Dear Christian friends:

Often people hear this story about Christs suffering and death and say: "Poor Jesus!" They feel very very sorry for Jesus and nothing more. They feel no connection with the events of this story. That is like watching a sad movie and having a good cry and then going home and forgetting about it.

During these Lenten sermons we are trying to take away that idea from your hearts. We want you to feel a strong connection with each of the important events in the Lord's Passion. You are connected with these events, whether you know it or not, yet we want you to know it surely so that you can believe and stay believing, receiving the forgiveness of sins for everlasting life.

Therefore during these Lenten Sermons we are asking the important question:


Let us see. After the disciples forsook Jesus in the Garden, Peter came back slowly to see what was happening to Jesus. He followed the mob and the bound Prisoner from afar to the palace of the High Priest.

It was chilly in the early morning hours, so Peter warmed himself by the fire in the hallway. There by the fire Peter denied His Lord thrice times. Our text plainly tells how it happened.

"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 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. (Luke 22:56-62)

In some ways this denial by Peter is worse than the betrayal by Judas. Judas did not claim to be the strongest disciple like Peter. The biggest boldest of the twelve denies His Lord.

If we study Peter's denial we can see clearly why he fell. First, he had good intentions but he trusted in himself. He thought himself so much better than the others. When Jesus told them: "All ye shall be offended because of me this night:" (Matthew 26:31) Peter quickly answered: "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." (Matthew 26:33)

Then when Jesus warned him and told him that before the roster crowed he would deny Him three times, Peter bragged saying: "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." (Matthew 26:35)

What Peter said was good, nothing wrong, we should be ready to die with Jesus and for Jesus, but his boasting and trusting in his own strength was his mistake. He did not humbly figure his weak flesh and heart and he did not pray for God's power with which to resist. He did not watch and pray as Jesus told him to do. Are you like Peter?

When you hear about another Christian falling away do you think, "How could he ever do a thing like that?" Did you mean to say, "I'd never do a thing like that." Watch out! That's the same spirit that trapped Peter.

Do you fail to watch yourself and understand your weak, sinful heart? Do you humbly pray for God's power to resist in time of temptation? Or do you, like Peter despise prayer and trust in yourself?

Another thing that helped Peter to deny Jesus was his association with the enemies. Peter did not come back to help Jesus or to witness and defend Him. He was just curious and nosey. When the enemies knew him, he got scared. To save himself he tried to dissociate himself for Jesus and act like the enemies. He cursed and swore like them as if to say, "See, boys, I curse and swear, I'm no Christian."

Have you ever done like that when associating with unbelievers? Shut up about your faith? Join with them in smart talk trying to be one with them? If you have you were there when Jesus was denied.

Who here this morning can say that he was never boastful, cocky and sure of himself? None? Then you were there, we all were there. Don't deceive yourself Peter's sin is in your heart too. This sin which hurt Jesus and which He patiently suffered is found in all men. The Bible says, "For there is no difference;(between one man and another) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:22-24) Yes, we, you and I were with Peter.

But Peter does not despair and hang himself like Judas did. For we read: "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. (Luke 22:60-62)

Jesus did not forsake His faithless disciple, but looked at Him. Peter saw rebuke and hurt in Jesus' eye. He also saw pity and forgiveness. We know that after His resurrection Jesus gave Peter the responsibility of discipleship again. Three times He asked Peter: "Do you love Me more than these." Peter humbly answered, "Yes, Lord" Jesus told him to "Feed My Lambs" (John 21:15-17)

What Jesus said to Peter He also means for you and I who were with him there. If you humbly confess that you were there and joined in the denial, you share in the blessings of His Passion, forgiveness and freedom from all your sin. If you are joined with Peter's denial, you are also joined in Jesus' forgiveness. Do you believe it?

Oh the wonderful love of Jesus He suffers the terrible curse of sin as our Substitute. What shall we do for Him now? Let us now deny ourselves not Him. He says: "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:24-25)

Let us deny ourselves and confess Him. Let us confess Him for our own happiness. He says: "Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

Confess Him for others, so they will know Him and be made able to believe and get saved. Confess Him for strengthening one another. Jesus said to Peter: "Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)

As we close this sermon let us look once more at Peter alone and weeping. He denied Jesus because of fear. He wanted to make friends with unbelievers. You and I also desire praise and friendship of the world. But remember the Bible says, "anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4) The world's praise and friendship is really worth little.

Much more precious is the friendship and praise of God and of fellow Christians. Our chief aim here in the world is to help one another to stand with Him one day before His throne and hear Him say: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant .... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

(Matthew 25:21) Lord, look on me as You once looked on Peter before it it too late!

Amen.