Luke 22:54-62

Luke 22:34

Luke 22:33

Luke 22:32

2 Samuel 1-27

Romans 7:15-20

Luke 22:61-62

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

Romans 5:1-5

In Luke 22:54-62 we have the much-taught story of Peter denying his Lord three times; Jesus had foretold this event as recorded in Luke 22:34 in response to Peter stating his intent to go to prison or to death with Jesus, in Luke 22:33.

We should note that Peter was quite serious when he made this statement; it was not an off the cuff remark, but in response to Jesus telling him and the other disciples that Satan had demanded to "sift¹" them like wheat.

Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, yet he says in Luke 22:32 that He has prayed for Peter that his faith not fail, and once he has turned back and made this denial, he would then strengthen his brothers.

There are three very important lessons here for believers. First, one of the strongest disciples denied his Lord, second, that disciple recognized his failing and repented, and third, he would come out of this trial stronger and would strengthen his brothers.

First, we need to understand that no matter how strong we are, it is possible for us to deny Christ in some way. There is both active denial, such as Peter did, and there is passive denial, where we simply try to "fit in". You will find that there are times in your life that you will be put on the spot for Jesus. If you are not, then you are not living a life that is led by the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, we walk differently from the world, and the world does not recognize us as its own. Because of this the world will insult us and try to make us deny our faith.

Sometimes when we deny our faith it is like Peter, and we say we are not following commandments. These are many times "compromise statements" where rather than stand for the truth, we try to make our beliefs more palatable to the non-believer. Statements like "I am a Christian, but I never push my beliefs on others" are common denials of Christ. Now it is true that we do not go out and judge and condemn others because they do not believe, but they should know we are Christians because we show:

God's Love to them...

Our message is not to be condemning, as that is only God's right; our message is one of Godly Love, Hope, and Salvation!

Even the strongest fail in their faith occasionally King David sinned in both having relations with Bathsheba, and then ordering her husband killed in battle to cover this sin. (2 Samuel 1-27) Peter denies the Lord as we are speaking of, even though he was one of the strongest disciples. Even Paul, the Apostle that I see as the strongest in the teachings of the Lord, said that he sins by doing those things hew would not do. (Romans 7:15-20)

The second lesson in this scripture is that Peter recognized his failing; when that rooster crowed, Peter remembered Jesus statement to him, and he "wept bitterly" (Luke 22:61-62) (NSRVUE) If we are walking in the Spirit, we will be convicted of each and every thing that we do that denies our Lord and Savior; whether it is words that make us seem more worldly to those around us, or actions that are against His commandments to us, the Holy Spirit will bring conviction into our hearts, and we will cry out to God, with tears, realizing just how much He has done for us and how we have failed Him!

No true Christian can deny their Lord and not feel His conviction. If a Christian hardens their heart until they cannot hear that conviction, they stand on the brink of death and will face their Lord naked and in deep shame. Paul even instructs us, in cases of the worst sins, to hand that person over to Satan for the destruction of the body so that their soul may be saved. (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)

Our third point today is that Peter came out of this situation stronger and would go on to strengthen his brothers. (Luke 22:32) Jesus prayed for Peter that when he had turned back this one time, he would go on to be strong in His Lord! And Peter did...in fact, Peter would be crucified and rather than deny his Lord he would tell his executioners that he was not worthy to die as Jesus did and would be crucified upside-down in AD 64. (According to the apocryphal work "Acts of Peter)

Just as Peter would go on to become so much stronger, so we, with our trials, should become stronger. In every temptation we attempt to maintain our walk with the Lord, but at times we will fail, for, as Paul said "it is sin that abides in me", or in our flesh. When we do, we beg for forgiveness, crying out to God in our failure of obeying Him who loved us so much He came as the Only Begotten Son of God, to rescue us.

Paul says that we should rejoice in our afflictions or temptations as this builds endurance, which in turn builds character, and this results in hope! (Romans 5:1-5)

Rejoice when you are tempted to deny Him; refuse to deny Him; know that if you do, He stands ready to forgive and to make you stronger from the experience once you have repented and been forgiven!

Bibliography Page

1 "Sift" : Strongs 4617 : σινιασαι or Siniazo : "To shake in a seive; by inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow".