Under Pressure - Luke 22 Vs 54 - 62

Good morning. Good to see some new faces as well. Glad to have everyone here to worship, you know, God on this blessed day. We'll first start with announcements. Just mentioned that prayer meeting here tonight, 6 p .m.

We're gonna be worshiping in the Fellowship Hall for those who want to join. Also, next Sunday we're also gonna have a visitor from our Missionary of the Month, Jim Hansen, that he'll be here. And then we also have an explanation of his ministry, of which he serves in biblical ministries worldwide in the deaf and blind category.

And then lastly, we have the Praise and Worship Night that's gonna be on the 31st of October. It's a Thursday. For those who want to come and just have a Praise and Worship Night, we'll be here at 6 p .m. on Thursday, and it'll be a great time of fellowship as well.

So that does it for announcements. So before we head into worship and the sermon, we'll just open in a word of prayer. Dear Lord, thank you for this day given us. Thank you for your many blessings, Lord.

Thank you for allowing us to be here to fellowship with one another and to praise and worship your name. I pray, Lord, that we're able to focus our hearts and our mind on you, Lord, here today and prepare ourselves for the worship and the sermon that we hear today, Lord.

In your name we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

The Hymn "Trust and Obey" and Its Origin

Our first song is, When We Walk With the Lord, or Trust and Obey, as many of you know it to be. D .L. Moody had a revival testimony meeting in Boston many, many hundred years ago. And a man stood up and he said, I'm not quite sure, but I'm going to trust and I'm going to obey.

And that was the genesis of this song. Somebody wrote that down, gave it to a hymn writer, and that's the result of that event that day. So let's stand together as we think about what it means.

To trust and obey. The scripture reading today is from John, chapter 21, verses 15.

Through 19. That's John, chapter 21, verses 15 through 19. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.

He saith unto him, feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love you, I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.

Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest, but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, follow me. May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of his work. Our last song is I Surrender All.

This was a song that's really dedicated to God. It's written by a man that lived a worldly life and then came to the Lord and he committed the rest of his life to the Lord in full-time service as an evangelist.

And so he sang this song, he penned this song, I Surrender All.

Peter Denies Christ Under Pressure

Please turn with me to Luke chapter 22. Luke chapter 22, verses 54 to 62. Luke chapter 22, verses 54 through 62. Having arrested him, they led him and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance.

Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, This man was also with him.

But he denied him, saying, Woman, I do not know him. And after a little while, another saw him and said, You also are of them? But Peter said, Man, I am not. Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, Surely this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean.

But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you're saying. Immediately while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him before the rooster crows, You will deny me three times.

So Peter went out and wept bitterly. This is the word of the Lord. Let us pray. Father, we're grateful that even though Jesus was denied three times, he suffered the cross for our sin, all by himself, alone, so that we may be saved.

We're grateful that he is risen and he reigns from above. Help us to honor him, be grateful to him this morning. Help us to trust him with everything that's going on in our lives. In Jesus' name. This is a rather famous passage.

All four of the gospel authors give us Peter's denial of Christ upon his arrest. And as you can count, there are three denials in this passage. The first and third claim Peter's association with Jesus.

The second places Peter's association with Jesus' other disciples. And contrary to Peter's confident assertion of his loyalty to Christ in Luke chapter 22 -33, when he was publicly pressured, he falls apart.

And this is important for us because following crisis, Christ has become costlier than ever in America. For some of you, when you were growing up, it was in fact popular to be a Christian. Some of your parents or grandparents may have been a part of a church, a local church.

Maybe they weren't even truly believers, but it just was the thing to do on a Sunday morning. Even if you visit a city like Chicago and you walk down the street on a Sunday morning, you would notice a lot of the stores are closed.

And that's because they're culturally Catholic, right? But the culture of Christianity is, it's gone. It's, it's really not there, right? Our parents or some of you, you were not ostracized if you were publicly a Christian.

You were probably widely accepted. And many of our parents or some of you, some of us, have gone to youth group, even if our parents didn't go to church. However, in the last decade or so, Christianity has become even more socially unacceptable.

This is because our culture has drifted to celebrate lifestyle that are frankly against Christ. When we celebrate evil, the culture also looks down upon what's good. And consider even all those so-called churches with the rainbow flags hanging that celebrate the sin of homosexuality and more.

Their compromise is not warranted in Scripture, but it comes from the fear of negative opinion of men. They have denied the words of Christ to be accepted by the culture, and they're in fact bowing down to the idol of cultural relevance instead of Christ.

