A Look at Peter

A Look at Peter
Mark 14:27-72
Pastor Miles
March 24, 20113

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. (Mark 14:27-31 NIV)

1. "Not me."
Overconfident, self-sufficient - makes it hard to hear Jesus.
We go into denial, find someone to blame, and eventually become disappointed with our failure.
Is our self-sufficiency and overconfidence getting in the way of following Jesus?


They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" (Mark 14:32-42 NIV)

2. "Why me?"
Why should I give up my needs?
Even though we may not say it out rightly, our actions may reflect that.
Our strength lies in the spirit ("The spirit is willing...")
To "sleep" is to stop praying, and not recognizing the struggles ahead, or the weakness of the flesh. It deceives us into thinking at we have "arrived". It causes us to enter the battle unprepared. It is foolishness.

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. (Proverbs 10:5 NIV)

Are we heeding Jesus' warning of the need to pray?


While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:66-72 NIV)

3. "Who me?"
Are we denying and disowning Jesus?
Peter's denials are a clear warning to us. How have we denied Jesus? With our words, actions, or lack of them?