Sermon
#69 Mark
Sermons
Title: PETER’S FALL AND RESTORATION
Text: Mark
14:66-72
Subject: Peter’s Fall And
Restoration
Date: Sunday Morning - December 27, 1998
Tape # V-1a
Reading: Luke 22-31-62
Introduction:
Mark 14:66-72 "And as Peter was beneath in the
palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: (67) And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him,
and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. (68) But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what
thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. (69) And a maid saw him again, and
began to say to them that stood by, This is one
of them. (70) And he denied it
again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou
art one of them: for thou art a
Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
(71) But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. (72) And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind
the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny
me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept."
The
title of my message today is PETER’S
FALL AND RESTORATION. The verses before us record the painful, but very
instructive, story of Peter’s terrible denial of the Lord Jesus.
This
sad story is recorded in detail in all four gospel narratives. Yet, neither
Matthew, Mark, Luke, nor John make any excuse for or defense of their friend
Peter. They all wrote their histories, not as mere men writing about men, but
as instruments of divine inspiration. This story of Peter’s fall was written by
the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit for our learning and admonition. May the Spirit of God who gave us this
story four times now inscribe its lessons upon our hearts by his almighty
grace, for Christ’s sake.
1.
Try to picture the scene and
the events which transpired on that cold, bitter night, if you can. It was a solemn, solemn
night. Our Lord Jesus himself called it “the
judgment (crisis) of this world.”
·
The
disciples had just observed the last passover meal of the legal dispensation
and the first communion service of the gospel age.
·
The
Lord Jesus told them plainly of his certain, imminent betrayal and death.
·
Peter,
James and John had spent the night with the Son of God in Gethsemane.
·
On
that sacred evening, our Savior preached that marvelous sermon which is
recorded in John 14, 15 and 16.
·
It
was on this night, earlier in the evening, that our Master, our great High
Priest, offered that great prayer for us which is recorded in John 17.
·
The
soldiers came, like a mob of lynchmen, into the garden to arrest the Lord of
glory, led by his own familiar friend, Judas Iscariot.
·
Judas
betrayed him with a kiss.
·
And
Peter denied the Lord Jesus, denied him again, and denied him a third time,
cussing like a sailor.
2.
Why do you suppose this
record is given four times in the New Testament?
Surely
the Holy Spirit means for us to give it special attention. I do not pretend to
know the full answer to that question; but I can think of at least four reasons
why this sad tale is told in such detail by all four gospel writers.
a.
Peter’s
denial of the Lord Jesus must have greatly increased the pain and suffering of
our tender-hearted Savior.
b.
The
Holy Spirit would set before us, in a most emphatic way, the greatness of our
Savior’s saving power, the majesty of his unconditional grace, and the
immutability his faithfulness.
c.
The
divine Comforter knew that we would all be subject to these same temptations.
d.
This
fourfold record of Peter’s fall is intended to be a startling, instructive
lesson for us concerning the frailty of the best of men.
The
Word of God does not tell us very much even about the very best of men who
lived in Bible times. The histories of God’s saints in Scripture are very
scanty. Yet, the Word of God very particularly records the faults and falls of
the most eminent saints. It seems that the Holy Spirit’s purpose is to remind
us incessantly that “all flesh is grass!”
The best of men are only men at best. And he incessantly reminds us that “Salvation is of the Lord!” Peter was not the infallible bishop of Rome, as
the papists pretend. He was just a frail, fallible, fickle, sinful man. The
only thing the pope has in common with Peter is his denial of Christ.
Peter’s fall seems to say to every one
of us - You, too, are weak. You, too, will fall, if left to yourself.
Do not ever trust yourself. Trust Christ entirely. Lean on him incessantly. Do
not rely upon your great experiences or the imaginary strength and firmness of
your faith. Satan has desired to have you
that he may sift you as wheat. Christ alone can hold you up. Christ alone
can keep you.”
Proposition: My
friends, we must ever watch and pray! We must each diligently watch over our
own souls and prayerfully seek the Lord’s preserving grace, if we would live
for the honor of his name.
I
want to live for the honor of Christ. I want to honor and magnify him in my
living as well as in my preaching. I know that you who love him want the same
thing. My heart shudders, my soul trembles at the thought of bringing reproach
upon the name of him who loved me and gave himself for me. Yet, I know this - Unless Christ himself preserves me from
the evil that is in me and preserves you from the evil that is in you, we will,
most certainly, profane his name.
Divisions:
1.
The
Circumstances of Peter’s Fall
2.
The
Means of Peter’s Recovery
3.
The
Signs of Peter’s Restoration
4.
The
Lessons for Us Today
I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PETER’S FALL
How
did such a great man come to commit such a grievous evil? Our text is not
talking about a lost man, but a saint, a child of God, redeemed by blood,
justified in Christ, saved by grace, and sanctified by the Spirit. Peter was in
the tenor of his life a faithful giant among faithful giants. Few before him
and few after him could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. He was a man
strong in faith, firm in conviction, bold in preaching and unrelenting in his
zeal for Christ.