Like Peter, we may now confidently say, yes, but I won't be like those liberals, or yes, but I will stick to Jesus no matter what. Today's text requires us to consider our commitment to Christ when the trials do come, our commitment to Christ when there's a cost.

Will you be confident if you become a social reject? Will you be as confident if your life is threatened? The main point of today's text is we can faithfully follow Christ despite the cost because he suffered the worst alone for us.

We can faithfully follow Christ despite the cost because he suffered the worst alone for us. First, true followers are continually committed to Christ despite the outward pressure. True followers are continually committed to Christ despite the outward pressure.

Verse 54 sets the background for this passage. Having arrested him, they led him and brought him into the high priest's house. This follows the late-night mob that surrounded Christ, and they have captured Christ and led him to the high priest.

Although the other gospel authors do mention other names of the high priest, Annas and then Caiaphas, Luke summarizes these two events as one. One commentator, Daryl Bach, notes that the responsibility of falsely accusing Christ does not just fall on one figure, but collectively overall on the religious leaders of Israel.

Luke's focus is rather than just one high priest or the other, but it's all the religious leaders who have conspired against the Messiah. Now this is not the official trial before the Roman governor Pilate.

This is the discussion before the official trial to get the story straight. Because the religious leaders were technically under Roman rule, their authorities were heavily restricted. For example, they were not allowed to put anyone to death unless the person had directly defiled the temple or committed adultery.

Jesus did not do either one, so their sentencing really had no teeth. They had no authority over Jesus, and their plan was to get rid of him. Yet they needed to bring Jesus before the Roman governor with something.

Their story has to make sense. So they urgently met in the middle of the night after arresting him with an armed mob, and they started interrogating him. In this section, however, the camera angle shifts from Jesus to Peter.

But Peter followed at a distance. Luke emphasizes Peter's proximity to Christ. The once confident and authentic apostle who was relationally and physically close to Jesus now lags behind. Yet Peter has not completely abandoned Christ.

He is just no longer by his side either. This ironically echoes the promise that Peter made of his commitment in verse 33. Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death. And Luke and the readers wonder, is Peter actually with Jesus when he is following from a distance?

Peter is following from a distance what you had in mind, to be with Jesus both to prison and to death? And verse 55 unpacks the setting. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard, they sat down together.

Peter sat among them. In ancient times, in a large house, an important figure's house, there would be actually a courtyard in which the servants gathered to serve while the master and the important dignitaries or guests would meet inside.

Here the mob members from the previous passage awarmed themselves in the open courtyard while the important religious leaders discussed the matter of Christ inside. And Peter joins them outside rather than joining Jesus inside.

Again, Luke narrates the irony here. Is Peter actually with Jesus? Rather, he's sitting with the mob. The three denials dash through the narrative. The first denial comes in the next two verses. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, this man was also with him.

This servant girl serves the high priest and she looks intently at Peter because it's dark and the only source of light is the campfire. As she gazes through the fire, she recognizes Peter from somewhere.

Where have I seen this man before? Oh, this man was with Jesus, the one my master just captured. Notice the prepositional phrase again, with him, with him. This denotes association and this is in fact the same prepositional phrase when Peter promised Jesus in verse 33, Lord I am ready to go with you.

Although Peter kept his distance, the servant girl's claim places Peter right by Jesus' side again. And the question in our minds is, will Peter boldly demonstrate his loyalty? Although Peter may not be with Jesus physically right now, because he's a distance away, he can actually boldly demonstrate his true allegiance.

And we see Peter's response in the next verse, but he denied him, saying, woman I do not know him. Just as Jesus predicted, Peter denies him. His answer could not be clearer. Not only does Peter disavow fellowship, but he disavows any association with Jesus.

Right now, Peter wants nothing to do with Jesus. Under pressure, Peter folded. When pressed, Peter denied ever knowing the one he would have died for that very night. Despite this, Peter lingers. He does not leave, but stays to see what will unfold.

And after a little while, another saw him and said, you also are of them. The second claim is similar to the first, but not the same. While the first claim was about Peter's relation to Jesus, this one places Peter with the other disciples.

Hey, you also are of them. You belong with them. You're the one of the, you're one of the Christ followers. You're one of the Christians. You belong with them. This pins Peter's identity to Christ yet again.

Now, how does Peter answer? In one sense, this is Peter's very redemptive moment. Let's just say he was caught off guard by the first statement, but he can set the record straight. After all, the servant girl from the previous interaction most likely was nearby.

