The Fall and Restoration of Peter - Part 1 of 2

This is Sarah Bradley Junior inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace today will be bringing another message from our series on the Gospel of John. If you're interested in receiving any of these messages on CD writers. For information we can provide a single message or we have them in albums so there quite a number of them at this point. So if you're interested in receiving information about these messages just write us or call us at our address is the Baptist Bible.

Our box 17 oh 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 in the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John we find Jesus informing his disciples that he will be going away. The 33rd verse he says little children, yet a little while I am with you, you shall seek me, and as I said unto the Jews, whether you know cannot. So now I say unto you, and then he gives that new commandment which we looked at in some detail in the previous message saying that this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have love one to another. I would come today to look at verses 36 to 38 but I wanted us to begin with these words of Jesus. So you understand what all the implications are when he said I'm ready to go away now verse 36 Simon Peter said to him, Lord, whether goal is that Jesus answered him, whether I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me Peter said to him, Lord, why cannot I follow the now I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, will finally down my life for my sake.

Verily, verily I say unto the cop shall not scroll till thou hast denied me thrice.

Peter was the disciple that always talk the most, and of course this occasion proves to be no exception. Somebody has said of Peter that he would take his foot out of his mouth only to put the other foot in because he was prone to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. It was impetuous and yet with all of the faults we find recorded about Peter can help loving as a committed follower of Jesus Christ as one who certainly love the Savior, Peter, make some very profound statements in the book of Matthew chapter 16 in the 16th verse, he said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. But in the same chapter. First, 22, it says. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him talking to Jesus saying, be it far from the Lord.

This shall not be on today while Peter did a lot of talking. Jesus spoke of the many words directly to Peter.

He would Peter more directly than any others of his followers, but can you believe it that Peter took it upon himself. Jesus says not art the Christ, the son of the living God. So could you imagine that when Jesus talks about his death. Peter has the audacity to rebuke him. This shall not be under the eye. We can appreciate from one standpoint.

That was because Peter love Jesus so much he could not tolerate the path of Jesus going away. Jesus died, but certainly he was out of place when he took it upon himself to refute what Jesus said and to rebuke it in the upper room.

You recall that when Jesus made ready to wash the disciples feet never, never, Lord, wash my feet but a short time later. He said Mark only my feet but my head, my hands a could make a quick print about when he realized he had said the wrong thing so he was impulsive, very quick to speak headstrong, but you love Jesus. And when others were going away. He said, to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life. Looking at this portion, we first observe Peter's self-confidence down.

We can understand that he was perplexed when Jesus said I'm going away and you cannot go with me for three years Peter had been accompanying him and always travels listening to his discourses witnessing his miracles. In fact, he was one of the three, Peter James and John who were especially close to Jesus and Jesus says I'm going away and you cannot follow now well certainly he is upset he doesn't understand things perplexed, but just a part of the problem is he is not recalling what Jesus had already talked about this matter.

Mark chapter 8 verse 31 and he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again that there were times that Jesus alluded to his death with terms that were not quite so specific, but when you read this language is how could Peter possibly misunderstand Jesus as I want to be killed. And after three days will rise again and expect that saying openly and Peter took him, and begin with peers occasion where Peter responds negatively for type I just can't accept the but when he had turned about and looked on the disciples he rebuke Peter saying get behind me Satan, for thou savers, not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. Peter, you're looking at it strictly from the human perspective.

Yes, you disturbed yes it's upsetting to think about the master the Savior that you followed the Lord, going to the cross and suffering, but you're not thinking about from the divine perspective. This is something that was 14 from before the foundation of the world that Jesus Christ would come in the fullness of time, go to the cross lay down his life and hurting the people in Peter is objected.

How could my Savior.he is the key and expecting him to set up his kingdom disciples had a hard time getting back sorted out in their mind rather than to understand that Jesus at my kingdom is not of this world they were always anticipating and hoping that he would immediately set up a kingdom and they were always binding as to who would have the most prominent place even having their mother on one occasion compensate Jesus but my sons once it on one side and one on the other a circular were missing the mark lists reveals to us that a person can be upset in their own mind and assume that there justified in being upset. But the reason for is because they haven't listened well, but the instruction that has come from God's word not relying on the testimony divine truth there reacting emotionally. I don't like what I'm.

