Bridge Church Vancouver

Desire & Denial

April 1, 2007

Mark 14:27-42

27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:

"'I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep will be scattered.'  

28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." 

29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today-yes, tonight-before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." 

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33  He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." 

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." 

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." 

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 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 betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" 

Mark 14:66-72

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.

68 But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.  

69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70 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."

71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."

72 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.

Think of a time you desired something that was then denied.  It starts early in our lives, every parent quickly learns the importance of telling their child “NO” to something they want, and it continues throughout our lives. 

Maybe you desired a job – only to be denied the opportunity.  Or desired a particular thing, but your budget says ‘no’.  Maybe you desired a relationship with a particular person – and they denied you.

Parents can desire their child to hug them, or sit on their lap, or acknowledge them in some way and then feel the sting of rejection when they smugly turn their face away

Spouses feel the pain of rejection and denial when the other doesn’t call or turns away in a crowd, or rolls over.

We know what it is to desire and to be denied, the question is – What do you do when you’ve been denied?  Do you throw a tantrum like a child?  We have all seen adults throw tantrums, not pretty.  Do you get the rejected, dejected, hurt look?  Do you get vindictive – ‘the I’ll show you’ approach?  Or here’s my personal favorite – the ‘stuff-it & shut-it’ approach.  Hold it all inside and pull back from the relationship.

Peter had a heart to follow Jesus

Peter was quick to say  "Even if all fall away, I will not."

“Fall away?!? – NOT ME!”  I AM WITH YOU ALL THE WAY!

Mark 8:29        “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

            Peter answered, “You are the Christ.’”

Peter’s denial

Started privately

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.

68 But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.  

Servant girl, close enough to look closely

Peter dismisses her, he easily blows her off, just a silly servant girl, brush her off and let her move along.  She has no right asking me anything like that, a denial that didn’t even – really seem like a denial

Moved  public

69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70 Again he denied it.

This is getting alittle too close.  “I don’t to deal with all this attention, this is not what I am here for”  “What does this girl think she is doing, she is making this really difficult for me”

When our denials start our privately, then become public, then we have to declare our alliegence – and under pressure Peter’s denial -

Became Profane

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."

71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."

When put under pressure, it doesn’t take long to move our hearts and minds to places we never expected ourselves to go.

Peter was warming himself by the fire in the court of the high priest, 

He wanted to find out what was going on

He wanted to get a little comfort

He could have gone to the high priests court with ‘good intentions’ 

Remembering his own voice of only hours earlier

"Even if all fall away, I will not."

As long as he didn’t get found out, in his own mind he would have been ‘with’ Jesus

He was not there for Jesus defense, he was there for his own purposes. 

To perhaps be the one in the know – to go back to the rest of the guys and be the courageous one who infiltrated the enemies camp and got the scoop.

It all backfired on Peter – He didn’t set out to deny Jesus – like Judas did,

But he did deny Jesus

Peter’s problem, is just like our own,

We want to provide for ourselves, Peter was in the courtyard for his own purposes, not Christs – our desires are by far motivated in our own interests

 Given the chance, we will promote ourselves

Phil. 2:21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Jesus recognized Peters tenancy to stand up and promote himself

‘even if everyone else falls away, I never will’

Peter consistently thinks he knows better than Jesus

Mark 8:31        He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.  32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

Mark 8:33        But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

and then protect ourselves – Jesus has a very different approach.  Jesus knew everyone would reject him, they would deny him in their own ways, he knew would betray him – and how.

Jesus was clear on what he was about and what he was doing.  He was going to the cross.  On at least 7 occasions, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to suffer and die.

Not to mention the Old Testament prophesies of his suffering and death in Ps, Isa & Zechariah. 

Jesus was clear on his desire -   His desire was not his own but to do with will of his Father.  He was not interested in the circumstances of the popular opinion around him. 

Jesus knew that all the disciples – including Peter were going to disown him, deny him, go to sleep at the wheel on him.  They were going to betray him, none would stand with him.  And yet that did not dissuade him  -  he still went to the cross

Jesus didn’t get down on Peter, and nor should we

The father sent him to earth to die and he was going to stay focused on that

So when he prayed in the garden while his men slept  - he cried out

36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." 

Peter would not have said that, you or I would not have said that –

And yet Jesus does not condemn Peter or us for our response,

He goes to the cross with joy, because he loves the God the Father

And he receives those who deny Him

There is not a thing any one of us can do that would be good enough – he goes to the cross in spite of our prideful, denials

And so each of us are able to sing :

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

He forgives those who ask him

Jesus extends his grace to us – who deny, betray, reject, go to sleep on,

He knows that on our own, we are incapable.  When he sees the desire of Peter

Acts 2:38  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

He restores those who follow him

After His resurrection,  Jesus restores Peter – and Peter is changed in this process

John 21:15-19

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 

16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 

This morning:

Do you need Jesus to receive you?

Do you need His forgiveness for your denial?

Do you need Jesus to restore you as a follower?