This
man was eminent even among the apostles, a leader among leaders, an example
among examples. But this man, great as he was, was just a man. Like you and me,
he was a man whose heart, by nature, was full of sin, whose flesh was weak.
On
that dark, dark night in the High Priest’s palace, this man’s evil heart broke
out in a horrible display of ungodliness, in an act as evil and vile as any in
human history. The godly apostle Peter blasphemously denied the Son of God with
foul oaths!
How
can we account for this thing? As we look at the circumstances of Peter’s fall,
I remind you, there were no extenuating circumstances to excuse or even
mitigate his guilt. Indeed, everything recorded in the inspired gospel records
aggravates his offense.
A. Peter’s fall was very strange because he was one of
the Lord Jesus’ most highly favored and most highly honored disciples.
The
Lord had done so much for Peter!
1.
He
was one of the very first to whom the Son of God made himself known while he
was in the world, one of the first to be saved by the power of his word John
1:40-42).
John 1:40-42 "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first
findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias,
which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou
art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by
interpretation, A stone."
2.
Peter
was in the inner circle of the Master’s most intimate friends.
3.
Peter
seems to have been the chief spokesman for the early church.
NOTE:
The greater our privileges and the higher our honors, the greater our
responsibilities are and the more horrible our offenses.
B. Peter’s Fall is especially sad because he was
plainly and faithfully warned of his great danger (Luke 22:31-34).
Our
Lord Jesus told Peter in the plainest language possible exactly what was going
to happen to him. He even gave him the details. Peter was told of the danger to
which he was about to be exposed.
1.
Satan
desired to have him.
2.
His
faith would be fiercely attacked.
3.
He
must watch and pray, that he enter not into temptation.
But
Peter walked headlong into danger. He rejected the light God had given him. He
ignored the revelation of God’s Word!
C. Peter’s guilt is aggravated by the fact that it came
so soon after he had confidently declared his loyalty to Christ (Matt. 26:31-35; Luke
22:33).
Matthew 26:31-35 "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye
shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the
shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will
go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter
answered and said unto him, Though all men
shall be offended because of thee, yet
will I never be offended. 34 Jesus
said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow,
thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter
said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.
Likewise also said all the disciples."
Luke 22:33 "And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready
to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."
Just
a few hours after this proud, confident boast of his love for Christ, Peter
cussed and denied him three times. How fickle we are!
D. Peter’s fall did not come at once, but by degrees.
1.
He
followed the Lord afar off.
2.
He
sat in the seat of scorners. - He sought the comfort and warmth their fire
provided.
3.
He
denied the Lord Jesus by degrees.
a.
At
first, he pretended not to understand the maiden’s words.
b.
Then,
he denied that he knew the man (Compare Matt. 16:18 and John 6:69).
c.
At
last, he took the profane language of base, ungodly men to prove that he was no
follower of the holy Lamb of God.
NOTE: It
takes very little to make a great saint fall into great sin, if God leaves him
to himself. Peter’s trial was nothing but the word of a weak young woman, who
said, “Thou also wast with Jesus of
Nazareth.”
NOTE: There
are many, many ways by which men and women deny the Lord Jesus Christ; but
usually the falls of God’s saints are not sudden. Normally, great falls are
preceded by much smaller inconsistencies.
E. Here is another very great
aggravation of Peter’s sin - All this
was done very close to the place where his Lord and Master was at that time
suffering for him, bearing his reproach!
The
Lord Jesus Christ was standing right in front of Peter, hearing every word!
F. What was the reason for Peter’s fall?
How
can we account for all of this? How did this man, so great, so unique in so
many ways come to commit such an horrible offense?
1.
Peter
was far too proud of himself, far too confident of his own strength.
2.
He
was overcome by the fear of man, in this case, by the fear of a woman who had
no obvious power against him.
3.
He
neglected watchfulness over his own heart and soul (Pro. 4:23).
4.
I
suspect that, like mother Eve, Peter had begun to doubt the Savior’s word.
II. THE MEANS OF PETER’S RECOVERY
Peter
fell; but he didn’t perish. His faith weakened; but it did not die. He sinned;
but he was not cast off or forsaken. He denied the Lord; but the Lord did not
deny him. Peter belonged to Christ; and Christ can never lose one of his own.
The good Shepherd can never lose one of his sheep. Peter fell; but Christ
graciously raised him up.
The
righteous fall seven times a day; but the Lord raises them up (Pro. 24:16). How
did the Lord Jesus restore his fallen servant? I see four things the
Lord used to restore his fallen child.
A. A Work Of Providence - “The cock crew!”
God
has many ways of reaching a man’s conscience. He can make asses speak as easily
as prophets and roosters to crow on cue.
B. A Work Of Grace - “The Lord
turned and looked on Peter” (Luke 22:61).
