Heroes Are Made Not Born

Series on Luke

VI The Invincibility of the Kingdom

E The Trespasser

Text:22:54-62

Introduction

The apostle Peter is perhaps the best example in the Bible of Paul’s admonition, Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. But the world is filled with such examples. Did you know that Karl Marx was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church, and that at the age of 17 he wrote an essay on John 15:1-14 with the subject of the union of believers with Christ. In it he said, “The joy which the epicureans, in their superficial philosophy, sought in vain…..is a joy known only to the innocent heart united with Christ and through Christ to God.” Nine years later a liberal professor of theology had convinced him that the Christ of the gospels was not an historical person but a fantasy. When he wrote “Das Kapital” he wanted to dedicate it to Charles Darwin. Darwin was also once a theology student who eventually repudiated the Bible and became an agnostic. Even whole nations fall. Once England, the home of Spurgeon, and Hudson Taylor and David Livingston was filled with vital churches, mission societies, and Christian publishing houses. Now it is one of the most irreligious countries in western Europe. We send missionaries there to help start churches. After thirty-seven years the two college roommates who were the most instrumental in my commitment to Christ have denied Biblical Christianity, but here i stand declaring the gospel that they helped me learn. Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. That this did not happen to Peter is a miracle of God’s grace, but we need to understand what did happen so that we can apply it to our own lives It is indispensable to each of us.

I The Character

Look first at Peter’s character. Pompous Peter filled with pride. He boasted he would follow Jesus to his death in Matthew 26:31-35, Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ”‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. In the garden he drew one of the swords and wounded the high priest’s servant. What was wrong with Peter? Like so many professing Christians, he had a lot of heat, but not much light. He not only misunderstood Jesus’ mission but also the need for it. He did not see that his heart was deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. His enthusiastic emotional attachment to Jesus was real, but it was so wrapped up in his pride that the slightest suggestion of cowardice was highly disturbing and wounded him deeply. He wanted to be admired for his courage. but heroes are made not born. He didn’t listen to the warnings because he didn’t think he needed to listen. He didn’t lean on the Lord because he trusted his own courage and lamentably over-estimated his own valor. Even in following Jesus at a distance after his arrest Peter was not motivated by informed commitment but by a determination to prove himself as courageous as he claimed. Everyone of us that neglects Biblical instruction, prayer, the sacraments, and fellowship is exactly the same as Peter. All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

II The Coincidence

Here in our text the Lord deals with Peter, Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The events of his life are determined. they coincide in his humiliation. They conspire together to bring him down from his lofty perch. This is the man who later writes, Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time. How well he knows. Not only does Jesus predict his denial as we have seen but an examination of the accounts of this event in the four gospels shows the perfect timing of circumstances. Both John and Peter followed at a distance. When they come to the courtyard entrance John is admitted because he is an acquaintance of the high priest and Peter waits outside, probably satisfied to stay there. But John intercedes and Peter is admitted. No sooner is he in the door then the girl on duty says to him you’re another one of his disciples. I don’t know what John said but Peter said, I don’t know the man. How curious, since apparently John was known to be a disciple of Jesus. Then trying to warm himself at the fire someone else asks if he is another of Jesus’ disciples and he says again, I am not, and according to Matthew with a single oath. He was hoping fervently that he had finally convinced them for he was basically trapped by his own foolishness. But an hour later his Galilean accent has convinced them that he was lying, and so now with a whole string of curses he fervently denies any connection with Jesus. According to John’s account this last question comes from none other than a servant of the high priest who is a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off in the garden, whoops! Talk about regretting a precipitous course of action. The point is that this was planned. Peter is the natural leader of the apostles. He is precious to Jesus and these events do not occur to destroy him but to purify him. We need to see that all the circumstances of our lives, including our sinful pride work together to fit us for the Master’s use.

III The Compassion

It is at this precise moment before the words are fully out of his mouth that the rooster crows and Jesus is led through the courtyard and He looks at Peter, verses 61 and 62, 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. Their eyes meet and a world of speculation would not disclose all that is conveyed in that look, but Peter surely could remember that when Jesus said you will deny me, He also said i have prayed for you that your faith will not fail. This is the greatest, “i told you so,” of all time. However it is wasted if it teaches us nothing. In the end it is not judgment but compassion that melts the human heart. It is not condemnation but forgiveness that touches our souls. That’s what the gospel is all about, grace. That’s why Peter weeps. He sees himself, and he sees what Christ knows about him that he didn’t know about himself. Once Peter sank in the angry waves because he did not look at Jesus, but this time he looks. It is not our sin that makes us weep, for if that were true the whole world would be weeping. It is when we see what kind of Savior we have sinned against that we weep bitterly over our sin.

Conclusion

What shall we learn? I hope we learn that the world is filled with people both humble and proud but in the presence of Jesus there is no one humble enough. If we knew how weak we were we would never miss an opportunity. We would be using our last breath, our last ounce of strength our last moment to be in the presence of God, his word and his people. Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. When Jesus meets Peter after his resurrection he dos not say to Peter, “i love you.” He says, “Peter do you love me?” The old proud Peter wanted to hear Jesus say I love you, but the changed Peter knows that the real issue is his love. He knows what Paul writes to the Corinthians, love is not boastful. He knows that all the enthusiasm and emotion is not love. Love is informed submission to the will of God. False religion is drunk with emotion, but Christianity is sober with obedience. Peter was intoxicated now he is repentant. Let me tell you why Karl Marx and Charles Darwin rejected the God of the Bible, pride. Let me tell you why England today is a spiritual wasteland, pride. Let me tell you why America is following rapidly in her steps, pride. Let me tell you why my two friends who were so instrumental in my commitment to Christ are now far from God. The reason is that they were never humbled as i was, and while they were succeeding i was failing. While they were hitting home runs i was striking out, but Christ lifted me up. In spite of that I share the common frailty that affected Peter and affects us all. I am unreasonably proud and i forget my Lord’s admonition, Without me you can do nothing.