That doesn't fit in with my way of thinking and doing times when you sat in the audience listening to my inputs from the word of God and you reason your own mind. I really don't like that position. I don't care if it and you work to try and figure out some way that you could say well yes, I believe the Bible I just don't believe that interpretation, I don't believe the way the project but the fact that you rejected the clear testimony of the inspired word called you to be left in a state of confusion and sometimes you accept the idea I'm standing firm on contending for the truth, but you were opposing that could happen to the apostle Peter, could that not happen to anyone of us or we are so intense about defending what we feel that what we believe to be right that we've missed what the Scripture say is Jesus the son of God, one with absolute authority, speaking the truth. And Peter is objecting to so he's perplexed, but now Jesus at the time is arrived and I'm going away.

He could not go. Now Jesus is bingo later, but you can't go now where ongoing start with Jesus was going to die in Peter opposite wasn't prepared for that.

He did make it through the night. He was denying the Lord before daybreak. How then could he have gone with him all the way to the cross. And of course Jesus was going to the cross to do a work in which no man could participate.

Nobody could help the prophet said he shall tread the winepress of the wrath alone. It was by himself that he went to the cross. He laid down his life. He gave himself he paid the price. He had no help, no assistance, so none of the apostles could go with him in the suffering that he would endure upon the cross itself and then for the board ship. It was not God's time for Peter to Peter says I'm ready to die, which in fact he was not he wasn't spiritually prepared to take that kind of a stand but it wasn't the Lord's appointed time for him to die still had some lessons for Peter to learn Peter opposite was not nearly so far along as he thought it was thought, I've been under the teaching of Jesus for three years I've been with him in his ministry have been spokesman not leader where I need to be, but there was a lot more drawls in Peter that he realized, and I daresay that's the case with all of us may say the Lord really taken me through some deep trials. Lord really turned up the heat, sometimes in the furnace of affliction. I think the crosses well eliminate the Lord knows more about you than you know about yourself. I'm going to the Lord a few times. My life is a Lord, it just looks like me this to be a good time to turn down the fire us.

I really think I've learned something and often at that very time it got hotter and the Lord knew what I needed.

So Peter had some lessons yet to learn and do some work for him to do more looking ready for into follow him to the point of death. He was ready for him to go away because there was work. Peter had now you ever gotten to the place that you have been so discouraged, so frustrated you set on a given day. I don't even know why I'm here.

I don't know why I'm alive.

Gordon just take me on how this wasn't really that prayer that is appropriate for your praying. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus, because you long to see him be with him.

This was just your will, frustration, say I'm fed up.

I've had it. I finally know I'm here reading your fears because the Lord intensely to be here and there still something for you to do in his service there still work for you to perform time would come when Peter would be martyred, but is going to go through a lot of experiences in the meantime that would prepare him for that occasion when he would give his life as a testimony for Jesus Christ. John chapter 21 verse 18 verily, verily I say unto the ones I was young Val Verde/self and walk us without notice, but when thou shalt be old national stretch forth my hands on another show Gerd Lee and carry the weather will this not this spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God and when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, follow me. Jesus is telling of the time is going to come when they're going to bind you the going to take you where you don't want to go. You are going to die he was going to be martyred for the cause of Christ.

But that would be at God's appointed time, not at the time here requested by Peter and then what a wonderful thing we see not only was Peter troubled by the fact that Jesus said I'm get ready to go away. You can't go with me, you can rest assured the others were troubled as well and so notice how he begins to speak in the next chapter John chapter 14 let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would've told I go to prepare a place for even if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there.

He may be. So while it wasn't the time. Now the Peter of the others could go where Jesus is going there would come a time that they would be with him where well. Peter was not pleased with Jesus answer. Fact is, he wanted things his way. He loved Jesus, but he was Southwell have any trouble with that difficulty sometimes just sand that hard to please. I just want things to go my way. I'm just not satisfied with the turn of events at the moment. Even getting a little impatient is why the Lord is not changing some things in your life is have prayed about it. I taken this to the Lord. Time and time again the burden is having the trial is great. I don't see why it is so save it self will send become a problem. Why can I go now I want to go wherever Jesus is going to make didn't fully understand all of it happening but whatever was going on. He you would think that Peter might've learned from an early experience at an earlier time Peter had been fishing all night and caught anything and Jesus Condon says let down the net and Peter Lord we been fishing all night, but where were qualified where were good fishermen under there were many fish out there. We would had to stop. But then he called himself is not a good idea to argue with the Lord. Nevertheless, if I were not let them did and were so many fish in the net that broke now had that experience of wanting to argue with the Lord and then realizing that when the thing to do you think that he would've learned permanently.

