The Flesh Failed

Luke 22:54-62

I am not a big sports fan. Nevertheless, I find it frustrating when some fan begins to criticize a quarterback for not making a certain play after the game is over. It’s a lot easier to criticize a player if one has not been in that position. Making proper decisions in the situation is a whole different ball game. On the other hand, by studying what worked and what didn’t we can learn how to do better ourselves.

Peter is often the subject of Monday Morning Quarterbacks. In every situation he reacted according to his nature and experience. After receiving the Holy Spirit, that nature was brought under the Holy Spirit’s direction, somewhat like a talented Quarterback learning to yield to his coach’s direction. As a result, he becomes a much more valuable player. When he first starts, the quarterback tries to everything the way he has always done them. Frequently that causes conflict with the coach’s plans. Even at this point, despite his sincere desire to please his coach, Peter still lapses back into his old habits regularly. Let’s look back briefly at some of his actions.

He didn’t hesitate to walk away from his career to serve the Lord, giving up his fishing business. He maintained a family relationship in his efforts to please the Lord. He didn’t hesitate to tell the Lord he was wrong when Jesus said he’d be killed. He was one of the twelve who performed so many miracles. He was the only apostle to try to walk on the water, and he also chickened out and had to be rescued. When they came to arrest Jesus, he was the one who grabbed a sword and started to defend him. Like the quarterback learning to follow his coach’s direction, Peter has made some fabulous plays, and some disastrous mistakes. It is his failure on this, the most important night of his life that will convince him to yield completely to the Lord. Just hours before, Jesus had warned that all the disciples would turn away, and Peter, fully believing it to be true, had insisted there was nothing that could make him deny the Lord. Jesus had warned him that he would deny him three times before morning.

An hour or two later, when Jesus was arrested, Peter had impetuously attacked the officers, injuring one of the High Priest’s servants, but when Jesus was forcibly arrested, like the other disciples, he fled. Only he and John have the courage to come back and follow to see what will happen.

Lu 22:54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Because John had friends on the council, according to John 18:15, he was admitted to the hearing, but Peter had to stay with the crowd outside. Alone and surrounded by an unruly mob looking for action, Peter was definitely intimidated. It is not hard to understand his fear of being recognized.

“And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.” (Luke 22:55-57)

I can only imagine the courage it took to stay after he was recognized, knowing that at any moment they could turn on him. His love for the Lord, and his desire to know what happened to him kept him there even when he was recognized a second time, though he denied knowing him both times.

“And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.” (Luke 22:58)

Around 4:30 Thursday morning Peter was recognized for the third time, by a person who is sure he was a disciple, and points to the way he talks as proof of his identity. Their speech has always been an indicator of Jesus’ disciples.

“And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.” (Luke 22:59-60)

Peter feels compelled to prove he isn’t one of Jesus’ followers, even cursing to do so. Mark 14:71 describes his denial. “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.” Both the attitude and the wording would imply that one was not a follower of Christ. As James 1:26 says, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

Even such great love and strength of character was not enough to prevent Peter’s succumbing to fear and temptation. None of the other apostles even made it this far. As a famous preacher said, “It’s not just difficult to live the Christian life, it is impossible without the Holy Spirit’s power.” The apostles wouldn’t be indwelt by him until the day of Pentecost. It clearly demonstrates how critical the presence of the Holy Spirit is for Christian living. As I John 3;9 declares, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” The Holy Spirit limits how far a Christian can go.

When the rooster crowed, Peter was horrified to realize what he had done. Imagine his shame, as he saw the Lord looking at him. The strength of character he had gloried in has utterly failed. He could no longer confidently assert that he will not fail. What a blow to his self confidence. To make it worse, he had insisted that the Lord was wrong, that he was better than the others.

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62)

In his heart and mind, Peter still has not denied the Lord, but his tongue has, in an attempt to protect the body. Romans 7:17-20 explains, “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

Peter still believes that Jesus is Lord and savior. Judas, on the other hand, has never believed that, just believing that he is a good man and teacher. Even when Judas committed suicide, it was a result of realizing he had violated his standards as a Jew, having a good man killed, not in remorse for having rejected the lord of glory.