. It feels as if we are constantly bombarded unbiblical worldviews. It's a reminder that our struggles are not unique. Our struggles are shared by believers everywhere. Through the community of faith we can find strength and encouragement to remain steadfast.
Prayer Prompt
Pray for the perseverance to stand firm in your faith, even in the face of trials, opposition, and persecution. Ask God to strengthen and establish you, to use your experiences to encourage others in their walk with Him. Pray for the global church, that despite the challenges it faces, it would remain a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring power of faith in Christ.
Reflective Article
Facing Our Failures: Lessons from Peter's Denial
At the heart of the Gospel of Mark, in chapter 14:66-72, lies a narrative rich with vulnerability, failure, and redemption. Mark tells us the historical narrative of Peter, a close follower of Jesus, who, despite his fervent declarations of loyalty, denies knowing Jesus three times. Peter’s moment of weakness is not just a tale for ancient times. One of the reasons the Holy Spirit had this preserved this story is because it mirrors the struggles we face today in standing firm in our beliefs amidst societal pressures. Christians around the globe are being pressured into caving on biblical convictions. Will we deny Jesus also?
The Struggle of Faith in a Skeptical World
We live in times where expressing one's faith openly can be met with skepticism, ridicule, or even outright hostility. The fear of being ostracized or misunderstood can lead to moments where, like Peter, we might find ourselves denying our convictions. We can deny our Lord both explicitly like Peter did or through our silence. Sometimes, if your like me, the times when I have swallowed down my convictions, succumbed to the pressure, and kept quite haunt me. The question that arises from Peter's story is not about the inevitability of our failures but about how we prepare ourselves to face them and stand firm in our faith. But, it is also a passage that teaches us something remarkable about Jesus’ love even though He knows we may fail him.
Preparation Through Reflection and Trust
Peter's denial teaches us the importance of self-awareness and trust in God. Before the moment of his denial, Peter was confident in his own strength. Peter painted the picture clearly. Everyone else would desert Jesus. But there would still be one standing on the battle field next to his Lord. And, if it came down to it, Peter would die for Jesus. However, it was exactly this confidence that led to his downfall. Take heed you who stand lest you fall.
Reflecting on our vulnerabilities and acknowledging our reliance on God is crucial in preparing ourselves for the moments when our faith will be tested. We must not rely on our own strength. We must trust God. He is our shield and our strength.
The narrative also highlights the power of forgiveness and redemption. Despite Peter's denial, he is not cast aside. Instead, his story is one of being remembered and restored. It’s no accident why Jesus at the resurrection told the women to go get Peter. There’s no wonder why Jesus asked Peter three times “Do you love me.” Peter’s salvation, ultimate destination, or hope of glory was never supposed to be in his own strength. Jesus went to that cross knowing he would bear the guilt of Peter’s sin. Peter would call down a curse upon himself but Jesus would take that curse. What a powerful testament to the boundless grace that awaits us, even in our weakest moments.
Practical Applications for Today
Embrace Humility: The way up is down. He must increase and we must decrease. It is imperative that we recognize that our strength to stand firm does not come from our own resolve but from God himself. Not even the strength of our trust. As disciples we embrace humility and acknowledge that, like Peter, our own understanding and strength are insufficient.
Cultivate a Relationship with the Holy Spirit: The transformation in Peter from a denier to a bold proclaimer of the Gospel is a journey of empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Peter went from being scared of the Jewish people to preaching to thousands. How? What changed between his thrice denial to him preaching Christ in the temple? Peter met the resurrect Christ, was restored to office, and received the Holy Spirit. The weakest Christian is the one who relies on their own strength. We must cultivate a deep, personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide, strengthen, and embolden us in our walk of faith.
Know the Gospel: You will be challenged in this life to deny Christ. Opportunities will arise for you to proclaim Jesus or shrink back. In moments of challenge, the depth of our understanding and the conviction of the Gospel within us are our best defenses. You must know the Gospel. You must know your Lord. You must know the gospel is for you. You must know Jesus as your Lord. Immerse yourself in the Scriptures, not just as a routine but as a foundation for life.