The lesson you don't argue with the Lord.

But I daresay I might last for this course will put you on the spot.

But if we had an honest response here today and say how many could save that you've ever argued with the Lord more than once. The good many hands go up with them in time for Lord, I just don't understand it. I'm trying to do what's right. I'm trying to serve that it does look like this would be the best thing if you would do it. I Lord doesn't work on our timetable, or take dictation from us, as though we know better than he does. Our position is not to be one of questioning, but one of obeying Psalm 40 verse eight says I don't like to do divine will of God and that was a messianic reference. It indeed was the experience of the psalmist, but it was quoted by Jesus came to the father's will. I delight to do thy will, oh God, is that the spirit you have.

If you don't understand all the wires and wherefore you don't understand the difficulty of the trial, but your bowing Lord, thy will be done. I don't like to do thy will, whatever it may be his confidence was in himself and not in the Lord it declares boldly, I will lay down my life and at this point he just doesn't see and realize his own witness fee sincere about it, he means it is a vivid contrast between Judas betraying Jesus and Peter denied because Judas calculated his action had no real love for Jesus did not belong to him and went away to his own place this fall. The Peter experience was not premeditated. It wasn't something that was planned. It was something that surprised him because he thought he was better prepared. Luke chapter 22 verse 31 and the Lord said, Simon, Simon, the whole Satan hath desired to have you, that he may see if you as I think this is very much in the vein that we see the experience of Jill when Satan came and conversed with God and not to notice my servant Job segment one of course he's doing well because you built a hedge around him who blessed him you prospered him like me attacking let me take it away from the curse you to your face and you know the story that Job bound and worship God even in the midst of his adversity. So now Satan looks at Peter he desires to see if Tim and I going to allow him to attack his servant but he says I have prayed for the that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted mass and strengthen thy brethren. We save Jesus prayer answered the type Peter failed when he did in denying the Lord, but the prayer Jesus prayed was answered as the prayer played by Jesus on every occasion would always be answered that his face did not fight because even though he sand and tame short.

He later was broken and fumbled and was restored.

Now, after Jesus makes this statement. Satan has desired you he going to see if you he said in the him plot I am ready to go with me both in the prison, then sloping to death may be attacked by Satan. No matter what comes. Lord, I'm ready to go with you if you're going I'm ready to go I'm ready to die. My self-confidence, I've got it all together.

I'm ready I can.

I can stand and he considered himself to be superior to others. Matthew chapter 26 verse 33 Peter answered and said in the him all man shall offend because of the I never will be a thing about how bold and arrogant though man shall be offended because of the well.

I never be offended may fail, or not be the last man standing by. If you ever allow yourself to drift into such an arrogant attitude. You know you consider yourself to be superior. Your own very dangerous ground attitude.

I see others fault for not see others failing to see others going astray. I see others doing the wrong thing saying the wrong thing going wrong about me.

I got along together. Pleasing God, I'm standing for the truth doing exactly what I'm supposed to do superior in my knowledge it might conduct you see somebody fall into sin and its light that you be appalled by a sinful conduct itch in order that you hate every evil way, but if you have the self-righteous pharisaical attitude. I can't believe what this person has done. I never I could never happen to me. I might have my faults.

I'm not nearly as evil as that person you know that the potential for every sin possible is in our fallen, sinful nature and under the right or I might say the wrong circumstances.

There are things in any of us to be tempted to do that we could never have imagined Peter is parent Peter is self righteous. Peter is not depending on the Lord he's depending on himself and that is disastrous, as surely as we do that, as surely as we declare that all is well and that I'm strong and I can stand ready for a downfall.

All Peter had at times displayed great faith in his Savior Jesus Christ. But at this time we see that his confidence was in himself and consequently he failed when we learned a great lesson to be drawn from this experience to understand that we have to walk humbly before our God, knowing that we're never strong enough to stand in our cell. But the strength we need is the help that comes from above, and our Lord encourages us to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we can find help in the time of me how to we preach again next time the suit was Sarah Bradley, Junior, saying that God richly bless you see the all all