Tested By Fire | Easter: Peter’s POV Part 2 | Matthew 26:30-35, Luke 22:40-62, Psalm 30:5

There is a promise that I’m going to point you to at the end of today’s episode, so hang on. We are about to go on a pretty harrowing journey with Simon Peter today. Our friend has taken us to the mountaintop, but today you and I are going to go with him to a place that I would call Bitter Tears.

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Transcription:

There is a promise that I’m going to point you to at the end of today’s episode, so hang on. We are about to go on a pretty harrowing journey with Simon Peter today. Our friend has taken us to the mountaintop, but today you and I are going to go with him to a place that I would call Bitter Tears. Hi, welcome to the Bible for Busy People. My name is Erica. Maybe you’ve been to that place as well. Maybe you have cried bitter tears after messing up in your life. My hand is in the air. I’m waving at you today. We’ve all messed up. We all fall short of the glory of God. The Bible tells us that, but that is never the end of the story. I want to invite you to open your Bible with me to Matthew chapter 26. The Last Supper has just happened. Jesus sat with his closest friends in the world and told them what was about to happen, and nobody understood. I think everybody didn’t want to believe what Jesus was telling them, that he was about to die. And so, we pick up the story in Matthew chapter 26, verse 30.

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” 33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

There’s our friend, so much passion.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Alright, we’re going to stay on the Mount of Olives, but we’re going to turn to Luke chapter 22 and we’re going to begin in verse 40.

There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

I just want to take a second here and just thank the Lord for the love that he had, and has for us. His love is unfailing. That’s what the Bible tells us. He didn’t fail us in this, the greatest test of his love for us. I just felt like I needed to share that. Verse 45 now.

At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” 47 But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” 50 And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.

It’s generally assumed that it was Peter who did that, and it shouldn’t surprise us, right? But perhaps Luke didn’t want to call him out in his gospel. So he just said, and “one of them.” But let’s pick up the story because this is a powerful moment, and I’m sure Peter learned so much from the words Jesus spoke verse 51.

But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 53 Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.” 54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” 57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!” 58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. 59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

Now remember I promised you that we are not going to wrap up our time today on this very sober and solemn note because I want to remind you what Psalm 30 verse five says today.

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.

That is a promise you can stand on because while fear led Peter astray, his faith in Jesus would bring him back. This story is so not over. More next time. Till then, you are really loved.

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