Live Out Your Faith with Love and Meekness: It is amazing that Peter, the once denier, is then is led by the Holy Spirit to write to the churches how they were to be apologists. Peter teaches us in 1 Peter 3:13-17 that our journey of boldness in faith is not about confrontation but about standing firm with love, humility, and a clear conscience. We must be prepared to give a defense of the hope you have. But, our attitude must be that of meekness, fear, and a good conscience. Let your life be a testament to the grace you've received by extending grace, love, and understanding to others, even in the face of opposition.
Seek Community and Encouragement: Just as Peter was not alone in his journey, neither are we. Surround yourself with a community of faith that encourages, supports, and challenges you to grow in your walk with God.
May the Lord be your strength. May the Lion of Judah be your confidence. May the Holy Spirit fill your heart with His courage. May you suffer for the Lord of glory well. May His kingdom come and His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
Automated Transcript
Well, you turn over in your Bibles
with me to the Gospel of Mark. Gospel of Mark, we'll be looking
at verses 66, chapter 14, verses 66 through the end of that chapter. If you're looking for the Gospel
of Mark, chapter 14, you'll find that on page 900 of the provided
New King James Pew Bibles. Mark chapter 14, beginning at
verse 66. Hear now God's perfect word. Now as Peter was below in the
courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came.
And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and
said, You also were with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied it,
saying, I neither know nor understand what you are saying. And he went
out on the porch and a rooster crowed. And the servant girl
saw him again and began to say to those who stood by, this is
one of them. But he denied it again. And a little later, those who
stood by said to Peter, surely you are one of them, for you
are a Galilean and your speech shows it. Then he began to curse
and swear, I do not know this man of whom you speak. A second
time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the
word that Jesus had said to him. Before the rooster crows twice,
you will deny me three times. And when he thought about it,
he wept. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you so much for the vulnerability that Peter
would have even in preaching this passage of his failure.
We thank you for the Gospels, each and every one of them recording
this story. But Father, we pray that we would
both understand the historical truths of these stories, but
that your spirit would work in our hearts in such a way that
this story, this historical narrative would breathe life into our souls. that your spirit would work in
us to give us strength and courage that would come from you. Lord,
please help today. Help me, Lord, a sinful man to
speak your word clearly and help each one of us to have hearts
to discern what is true and what is right and that we might receive
strength from you. We pray in Jesus's name. Amen. We live in a land that's growing
darker and darker. Seems as every news channel shows
and every year goes by, that you will be given ample opportunity
in your life to deny Jesus Christ. You can even pay former evangelicals
who have deconstructed their faith, that they will teach you
how to do that same apostatizing. Will you deny Jesus? Will you
deny Jesus when the alphabet mafia comes knocking at your
door? Will you deny Jesus when the
thought police, whether they're on the right or on the left,
demand that you come in line with today's orthodoxy or be
quiet? Will you deny Jesus when your
family members Tell you that the positions you hold or the
scriptures you believe are bigoted and backwards and hateful. Will
you deny the words of Christ? Will you turn your back upon
the Lord? When all the world tells us what
we believe is wrong. This passage puts us right in
Peter's shoes and demands of us what would we have done and
what will we do? Will I be ashamed of Jesus? Well the question I have for
us today is how do we prepare ourselves to stand for Jesus? How do we prepare ourselves to
take a stand for Jesus? And so first we need to look
at the historical narrative that God preserved for us. I mentioned
in the prayer that this was preserved in Matthew, in Mark, in Luke,
and in John, in every single one of the Gospels, a form of
this historical narrative. I hate to call these things stories,
right? Because it's not make-believe. These are historical narratives.
And so as we look at this historical narrative, there are things to
point out here in Peter's denial. And notice verse 30, before we
even get to verse 66, Jesus had told Peter that this was going
to happen. All right, Mark chapter 14, verse 30. Assuredly I say
to you today that even this night before the rooster crows twice,
you will deny me three times. But he, this is Peter speaking
here, but he spoke more vehemently, if I have to die with you, I
will not deny you. That was at 10 o'clock or 11
o'clock at night. It's not more than six hours
later, and we're at verse 66. And notice who the first person
who puts Peter on his heels is. Now as Peter, verse 66, now as
Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the
high priest came. This is Ipediski. This is like
a little girl. The type of person who would
carry around the bread, or would take people's coats at the door.
This is a little girl. She sees Peter there, he's warming
himself by the fire, that's what Mark had told us earlier, and
as the light is there shining on his face, it says in verse
67, and when she saw Peter, this is not just a normal seeing him,
it's like she's studying his face. She's gazing at him, she
looks at him intently, and she said, you also were with Jesus
of Nazareth. Now how did she know that? She's
a servant in the house. I think she knows who should
be there, who shouldn't be there, but this is kind of a semi-public,
quasi-spectacle, so there's different people. But I'm guessing at some
point she had been in Jerusalem, or even in the temple, and had
seen Jesus teaching and His disciples around Him. And this little girl
makes the connection. And Peter is put on his heels.
He's either got one of three choices. Fight. flight or freeze. He's caught in a dangerous position
and he both fights and freezes in verse 68. But he denied it. Peter denied it saying, notice
it's a two-part answer here, I neither know nor understand
what you are saying. Peter denies it, the truth that
he's one of Jesus' followers, and in a sense he's denying Jesus
himself, Right? Jesus is on trial. He doesn't
want to be associated with Jesus. And he says two things to her.
One is himself, right? I don't know what you're talking
about. But then the second is actually an insult against her.
Almost like, shut up little girl, be quiet. He pats her on the
head. Nor do I understand it. Right? You're talking babble.
I don't know what you're talking about, kid. Just go away. But
then notice what happens in verse 68 after he says this. And he
went out on the porch and a rooster crowed. He runs out of there,
right? He tries to get away from this situation. He's almost been
found out. This is a dangerous place. I
mean, what happens if he gets drugged upstairs? What happens
if he gets drugged out of the courtyard and now into Caiaphas'
house? Will he put on trial too? Well,
he's not going to wait for it. He leaves. He goes out to the
archway, he goes to the gate of the house, the doorway of
the house, the porch. And this little girl follows
him even out there. But notice that the scene escalates,
right? It doesn't just stay with her
telling Peter. Notice what she does next in
verse 69. And the servant girl saw him
again and began to say, not to him, and began to say to those
who stood by, this is one of them. Now this is a whole other
level of danger, right? Before it was kind of like people
might overhear this, but it was mainly between him and her. Now
she's convinced he is one of Jesus' followers, and she's going
to start telling other people, because she knows she's not crazy.
So she's going to start telling other people, and Jesus denies
it again. Arneomai. This is the same word
that Jesus told him he would do. You will deny me three times. And here, for the second time,
he denies Jesus. He thought maybe there was an
uneasy peace. Maybe he got away with it, right?
But he's still around there. But now it escalates to another
level. Now it's not a little girl confronting
him. Notice what happens next. Verse 70, but after he denied
it again, and a little later, this is a microsecond, a micron
away, those who stood by said to Peter again, surely you are
one of them. You can hear the suspicion and
the sneer in their voice. For you are a Galilean and your
speech shows it. Have you ever met somebody from
the South? You know somebody who's from the South. Have you
ever met somebody from the hills of West Virginia? You know they're
from the hills of West Virginia. Because of the way they talk.
It's the same way. Up in Galilee, right? In Hebrew
and Aramaic, there's two letters. A chet and a chay. Or a chet
and a chaf. And both of them are gutturals.
They both have a ch, ch, ch, right? Up in Galilee, there was
more influence with Greek people than down in Jerusalem. And so
those H's became more H's. And so they smoothed out those
gutturals as they talked with more and more Greek people. So
as they're sitting there around the fire, they must have been
talking to Peter and they realize, you don't talk like us. Actually,
we can tell where you come from. And it ain't from here. You're
from up there. That's the... That's a backwards
country. That's a redneck area. No, no,
no, no. You must be one of them. Notice what Peter does. He's backed into a corner. This
is an existential threat to him. And he does something in verse
71, far deeper than I think we understand. Then he began to
curse and swear, saying, I do not know this man of whom you
speak. This idea of cursing and swearing,
he's putting himself under oath. He is saying, I swear to God
that I don't know this man, and if I am lying, may God do to
me such and such and such. He is giving a legal oath to
these guys. I don't know him. And immediately
as these words are passing from his lips, the book of Luke chapter
22 says, And the Lord looked at him. Then the Lord looked at him and
Peter remembered Jesus' words. That he would deny him three
times and guess what happens? The rooster crows. My question as I came to this
passage was, and did Peter commit the unpardonable sin? Did Peter
deny Jesus? And is denying Jesus, the unpardonable
sin here, is he condemned forever? And then I had to ask myself,
what if I've failed Jesus? At times, right? And I think
each of us have those moments in our lives, right? I'm sure
there's some time in many of your lives in which you know
that you ought to have spoken up for God and His Word, and
yet you've kind of swallowed it down. You didn't have the
courage to say what you knew you ought to have said. Will He cast me away forever?