What
a look that must have been! The Lord turned to Peter. Peter did not turn to the
Lord. He looked upon Peter, not in anger and disgust, but in mercy, love and
grace! That look was a look of tenderness, compassion and faithfulness. With
that look the Lord spoke silently, but effectually, to the heart of his fallen
son. He seems to have said…
·
“ I have loved thee with an
everlasting love.”
·
“Ye have not chosen me; but
I have chosen you.”
·
“I gave unto you eternal
life; and you shall never perish.”
·
“I will never leave thee nor
forsake thee.”
·
“I, even I, am he that
blotteth out thy transgressions.”
·
“Fear not, for I have
redeemed thee.”
·
“In me thy righteousness
found.”
·
“I am thy strength.”
·
“I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed.”
·
“Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
·
“Return unto me, return unto
me; and I will pardon.”
C. A Work Of The Word - “Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him” (v. 72).
The
Word of God graciously and effectually brought Peter to repentance.
D. A Work
Of Our Advocate - “I have prayed for thee” (Luke 22:32).
As a
great High Priest and Intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for Peter’s
preservation in faith and restoration by grace, even before he fell! That same
great High Priest is our Advocate on high. He intercedes for us now, and has
interceded for us from eternity (1 John 2:1-2).
These
thoughts thrill my heart and flood my soul with joy! The Lord Jesus Christ is
full of tenderness and mercy. His faithfulness is great. And his compassions
never fail. He who is our God and Savior is a faithful, unfailingly faithful
God and Savior!
If
you are a believer, if truly you trust Christ alone as your Lord and Savior,
nothing shall ever separate you from him, not even your sins (Rom. 4:8).
Nothing can separate us from…
·
His
Love.
·
His
Favor.
·
His
Mercy.
·
Hi
Care.
·
His
Saving Power.
·
His
Omnipotent Hand Of Grace!
III. THE SIGNS OF PETER’S RESTORATION
The
Lord’s works for and upon Peter were effectual. They accomplished their
intended design. And Peter was graciously restored by the very Savior he so
vehemently denied.
A. Peter’s trial and fall were not accidents.
Satan
ran God’s child through his rough sifter; but he lost nothing in the process
but chaff. Peter came out of this thing a much better man than he was before
(Acts 2 and 4). Even this tragic affair was under the control of God’s
sovereign providence and according to his purpose of grace.
The
devil is God’s devil. That fiend of hell is the unwilling, unwitting vassal of
the Almighty (Isa. 14:12-27). The dragon of hell is as much included in all
things working together for good to God’s elect as the angels of light (Rom.
8:28).
B. Peter
went out of the place (Luke 22:62).
Once
fire was restored in his soul, he no longer needed the warmth of that fire
which the Lord’s enemies had kindled. He immediately forsook those who had
turned his heart from his Lord.
C. Peter wept bitterly (v. 72; Luke 22:62).
Convulsive
weeping overcame him He could not stand himself. His very heart was crushed
within him. Oh, blessed is that man whose heart is broken before God. Christ
Jesus heals the broken-hearted! “The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou
wilt not despise!” Do you know anything about repentance?
Psalms 51:1-5 " Have mercy upon me, O God, according
to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot
out my transgressions. 2 Wash me
thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou
mightest be justified when thou speakest, and
be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold,
I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."
IV. THE LESSONS FOR US TODAY
What
are we to learn from this tragic event in Peter’s life? How can we benefit from
it? What lessons are taught by this man’s fall and restoration?
A. Let us learn something about ourselves.
1.
We
must never be presumptuous about ourselves.
We
are all very much like Peter in his weakness. We are all fickle, sinful
wretches by nature. There is no evil in this world of which we are not capable
(1 Cor. 10:12; 4:7).
1
Corinthians 10:12 "Wherefore let him
that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
1
Corinthians 4:7 "For who maketh thee
to differ from another? and what hast
thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou
hadst not received it?"
2.
We
ought never be severe with our erring brethren.
B. Let us learn something about God’s grace and his
salvation.
1.
It
is unconditional.
2.
It
is in Christ.
3.
It
is free.
4.
It
is indestructible!
What
blessed security our souls have in Christ! Nothing an ever severe us from our
Savior! “Once in Christ, in Christ forever!”
C. Let us learn something about the faithfulness of our
great God and Savior.
“He will never, never leave
us,
Nor will let us quite leave
Him.”
“He abideth faithful!” “Faithful is he that
calleth you!” “Great is thy faithfulness!”
2 Timothy 2:13-19 "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny
himself. 14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive
not about words to no profit, but to
the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study
to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But
shun profane and vain babblings: for
they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and
Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth
have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the
faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the
foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that
are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity."
Mark 16:7 "But go your way, tell his disciples
and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he
said unto you."
Application:
Children of God, my brothers and sisters in
Christ, “Keep yourselves in the love of
God.”
1.
Trust
Christ alone.
2.
Live
around the cross.
3.
Cling
to Christ always.
4.
As
often as you fall, return to Christ.
·
He
will receive you.
·
He
will forgive you.
·
He
will be gracious to you.
·
He
will forget the wrong you have done!
Illustration: Big Jake
AMEN.