Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Friedheim
10653 N – 550 W
Decatur, IN 46733
A 21st Century Parish
with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42
Celebrating our 182nd
Year
Chartered February
25, 1838
“Jesus I will Ponder Now”
A Lenten series based
on six Chorales written by Sigismund v. Birken & Johan Sebastian Bach
John 18:15-27
Introduction: The story of Peter is your story. It is also
my story. Peter is so strong; so sure of himself, so bold – yet so often he
stumbles, fumbles, flops and falls. Johan Sebastian Bach in a beautiful chorale
tells a powerful account concerning Peter’s failure. Let’s see how the story
unfolds.
I.
“Peter gave it scarce a thought when he God
rejected.”
A.
Peter
was so sure of himself. He felt secure in his faith.
1.
After
all, he was one of the twelve and of the twelve, one of the three whom Jesus
gathered together to be part of His inner circle.
2. He was fixed firmly
in his own ability to stand confidently with the Savior. Just hours before
Jesus’ arrest in the garden Peter had pledged his loyalty to the Savior. “And
[Simon Peter] said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and
to death. But Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, before a [single] cock shall crow
this day, you will three times [utterly] deny that you know Me.” - Luke
22:33-34
B.
When
he would eventually deny the Savior he thought he was only finding a limb on
which to climb. It was for him a way of “saving face.” “I
wasn’t really denying my Lord,” he could argue, “It was merely a case of “mistaken identity.” Peter said to the
crowd, “You’re talking to the wrong man!”
1.
What
happens in our life? – Do we give a “false witness” when we, for example,
compromise clear Biblical principles in order to fit in at work, or at
school? What price will we pay to
acquire acceptance, approval, acquiescence?
2.
Every
time we sin willfully we are doing nothing short of what Peter did on that fateful
night.
3.
Like
Peter we often “give it scarce a thought”
when we compromise principle for convenience or for what is expedient at the
time.
C.
We
too are tempted.
1.
In
the beginning we are tempted [by the Devil] - to think - “it’s nothing.”
2.
In
the end we are told [again, by the Devil] - “it can’t be
forgiven.”
Transition: It was bad enough for Peter to deny his
Lord. But upon looking into the eyes of the Savior Peter was seized with guilt.
Luke reminds us: “And the Lord turned,
and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord how He had
said unto him, ‘Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” (Luke
22:61) With one look Peter’s world crumbled!
II.
“At Christ’s look he fled distraught, weeping
and dejected.”
A. Confronted by his
denial Peter was crushed.
1. This is what the Law does to us.
2. It
is a necessary ingredient in preaching!
B. We too are crushed
when confronted with the Law.
1.
Nathan said to David “Thou art the man” - 2 Samuel 12:7
2.
Contrition and repentance are necessary
for restoration and forgiveness.
Transition: As Jesus fixed His gaze on Peter thus He
must look on us.
III.
We
ask Jesus to “look on me” – “Cast me not
away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” – Psalm 51:11
A.
“Jesus fix Thy gaze on me”
1.
Press
me, pursue me.
2.
Never
let me go! “I will never leave Thee nor
forsake Thee” -Hebrews
13:5
B.
“True repentance teach me” Remember the 5 “R’s” of repentance…
1.
Responsibility
– we own up to our sin.
2.
Remorse
– we are heart sorry.
3.
Repair
– we attempt to fix what we’ve broken - inasmuch as we are able.
4.
Repeat
not! – We don’t return to visit!
Note: These four steps; leading to repentance,
come from Dr. Laura Schlesinger, she’s a nationally syndicated radio talk-show
host. She suggests; quite convincingly, that this is all we need to right a
wrong. Yet, one component is missing. A 5th step is necessary; the
final step, which separates Christians from the rest of the world; a step,
which turns from following rules to establishing a relationship with God
Himself. The 5th step necessary:
5.
Reconciliation
- through Christ alone!
Transition: Repentance is not merely a one-time act –
it must be a daily process. Thus we pray…
IV.
“When Thou evil there doest see through my
conscience reach me.”
1.
Jiminy
Cricket from Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’ would suggest to us; “let your conscience be your guide”
2.
Our
text would suggest even stronger let your conscience and the cruel and bloody
cross of Calvary be your guide!
Conclusion: After the resurrection Peter and Jesus had
another heart to heart meeting. Three times Jesus would ask Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
John would remind us in his gospel account, “Peter was grieved because Jesus said to him for a third time do you
love Me?” –
John 21:17
Roman
Catholics maintain that Peter was the first Pope. To this day Protestant parishes in Europe
will place a rooster instead of a cross on the top of their spires as a not so
friendly reminder of Peter’s seedy past. Not much has changed over the years.
Have there been instances in our lives when we have not acted as becomes a
child of God? Have you had to be reminded of that moment only to relive it once
again?
Each
of us can recall those moments in our lives in which we are not proud! Peter’s’
denial crushed him – but what he found was restoration by the Savior!
Peter’s
freedom came at a price – the price of Jesus’ life. To be crushed by conscience
and the Law is never a pleasant thing. But Christ’s redemption leads to
recovery – to be reconciled to the Father and also to each other – all has been
made possible by the Savior’s amazing grace!
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