A beautiful thing is that As we'll
continue on in the story, when Jesus is raised again from the
dead, it's not a small thing that he tells the ladies at his
empty tomb, go get Peter. And it's in the heart of this
story that after the resurrection, when Jesus is talking to Peter,
just before the Great Commission, he asked him three times, Peter,
do you love me? One question for each denial. Jesus knew even in this moment
of Peter's weakness and cowardice, that he would die even for those
sins. That Jesus' sacrifice would cover even for this. But again,
another question I have to ask myself is, why did God even allow
this to happen? Right? We believe in a God who
is sovereign and a God who is provident. Why did He even allow
Peter to be in that court? Right? Why would he even be there?
And this is where it was interesting to me that this passage, 66 through
the end of the passage, is cited as a proof text for the Westminster
Confession of Faith on Providence. Westminster Confession of Faith,
Chapter 5, Paragraph 5 says, The most wise, righteous, and
gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children
to manifold temptations. and to the corruption of their
own hearts. Why does He do that? Why does
the Lord sometimes allow us to go into situations where He lets
us do what our hearts would desire? Oh, to chastise them for their
former sins, or to discover upon them the hidden strength of corruption
and deceitfulness of their own hearts, that they may be humbled. But it's not just so they stay
humbled. God doesn't do this even when He put Peter in that
situation. He didn't do it just to humble
Peter. But also to raise them to a more close and constant,
dependent for their support upon Him. And to make them more watchful
against all future occasions of sin. And for sundry other
just and holy ends. Do you see? Peter may have been
called by Jesus, Rock. Petros means rock. But nobody
would want to build their house of faith upon Peter. No. God allowed this to happen
so Peter's self-strength would evaporate. God providentially
put Peter in this situation because he was taking him to the school
of humility. God was leading Peter to see
that his own strength was really just weakness. God put Peter
by his providence in this situation to see his inner corruption,
and as he failed this test, That he would be left with nothing
more than tears and a hope that Jesus would somehow be able to
receive him and forgive him. Is that not the same reason God
puts us in every trial? So we are humbled and we have
only one hope. But what about deniers? I mean,
Jesus specifically said in Matthew chapter 10, Verses 32 and 33,
if you deny me in front of others, what's Jesus going to do? If
you deny me before men, I'll deny you before my Father. So,
does Jesus talk out of both sides of his mouth? Because he seems
to not deny Peter. After the resurrection, he doesn't
seem to deny Peter later in life. So how does this happen? Well,
I was really helped by D.A. Carson on this passage when he
writes about, it is necessary to publicly acknowledge Jesus
as our Lord. However, we will each have shades
of boldness, fluency, wisdom, sensitivity, and even frequency
to make that public profession. However, to consistently disown
Christ is to be disowned by Christ. The question is not, you know,
you have this one moment, you only have one opportunity your
entire life, and in that one opportunity, man, if you blow
it, your salvation's gone. No, the question is, what is
the pattern of your life? Every time you're faced with
this challenge, do you disown Christ? Every time that you're
faced with, am I going to speak up? Do you disown Him? If so,
then Jesus is saying, you're not one of my own. Right? Because if it's dependent just
upon that one moment, right? If God has like this litmus test,
I'm going to, in my providence, give you just one time, and if
you pass the test that one time, then what's your salvation dependent
on? On your work. On your strength. On your courage.