Let me set the record straight for you, little girl. I do belong to Christ. Yes, I am one of them. But Peter said, man, I am not. And despite this, Peter stayed around. He wanted to see how Jesus was doing, but did not have any interest in identifying himself with him.

He wanted to spectate without suffering with him. He wanted to be close enough to Jesus as long as it doesn't hurt him. He wanted the benefits of being with Jesus, but couldn't really want, couldn't really bear the cost.

Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, surely this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean. The third interaction increases in intensity. The person confidently affirms.

You could imagine the tone and the volume also increasing. Truly this fellow was with him, for he's a Galilean. Not only that, this man claims, this man's claim actually has teeth. He has evidence. What is this country bumpkin Galilean doing in the high priest's courtyard in Jerusalem?

He's got to be with that Jesus guy. He's got to be with the Galilean man. They share the accent, right? Presumably Galileans have their own distinguishing accent, obviously, because they come from a different region, right?

Now how does Peter respond? But Peter said, man, I do not know what you are saying. This is worse than pleading the fifth. Peter fakes ignorance in order to continue distancing himself from Jesus as he is physically distanced from Jesus.

In this case, Peter's physical distance from Jesus accurately represents his true commitment to Christ in this moment. I want to control how close we are at all times, and when there's hardship, I get to step aside.

Immediately while he was still speaking the rooster crowed. This is the immediate fulfillment of Jesus's prediction on Peter's denials. From verse 34, I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know me.

The rooster crowing was not a mere coincidence. The immediacy shows that it's actually the very fulfillment of Christ's Word. Peter may have been privately bold in his faith, but when publicly pressured, he crumbled.

Ironically, a nickname he has is the Rock. Peter. And this must serve as a warning for Christians today. The Apostle Peter was not some unknown disciple on the fringe of the crowd during Jesus's earthly ministry.

Peter dined with Christ. Peter literally walked with Christ. Peter was personally commissioned by Christ. None of us can claim those special privileges this morning. It was easy for Peter to stick by Jesus when he fed the five thousand.

Here, let me pass the basket full of bread around for you. It was easy for Peter to stick by Jesus when he casted out thousands of demons. That's my teacher. The true test for loyalty comes not during the highs, but the lows.

Not the mountain peaks, but the valleys. Will you stand by Christ even if your friends and family abandon you? Will you stand by Christ even if your GPA takes a toll? Will you stand by Christ even if you may lose your job?

Will you stand by Christ if your personal reputation is on the line? Will you stand by Christ even if all around you think you're wrong, but you're right in God's eyes? Will you stand by Christ if your life is on the line?

Modern-day interactions that may tempt us to deny Christ our association with Christ may sound like this. Oh, you're a Christian. You must be quite gullible to believe that a man can rise from the dead.

You don't believe that, do you? You must be a fundamentalist science denier who denies evolution. You must be a hateful bigot who wants to control other people's lives. You're just filled with hatred against people who are different from you.

How will you answer these questions? For us, lingering after the church gathering does not mean you are truly loyal to Christ. Growing up in the church does not mean you're truly loyal to Christ. Knowing all the Sunday school answers does not mean you are truly loyal to Christ.

Earning a theological degree does not mean you're truly loyal to Christ. Holding a leadership position in the church does not mean you're truly loyal to Christ. Your true loyalty is shown when your relationship with Christ actually costs you, and you're willing to bear that cost than to deny Christ.

Ultimately, it is not your past proximity to Christ that defines your identity in Him, but the continual commitment to Him despite whatever the cost may be. Now, what results from Peter's denials? Jesus' Word is fulfilled when he suffered alone.

Jesus' Word is fulfilled when he suffered alone. Luke uniquely shows Jesus' response to Peter's three denials. So, no other gospel authors write this interaction, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter.

Jesus probably looked at Peter either from the window or as they led him across the courtyard to take him elsewhere. I cannot possibly imagine that the gaze that Peter experienced from our Savior's eyes.

As Jesus was falsely accused and about to face his own death, he knew Peter had just denied him three times. One of his most devoted disciples and friends denied any association with him when he was facing the worst moment of not only his life, but history of mankind.

Jesus was about to die for Peter's sin, and Peter denied any relation to him. And that will be the last interaction before the cross. That will be the last glance they looked at each other before he was lifted high, nailed on the cross, bearing the wrath of God that we all deserved, including Peter's.

And this causes Peter to remember what Jesus said. Then Peter remembered the Word of the Lord, how he had said to him, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Jesus' word was fulfilled at the correct time and in the correct manner.

