Messages from Pastor Raddatz

March 21, 2021 Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Houston TX Lent 4

Return from Denial, Luke 22:54-62

Adapted from “Return” series of CPH

Dear People of God,

            Holy Week was a time of high drama.  Already we have considered the betrayal and false witness that was made of Christ, and today we look at the denial he experienced.  God calls us to return from denying him for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

            Peter’s denial of knowing Jesus is also our denial of knowing Jesus.  The pressures of living in a culture that doesn’t recognize Jesus as Lord can push us to soft-pedal our beliefs or even downright deny Jesus.  But Jesus will have the last word!  He will go to the cross and bear our sins.  God’s righteous anger will fall upon him and not upon us.  He will forgive us and call us to return to him.  He restores us and sends us out with a task to complete.  He calls us not to deny but to testify of him.  

Peter’s Denial

            The evening of Peter’s Denial had quickly run off the rails.  A test was coming for Peter, but he did not know it.   During the last supper Jesus reminded his followers that he wanted the greatest to be the servant of the least, Luke 22:26.  This is the upside-down world of Jesus.  

For Peter it became very awkward when Jesus leaned over to Peter and said that Satan had demanded him, but Jesus had prayed for him.  Peter was so offended that he said he was “ready to go to prison and to death” for Jesus, Luke 22:33.  But Jesus knew better.  He said that Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times all before the rooster crowed.   

Jesus than takes Peter, James and John to the Garden to pray.  They could not stay awake, because as willing as their spirits were, their flesh was weak.  Jesus reprimands them, but wants them to come along with him.

Suddenly people appear to arrest Jesus.  Peter gets so worked up that he grabs a mans Dagger and cuts of the servant of the High Priest’s ear.  Jesus heals the servant and replaces his ear.  They drag Jesus away and Petr couldn’t help but follow.  His courage led his feet, but his heart trailed behind. 

While Jesus is on trial Peter remains in the courtyard hoping that distance will grant him anonymity from being a Jesus follower.  He can see Jesus with the Council inside.  It did not sound like it was going well for Jesus.  He moves closer to the fire.  He did not notice the girl sitting next to him, but she blurts out, “This man was also with him” Luke 22:56.

Peter jumped.  He turned to her and as he looked around the unkindly group, he looks at her and quietly says, “Oh no ma’am.  I don’t know him” v. 57.

A second time it happens to him.  This time it was a pesky man who was looking at Peter.  He said, “You are one of them too!”   Peter becomes more irritated and afraid and he says, probably more firmly than the first time, “Man, I am not one of them!!” v. 58.

Then a third time a voice rings out from across the courtyard pointing at Peter, “I’m telling you; this guy was with him!  I heard him talking earlier, and he is definitely from Galilee, his accent gives him away” v. 59.  Peter now figures that if he responds to the accusation aggressively, they will stop accusing him.  “MAN. I. DO. NOT. KNOW. WHAT. YOU. ARE. TALKING. ABOUT!” v. 60.

Our Denial

            Isn’t that just like us.  How often do we do the same thing?  We fail to acknowledge our faith in public because we can be scared of how people will react.  We do not want to be looked at as different.  You deny the One who died for your sins without even realizing you’ve done it.  We can still hold on to our dysfunctional issues which can hurt the people we love.

            The guilt of our sins can be overwhelming.  You may even wonder how God can forgive you.  You might even think God does not want to use you!  But God does forgive you and God does want to use you!!!

Complete Forgiveness in Christ

            God’s forgiveness comes through the courageous love of God in Christ.  Yes, we are saved and yes God wants to use us.

            When you feel guilty and worthless remember the look of Christ.  In Mark 10:21, Jesus looks at another man, a rich man who hopes to earn his way to heaven.  Jesus wants him to abandon all human ways to get to heaven, because God’s way is through the cross of Christ.  “Jesus looked at him and loved him”, Mark 10:21.

            The look of God in the eyes of Jesus can be both convicting and inviting.  How can this be?  Well I suggest that there are times in our life where we received, or we have given such a look.  It is a look of a parent to a child of disappointment, but likewise, it is the look of forgiveness.  Disappointment because the child or grandchild did not fulfill your expectation but also the look of forgiveness that opens the gates to the love of Christ.  It is not acceptance of the sin, but it is love of the sinner.  

            Fast forward to the resurrection of Christ where Jesus reinstates Peter according to the Gospel writer John.  Jesus appeared to the disciples.  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs” John 21:15.  Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.  This happened after Peter denied Jesus three times.

            See, Jesus has already dealt with Peter’s denial along with our denial and all other sins that we’ve committed.  He has dealt with the sins of the whole world.  He reinstates Peter because the followers of Jesus will be his hands and his feet because he is ascending to the right hand of God.   There is work to do and God needs Peter, and he needs you and me.

            Do you love him?  Then there is work to do!  Let your life speak by your actions.  Return to the God for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  Your salvation is done.  You are a forgiven child of God because Jesus said from the cross, “IT IS FINISHED.”   Amen.

Your Fellow Servant of Christ,

John F. Raddatz, Pastor 

Soli Deo Gloria=SDG, To God be The Glory