But that's not how we're saved. That's not how we're redeemed. See, it's not that we deny Him
once, but it's if we disown Him again and again and again. But God doesn't want us to stay in
this spot that we find Peter here. God does not want us to
be in this spot. And we know that's true because
God didn't leave Peter in that spot. Right? We do not find Peter
cowering forever in the upper room. After the death of Jesus,
they're just going to be afraid, right? They're afraid of the
Jewish people, they lock all the doors, they stay in the upper room,
they don't want to go anywhere. So how do we move from Peter
denying Jesus, scared in the upper room, to the Peter in Acts
chapter 2, who is preaching the gospel to thousands of people,
and how do we get to the Peter who's standing in the temple,
who will proclaim Jesus to the high priests themselves? Where's
the bridge? How do we get from Mark chapter
14 to Acts chapter 2? What's the change in Peter? Because it's not his courage,
it's not his strength. That's gone. So here I'm going to give you
a whole bunch of stuff. I think I've got it listed out,
like 15 different steps here. So how do we not disown Christ?
Well, number one, how we get from Mark 14 to Acts chapter
2 is you must have the Holy Spirit. Peter did not rely on his own
strength the rest of the book of Acts. Actually, every time
he does, he falls on his face. You go read through the book
of Acts, and you read through the book of Galatians, there's
multiple times where Peter ain't perfect. But He's a person just like we
are, but yet we see Him doing bold and amazing things because
He's filled with the Holy Spirit. He believes in the resurrected
Lord Jesus Christ and He professes Him with His mouth. Now, I'm
telling you this and I want to point out to you, go read the
rest of the book of Acts, because I'm not promising you. I've given
you point number one, I'm about to give you 14 more applications. I'm not guaranteeing that you're
never going to fail. Hear me out. You may follow every
single thing that I'm about to point out from Matthew 10 and
1 Peter 3, and you may still fail at times. But your strength
is in the Lord, and your assurance of salvation is not in your own
courage, but in the finished work of Jesus. So with that said,
how do you find your strength to not disown Christ? Number two is you find your strength
in God alone. This is what the saints have
told us from of old. Psalm chapter 18, verses 1 and
2. I will love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock. and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my strength in whom I trust, my shield and the horn of my
salvation, my stronghold. What is your strength? Is your
strength in your courage? Is your strength in your moral
fidelity? Is your strength in your integrity? What are you
holding on to in and of yourself that's your strength? I'm telling
you that will become your weakness. That'll be exactly where Satan
wants to latch on to and show you. Oh yeah, you think you're
that strong? I'll come in from that angle. The Lord must be our strength.
And then here's 8 different principles from Matthew chapter 10. This
is the chapter where Jesus says, if you deny me, I will deny you
before my Father in heaven. So, 8 principles from Matthew
chapter 10. So, number 3. Know that trials
of faith and persecution will come. Peter didn't understand
this. Peter didn't think that this
was real. Peter thought Jesus was the Messiah. He's coming.
I've got a sword. We're going to take the kingdom
by force, boys. I'm never going to deny you. I will die for you.
He didn't expect that Jesus would say, put away your sword. Pick
up your cross instead. Understand that trials of faith
and persecutions will come. Application number four, do not
worry though what you will speak. When that time comes, Don't worry
about what you will speak, because your defense of the faith and
its effectiveness will not be based upon some imaginary speech
you have prepared for that time and occasion. Don't worry about
what you will speak. Point number five, recognize
that you are not greater than your master. If they persecuted
Jesus, they will also persecute you. This is why the disciples, once
they were filled with the Holy Spirit, when they suffered persecution,
do you know what they said? They thanked God that they were
worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. My point here of comfort, number
six, rest assured that they cannot kill your soul. The enemies of
the flesh cannot kill your soul. They cannot destroy you utterly.
They're but mere men. This is the courage that Peter
would later have when he would stand face to face with Nero,
the emperor, the strongest man in the known world at that time,
and would give profession of faith in his old age to Jesus
Christ. Number seven, take comfort in
God's care for you. From Matthew chapter 10, take
comfort in God's care for you. This is the chapter in which
Jesus is talking about their persecution, don't deny Him.