The legend has it that the Apostle Peter would bitterly weep whenever he heard the rooster crow after this moment. If true, it was a morning alarm not to wake up, but to depend on Christ alone, depend on his grace rather than your strength, depend on his mercy rather than your ability and your own confidence.

Peter weeps bitterly, probably wasn't the first time and won't be the last time. And the question today is how can you faithfully face trials but not rely on your own strength and confidence? You may have someone in your mind who is really faithful.

You may have someone in your mind, whether you read in a biography or someone in your life, who had lost a lot for Christ and you wonder, I don't know if I can do that. I don't know how she did it or I don't know how he did it.

Ultimately it is not on their own strength. Ultimately, in order to withstand such high pressure, you have to look to Christ who has suffered much more than you will ever suffer. And he suffered all by himself.

When we suffer, oftentimes we usually have someone from our family who will understand. Someone from our family who will stand by our side. Family, friend, someone. Not so Jesus. Jesus' crucifixion did not depend on anyone.

It was ordained that Jesus suffer the worst of all by himself. When they crucified him and lifted him up to the heavens, Jesus experienced the wrath of God all by himself. He did not have Peter. In fact, he did not need Peter.

Every part of the cross was sovereignly ordained that Jesus suffered the wrath of God by himself because only he alone could redeem us. He experienced the judgment that we deserve so that he may forgive sinners like us.

And this is why your pardon from sin does not and cannot depend on anyone else but Jesus alone. Your pardon from sin does not depend on priests or prophets. It does not depend on any Popes or Mary. Your pardon from sin only depends only on the man who hung from the cross alone.

Peter did not make Jesus' crucifixion any lighter. Mary did not share any burden on the cross. No angels or apostles bore the burden of your sin except Jesus Christ alone. This morning, if you have not made the decision to trust in Jesus, you need to go to him alone.

You do not need a priest. You do not need any pastors. You don't need a formula prayer. You do not need to come up here. You do not need to raise your hand. You do not need to close your eyes. You do not need my instruction.

You go to Christ alone and trust that he suffered the wrath that you deserve for your sin fully on the cross all by himself so that you have none to bear yourself. You can pray out loud or you can pray in your heart, but the only person you're talking to is God alone, through Christ alone.

You receive Christ by faith alone and you trust him alone. None of your records, well I was pretty good before I turned to, no, doesn't matter. Your righteousness is as filthy as rotten rags. It's only Christ's accomplishment on the cross that saves you from your sin.

Now for those of you who have made that decision, this is why you can face any pressure and not fault. While Jesus suffered alone, you will never suffer alone. Jesus is present through whatever persecution or trials you may be facing right now.

When you are publicly mocked for your faith, you have an advocate on your side who has the perfect record of justification. When you're misrepresented, when people assume all these hateful things about you, you don't need to speak a word because the judge knows what's right and he has justified you not based upon your righteousness or how right you are, but based upon the sacrifice that Jesus alone for your sin.

You don't have to feel a single need to justify yourself because that's not your job and he's with you. When you lose your friends because of Christ, you have a friend who was abandoned at his worst moment but has the perfect track record of never abandoning.

He was abandoned but he will never abandon you. He was abandoned and he knows what it's like and precisely because he knows what it's like, he takes it more seriously than you. You can face these outward pressures not because you're strong but because he is.

You can bear these social costs not because of your confidence but because Christ is worth more than any relationships you have. When you do the math, having Christ for all eternity is greater than anything you can lose in this life for him.

After all, he says he'll repay you back multiple folds but ultimately I don't know what he's gonna repay you back with. It's too great for my mind to consider but ultimately it is Christ that you gain.

Look to him, delight in him, calculate, think about who Christ is, how precious he is, treasure him and how can you ever deny him, the one that your heart treasures the most. Let us pray. Father, we're grateful that your forgiveness in Christ is ultimate and absolute.

Forgive us for all any times and all the times in which we have denied Christ either explicitly or implicitly to be accepted by humans. Help us to cling tightly to Christ alone next time when our faith is challenged.

Help us to know the true value of having Christ in our lives, not just as a ticket to heaven but as a personal Savior who bore the wrath that we deserved so that we would be his, so that we may say, yes, I belong to him.

Yes, I was with him and I am with him. I will stand by his side. Give us the faith to do that. In Jesus' name,.

Amen. Amen. Thank the Lord that you know his victory doesn't depend on anything we do because he's already done it, right? So we're just gonna close again today with doxology.