Peter's Denial

00:00:00 Speaker 1: The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness, but he is patient with us, not wishing that any one would perish, but that all should come to repentance. Second Peter three nine. Dear Lord, thank you for your enduring patience. As we stumble, fall, and slowly inch our way closer to you. We acknowledge our imperfections, mistakes, and our need for your grace. Your patience brings comfort to our often anxious hearts. Help us to mirror your patience in our own lives, both with ourselves and others, so that we may become better vessels of your love and grace. We acknowledge that restoration is often a lengthy process that takes time and patience. In the quiet spaces of our hearts, help us hear your tender voice leading us closer to you. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast, stay engaged to be immersed in the dramatic story of Jesus. If you want to partner with us in our mission to bring the Bible to life in new ways, follow this podcast on whatever platform you're listening to. Doing so will keep you updated, but also help us get discovered by more people. That way, we can reach the whole world with the story of Jesus. Peter stared blankly into the flame, mind racing from the day's events. He stood beside the fire, the embers warming. A group of onlookers outside the temple, anxiously waiting to hear about jesus sentence. Jesus was before the Sanhedron in the hall of polished Storms, being tried by Caiaphas for blasphemy. Peter kept his hood on and occasionally stole glances at the temple. He was worried about Jesus and fearful that they might take him as well. His resolve was eroding with each passing moment. Peter, once brave and brash, was losing his courage. The coals produced a dark smoke and gave off an earthly scent. Peter's eyes followed the rising smoke, watching it blend seamlessly with the dark storm clouds above. As Peter looked up, the firelight illuminated his worried face. A servant girl sat on the other side of the fire, and noticed Peter. She recognized him as one of Jesus fought I know you, The girl said, you're one of his followers. Peter's eyes widened in panic. If she recognized him, one of the guards nearby would as well. He lowered his head and mumbled in answer to the girl, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know him. The words of denial stung on Peter's lips, but he couldn't risk being discovered. Peter kept his hood secured over his eyes. His large cloak hid his trembling body. Thoughts of Jesus's fate swirled around in his mind. The group by the fire spoke about Jesus, speculating what would become of him. As they spoke, a man nudged Peter on the shoulder, saying, I think. 00:03:50 Speaker 2: That girl was right. 00:03:52 Speaker 1: I remember you. You're his friend. I'm not, Peter said swiftly, this time with more authority. His anxiousness was leaking. An hour passed, the storm clouds swirled above with foreboding speed. A commotion emerged from the temple. As Jesus was tossed down the stone steps, guards bound him by a rope and struck him his lips. Peter turned to see Jesus, exposing his face again to the light. That's when another man shouted, you you. 00:04:28 Speaker 2: Are one of his followers. Ah, I know a Galilean when I see one. 00:04:34 Speaker 1: Peter turned with anger in his eyes. He pointed a finger at him and cursed. 00:04:39 Speaker 2: I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know him. I never knew him. 00:04:44 Speaker 1: And just as those words left Peter's mouth, he heard the crow of a rooster. Jesus had told him that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed, Peter's eyes darted toward the temple. There in the dirt, knelt Jesus. Peter's eyes locked with his. Time slowed. At that moment, Peter was slowly descending into a sea of shame. His eyes watered and his throat clenched. Peter ran away, leaving Jesus behind. He ran to the shore, knelt in the sand, and wept. There. The sea took his tears, but his shame remained present within him. 00:05:38 Speaker 2: Shame is an anchor. It holds us down, hindering our reach upward. Do you need to be set free today? This is the Jesus Podcast we're spending the month of April immersing ourselves in the events following Easter. We want to hear how the resurrection transformed Jesus's followers from faithless and fearful to faithful and fearless. Today's story immerses Us in an often overlooked event, Jesus's first appearance to Peter. When Christ was crucified, the air thickened with grief and despair among his followers. All had been lost. They had lost their teacher, their messiah, their hope, and now their mourning collectively and individually. But the sorrow of Peter was laced with an extra layer of guilt. He was the one who had not just abandoned Jesus, but explicitly denied him, not once, but three times. Luke captured that emotional explosion when Peter's eyes met Jesus' just as he was being thrown down the temple steps. Those eyes, once full of fellowship, now seemingly bore into Peter's soul, leaving him shattered. Peter went away and wept bitterly, and now he's lost in despair. Even though there are whisperers of Jesus's resurrection, he has yet to witness him. But even if he does see him, what is Peter going to do? Is he going to reel in shame and hide away? Is he going to throw himself in Jesus's arms. Scripture does not provide us a play by play of all of Jesus's actions after the resurrection. However, it is clear that he prioritized two specific people. He had deeply personal, one on one interactions with Peter and James. In the Gospel of Mark, the Angel tells the women to go and tell all of the disciples that Jesus has risen, but he also singles out Peter. Paul in one Corinthians fifteen mentions that Jesus appeared to Peter before the rest of the disciples. Many people know about Jesus's restoration of Peter and John twenty one by the Fire. We're going to immerse ourselves in those events as well, but we aren't given immense detail about Peter's first encounter with Jesus. Scripture doesn't give us all the details of this moment, but we're going to do our best to add to the greater narrative of Peter's redemptive arc. We took creative license with this scene, all for the greater purpose of painting a grander picture of Peter's journey from shame to salvation. Let's dive back into the story. 