And He says He counts the hairs on your head. Jesus counts every
hair upon your head. Take comfort in God's care for
you because He numbers all the different sparrows. He knows
every single one of them and you are more valuable than any
sparrow who has ever flown. Take comfort in God's care for
you. Number eight, love Jesus more
than anyone or anything. This is the same passage of what
Jesus will say, right? You're going to have to hate
your mother and your father, your brother and your sister.
Now that's hyperbole. Jesus isn't saying you literally
have to hate them. Jesus is saying, you got to love
me more than them. Some of you know how hard that
is because you deeply love your children. You deeply care for
your grandchildren. You love your brothers and sisters.
But if they come between you and Jesus Christ, who will win?
Who will win? Who has your ultimate loyalty? Number nine, receive the prophets
and the righteous as you open up God's word. Do you hear it
as true? Do you receive it as the word
of God? Does it take root in your life and guide your steps? Lastly, from Jesus in Matthew
chapter 10, point number 10, fill your life with good deeds. If you are going to not deny
Christ, when those times of trouble and persecution come, don't deny
the good works that He's created you for. For by grace you were
saved through faith, and that not of works lest anyone should
boast. We have been saved by grace through
faith, but Ephesians 2.10, you were saved for good works. And as your life, as you are
continually doing good works for God's glory, You will have
Christ in your mind. And He will give you strength.
But then the next place I want us to look at for how do we not
deny Christ is four principles that come from Peter's own lips.
See, Peter isn't just mentioned in the Gospels, but he wrote
us epistles. And in 1 Peter chapter 3, he
specifically talks about what do we do when trials come. 1
Peter chapter 3 verses 13 through 17. Four principles from 1 Peter
chapter 3. Number 11. You are blessed to
suffer for righteousness. You are blessed if you suffer
for righteousness. This is Peter writing these words
later, after he's already suffered, After he's already denied Jesus,
and he knows when he suffers for Jesus' sake, it is good for
him. Point 12 from 1 Peter chapter
3 is, sanctify God in your heart. Right? In your mind, regard God
as holy. Right? Don't treat God as common. Don't treat God as ordinary.
This is what Peter had to learn. He was treating Jesus as ordinary. He was treating Jesus like any
other political leader, but he had to sanctify God in his heart. God had to take the throne, and
he had to be humbled. So in your life, sanctify God
in your heart. The more and more you think upon
His holiness, the more and more you will be driven toward loving
holiness in your life, and wanting to tell others about that holiness
that you find in God. Application 13, the third one
from 1 Peter 3, be ready to give a defense, a reason of hope. Now by this I don't mean, right,
we're going to contradict what Jesus just said, right? Don't
worry about what you're saying. This is saying you need to have
the gospel so wrapped up in your heart, so clear in your mind,
that the good news of Jesus Christ is for you, that you know who
Jesus is, you know the heart of the good news of Jesus, and
you know the hope of salvation, that if somebody was to come
to you, you could, on the spot, be ready to give a defense. Because it's buried in your heart.
You don't need to worry about it, you don't need to anticipate
it, but you can, from the overflow of your heart, your mouth can
speak. So have the gospel buried in your heart. But when you do
this, and I love that Peter puts this, right? You need to have
a right attitude. At this last application, I think
only Peter could give us. Have the right attitude. Notice
the three points that he gives for our attitude as we give a
reason for the hope in us. The first is meekness. If you're going to give a defense
for your faith, it cannot be out of your pride and your own
strength, but it must be from meekness. It must be from that
place of humility. It must be coming from a place
of gentleness and not of just your own, well, I'm going to
win the argument. No, our apologetics are met with
meekness. We should also have an attitude
of fear. We have an attitude of reverence
for who God is, for where we are in his place. And lastly, we must have an attitude
that is marked by a good conscience. That we are not those given over
to lustful passions, to the fruits of the flesh, who revel in anger
and debauchery, gluttony and drunkenness, but that we long
for the fruits of the Spirit, that we might have a clean conscience
marked by the work of God in our lives. So I've given you
a lot of different applications. I want to leave you with just
a few illustrations here. At first, there's a story I heard
a while ago about a dad and his son. They go to New York City,
some big city like that. I don't remember exactly where.
