2017-02-19: Luke-The Investigative Gospel – Peter Denies Jesus

Sermon Audio: Peter Denies Jesus
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 22:54-62
Duration: 21:43
Size: 9.94 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Peter Denies Jesus
Luke 22:54-62

Peter’s faith did fail him. And as Jesus predicted, before the rooster crowed later that morning, Peter denied three times that he knew Jesus.

Peter’s denial of Jesus in Luke 22:54-62 shows us the danger of following Jesus in our own power.

I. The Path to the Denials (Luke 22:54-55)

Peter wanted to go farther than anyone else down the road that Jesus walked to the cross.

II. The Particulars in the Denials (Luke 22:56-60a)

However, given Jesus’ immense popularity with the people and Peter’s prominence as Jesus’ apostle, it is very likely that she had seen Peter with Jesus, perhaps even earlier in the week.

One does not deny Jesus for no reason. No, there is a process that leads to a denial.

First, proud self-confidence.

Second, indolent neglect of prayer.

Third, vacillating indecision.

Fourth, mingling with bad company.

Fifth, overwhelming fear when suddenly charged with being a disciple of Jesus.

Great sin is always the result of not dealing with smaller sins.

And yet, his courage completely failed him when the environment became hostile, and he was accused of being a disciple of Jesus.

Speak as a follower of Jesus Christ. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6).

III. The Pain in the Denials (Luke 22:60b-62)

All his self-confidence was gone, all his bravado was gone, and all his presumption was gone.

Repentance makes a man’s heart soft and his conscience tender, and shows itself in real turning to a Father in heaven.

We know that Peter was with the rest of the disciples, no doubt sad at the death of Jesus, and bitterly repentant over his own denial of Jesus.

Have you fallen into sin? Know that Jesus will do the same gracious work of forgiveness in your life too.