00:08:01 Speaker 1: Now. 00:08:02 Speaker 2: Peter has seen the empty tomb of Jesus and is reeling in shame and excitement at the same time about Jesus's resurrection. 00:08:10 Speaker 1: What will his. 00:08:10 Speaker 2: Reaction be when he finally sees Jesus face to face. 00:08:17 Speaker 1: Peter left the empty tomb of Jesus confused. A torrent of doubt and fear flooded his mind. If Jesus's body had been stolen, then by whom? If Jesus had gone to be with God like Elijah, then why how could I face him? Peter said with a sigh. The memory of that night haunted him. He had denied Jesus right before he was slaughtered and killed on the cross. If Jesus had truly risen again, then what would he say to Peter? Would he forgive him? Peter rounded the pathway toward the tomb olive trees hung over the backs of a small river. Peter sat on a large stone and placed his hands on his face. 00:09:06 Speaker 2: He probably want nothing to do with me. 00:09:09 Speaker 1: Peter soaked in a pool of his failure, unable to get past the feeling of shame. For all Peter's professions of loyalty, he had failed when it mattered most. Peter's hands shook with guilt as he placed them in the river. He splashed some water on his face, trying to soothe his eyes, which were swollen from hours of tears. After splashing the water on his face, he saw a man standing on the other side of the stream. Peter shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He wasn't imagining it. Jesus was standing in front of him. Peter didn't move. His body was paralyzed with awe and fear. He wanted to jump into the water and swim to Jesus, but guilt tethered him to the storm. 00:10:03 Speaker 2: Lord. 00:10:04 Speaker 1: Peter gasped, is that you? Jesus was silent for a long moment. It seemed like an eternity to Peter. His heart beat like a heavy drum in his chest. 00:10:17 Speaker 2: Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against. 00:10:23 Speaker 1: It, Jesus said. His voice was soft yet firm, like the steady sound of the river flowing between them, Did I not tell you countless times? There was nothing to fear. Peter didn't know how to respond. He stood at the water's edge, leaning forward with arms outstretched, but still speechless. He was unable to cross over to him. He wanted to shout, Master, I'm sorry, and bow at his feet. He wanted to plead for forgiveness, but it was as if his heart was bound and chained by shame. His jaw quivered and tears fell down his weathered face. Must he whispered, I'm Jesus's eyes met Peter like they did in the temple courtyard the night he was taken. His gaze held an invitation, an invitation to run into his arms and receive forgiveness. Yet Peter couldn't accept that invitation. Not yet. Peter fell to his knees and sobbed. Jesus smiled with warm eyes and bent down to eye level with Peter, still on the side of the river. His voice whispered in tandem with the trickling water. 00:11:44 Speaker 2: Simon, son of John, do you love me? 00:11:48 Speaker 1: Peter's shoulders tensed at the question. He looked up from the dirt to respond, but Jesus was gone. The question lingered in space answered. Peter stood up and looked around. The olive grove was empty. Peter was alone with his guilt once again, but now with a sense that redemption was on the other side of the water. When Peter was finally brave enough to step out and receive it, he would reach out and take it. 00:12:30 Speaker 2: Restoration is often a long and heart wrenching process. It's nice to imagine Peter immediately leaping into Jesus's arms and begging for forgiveness. However, this account of the events paints a more realistic picture of restoration, repentance, and redemption. Peter is caught in a cycle of shame and doesn't feel worthy of Christ's forgiveness. He's tethered to the ground, unable to make that leap to a saviour's arms. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt so ashamed that you felt like you couldn't approach the person and that you wronged? Have you ever felt so filled with shame that you felt like you couldn't approach God? You're not alone. Many of us, when faced with the weight of our sins, feel unable to throw ourselves into the loving embrace of Jesus. We don't feel worthy of forgiveness, so we don't even seek it out. The river in this scene is iconic. The river represents the distance between Peter and Jesus, but it also acts as a foreshadowing to another moment, when Peter is going to be before the water. Peter's journey back to Christ is going to be more than just one step. He's going to go through a series of events ultimately leading up to his restoration. And isn't that how life is? Think about how many small things had to happen before you were finally willing to throw yourself into the arms of Jesus. Restoration is often a slow process, doesn't happen all at once. If you've ever experienced friction in a marital relationship or a deep friendship, you'll know this to be true. Sometimes, when there's betrayal, or when there's lies, or when there's sins that have been committed, it takes a long time to heal. It takes a long time to get over the hump of shame and to feel forgiveness. Peter's first experience with the risen Christ was a catalyst for the beginning of transformation from a despondent disciple to a courageous apostle. This change serves as compelling evidence for the resurrection and as a source of inspiration for every believer who has ever stumbled in their faith. Peter discovered that his failures didn't nullify Christ's love for him or his usefulness in God's kingdom. His experience became a beacon of hope for all of us, making it clear that Jesus's purpose and rising from the dead was not just a cosmic but also a profoundly personal act. It will take time for Peter, but the Lord is patient, no doubt. This patience in this long process is what Peter thought of when he wrote Second Peter three to nine. The Lord does not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. That is so true for Peter's story. In our next episode, Jesus is going to pay a visit to another person in desperate need of redemption. This person also denied Jesus and had to grapple with feelings of guilt and shame. This person was Jesus's brother James