They got across a busy street. And the dad is going to walk
the boy across the street and says, we need to get from here
to there. And so he tells his son, he says, I need you to hold
on to my hand as tight as you can, okay? And so they go across
the crosswalk, and it's a yellow light, so they gotta get over
there fast before the oncoming traffic starts coming. And so
as they're going, the little boy is running his legs, running
his legs, running his legs. They get to the other side, and
he looks up at his dad, and he says, I'm sure glad I held onto
you tight, Dad. Who do you think was holding
on tight? The father or the boy? Your father's holding your hand
as you do this. Your strength is not from how
quickly your legs can run or how tightly you can hold on to
your father's hand, but your success in this life is based
upon how tightly your father holds on to you. And he says
nobody can snatch you from his hand. A story from church history
is an old man named Polycarp, Bishop of, I think, Smyrna. And
Polycarp was convinced, right, as the Romans were coming and
they were persecuting the church, Polycarp Listen to the people
in the church. They came to search for him.
The Romans were trying to find him so they could arrest him
and put him on trial. And they convinced him, no, no, Polycarp,
you should leave and go into hiding. And so he did that. And
he struggled with that, right? Have I denied Christ by seeking
my own safety rather than going away? He wrestled with that for
a long time. And then it happened again when
he was old. And Polycarp then, when he was
in his old years, The Romans came for him again. And when
the soldiers came to his door, he said, I'll go with you, but
can you please wait? I want to pray first. And so
the Roman guards stood at his door, and as they stood at his
door, he prayed to God out loud for God to keep his soul, for
God to watch over the people, and even for the soldiers who
were to arrest him. And in his old age, Polycarp
walked into that theater where he would face death. And the
judge told him, just denounce atheism. Just denounce this Christianity
that you hold to, that you say there are no other gods. And
Polycarp in his old age, I could imagine some of you who have
the gray hair giving us courage, right? He stood up in the midst
of those people, this man who had once cowered, and he looked
at the crowd and he said, he pointed at them and he said,
away with the atheists. He said, My Lord has watched
me these eighty and four years. How shall now I turn my back
upon Him? It's not always the men who stand
up. I remember a story of a, this
is the last illustration and we'll end here, a story of a
young woman. She was a nurse in a hospital
and they tried, as she was trying to care for patients, they would
put her in situations where she could not, in conscience, ethically
work. She was assigned to a post-op
unit. And after these surgeries, she
was assigned to care for people who were going through gender
transition surgeries. And she said, I can't do that.
And so they tried to assign her different roles, but eventually
those roles ended and somebody said, this is discriminatory
behavior and you're making a problem for all the other nurses. You
have to do this. She said, well, I can't. And
eventually this became such a problem, she said, no, I have a conscientious
objection to this. And eventually they said, no,
you do have to do this. And they called together a meeting
with different leaders of the hospital and set this poor girl
in the midst of these leaders. And they told her, we'll assign
you to a different unit, but you have to do this if you're
going to keep working. And she said, OK, do you want
to send me home today? Will you deny him? Or will you have the lion's courage
of that young woman? Will you stand for Jesus Christ? Even when they may say, you're
unloving. Even when they may have looked at Peter and said,
don't you understand? This one guy has to die so the rest of
the Jewish nation will be safe. Will you deny him? And where will you find the courage?
We find it in the Holy Spirit. and by walking that faith out
every day in our lives. You may be tried, you may be
tempted, you may be tested, but if your strength is in the Lord,
you will not fail. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for those heroes and heroines
of the faith who have shown us what it looks like to suffer
with glory. Lord, we pray that you would
not fill us with our own courage or with the thoughts of grandeur
from our own strength. But Lord, in our weakness, you
are proved strong. So Father, we pray that you would
be working in and through and amongst us. We pray that we might, by your
spirit, be a congregation of people who would encourage one
another every week more and more for the good works that you have
prepared for us beforehand to do. Lord, we pray that you would
please care for each one of us. Give us the strength that comes
not from within, but from you. As we find in you our strong
tower, our refuge, our strength, and our hope. Please help us,
Lord, we pray in Jesus's name. Amen. Let's stand together now
and we'll sing Psalm 66, Selection C. Let's stand together if you're
able.