Dear Christian friends:

In our text we see Peter make a big fool of himself. On the evening before He swore and promised to be true to Jesus, yes, even to die with Him if necessary and now a few hours later he had denied Him with oaths three times. He is crying because he knows he has made a big fool of himself.

I'm sure we all feel related with Peter. We understand what happened to him and feel sorry for him. Because we have had the same experiences. In church we sing:

Beautiful Savior,
King of Creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love thee,
Truly I’d serve thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
Beautiful Savior - Hymn

But then that same afternoon or week we do not love Him and we fail to serve Him and witness for Him. Maybe we try to witness for Him, but our witness fails. Nobody listens to us and nobody changes their ways. What's wrong with us?


It is our duty and business as Christians to witness of our Lord and Savior and to try and win others for His Kingdom. But we do not seem to win very many. People mock us. Some don't care or are indifferent. Some call us hypocrites. We give money to support Lutheran Hour, "This Is the Life", T.V. and world missions and yet the reports show that the unbelievers are growing faster than the believers. It is very difficult duty to witness of Jesus.

Our witness fails because we often or easily forget what a witness is. Two things make a witness. He has seen something important happen or something important has happened to him, and secondly, he wants to tell about it.

You can't be a witness in court unless something important happened to you or you saw it happen to someone else and unless you want to risk to tell about it so that justice can be done. So it is with a Christian witness.

He has seen Jesus and Jesus has happened to him and he can't shut up; he must tell about what has happened to Him since Jesus came into his heart. Peter was such a man. Jesus had called him to be His disciple. He saw the wonderful works of Jesus: large catch of fish, water changed to wine, sick healed, Jesus changed to full glory on the mount, and He had heard Jesus tell of His heavenly Father.

Peter believed that Jesus was the promised Savior. Something important and wonderful had happened to him. He had wonderful things to tell about Jesus and himself, but when he had a chance to talk he failed to do it.

We like Peter have met and seen Jesus. Something good and wonderful has happened to us. Jesus has forgiven our sins and now lives and rules in our hearts. We have been baptized and confirmed in His precious name. Nothing more important then that can happen to us. We, too, like Peter have wonderful things to tell about Jesus and about ourselves, but often when the time comes we fail to talk.

True we talk and witness in church when we gather here and listen to His Word and pray and sing and come to His table. Surely that is a good witness, but that is not enough. We must witness also outside of the church daily. The people who need our help or witness are not here in church; they are outside.

Sometimes when we want to witness we argue, and try to win the argument about which is better Catholic or Lutheran or some other religion or we only criticize and do not try to help.

If we have such a spirit our witness must fail. Jesus does not send us out to argue or to win a quarrel or to hurt or insult someone.

Our witness will succeed when we realize that we, too, are sinners like everyone else and that Jesus died for our sins, etc. If we really understand that and believe that, then we will not be proud or mean or insult others, but will see that they are in trouble, not happy and need Jesus just as we do.

Sometimes our witness fails because we are afraid. Peter was afraid, and so failed to speak for Jesus and his faith. Peter knew they intended to destroy Jesus, and he was afraid they would destroy him, too, if he confessed that Jesus was His Lord and Master.

I'm sure we are afraid often, too. We don't want any trouble. We don't want anyone to laugh or mock us. We don't want to lose any unbelieving friends, so we often shut-up when we should talk. We want to join and stand with the many, rather than stand alone with a few or with none. Unbelievers are many more and are more popular. Christians are few and not popular.

Why are we afraid? Because we forget who we are. We are persons whom Jesus has changed. We are different in a good way. Others are different too, but in a bad way. Some church members are different but they are different in a bad way, very negative. They are against almost everything: against drinking, against smoking, against sex; against the club, against politics and refuse to support or help with community problems such as racial problems pollution and others. These church members are different in the wrong way. Their witness will fail. Nobody will listen to them.

If we want to witness to succeed we must be different in the right way. We will worry about the needs and problems of others such as those suffering losses and adversities. We will think of new ways and new ideas to help people in trouble, and we will begin at home with the members of our family and church and then also to others in the city who need help.

Then people will see our kind deeds and good works. They will wonder why we are different. Some will ask us why, especially those we help. Then we can tell of our hope and joy in Jesus.

Peter failed because he worried too much about his own safety and comfort, and did not worry about helping Jesus and those servants around the fire. Then it was too late. He had failed. And when Jesus turned and looked at him he remembered His promise and Jesus' warning. He realized that he had failed his Lord, and he went out and wept bitterly.

It is very wonderful that Jesus gave Peter a second chance: after He rose from the dead Jesus asked Peter again and again, "Do you love Me?" When he answered "Yes!" Jesus told him to love others and care for them.

Our witness will be successful, too, if we love people and help them in trouble and then tell them the most beautiful words in the world: "God loves you and gave His Son to die for you!"

May the Spirit of God come to our hearts and take away our fears and help us to love people and witness to them.

Amen.