PALM SUNDAY Message
Just because we don't like what we hear doesn't mean it's not the truth.
Final Draft, March 14, 2013
Message preached, March 24, 2013
Message preached, March 24, 2013
Mark 14:27-31
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[b] you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.
OK, so it's not the last lesson. We are not out of Lent....yet.
There is much more Jesus wants to say. After the Upper Room account in John 13, Jesus will talk for 3 more chapters, most likely as they walk to the Garden pf Gethsemane.
But, according to the gospel account, it will be the last true conversation that Peter will have with Jesus before the cross.
There will be moments of short speech. A parable. A question asked.
In the garden. A glance, a look, in the courtyard.
But, for all intents and purposes, this will be it until after the resurrection.
The final lesson.
Jesus has been emphatically clear with his disciples.
It each case where he has mentioned the moment now closing in on him there has been an air of assurance. This is going to happen.
Luke 11:29-32
New International Version (NIV)
The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.And, an almost identical passage in Matthew, only here is a conversation that includes the Pharisees.
Matthew 12:38-45
New International Version (NIV)
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
In each case, Jesus is very clear.
He is going to die. He will be laid to rest. He will rise again.
Matthew 12
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Luke 11
30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.
Hard words to hear. Especially for people incapable of understanding what he means.
Where Jesus has spoken generally with the crowds, he has spoken even more directly with his disciples.
The 16th Chapter of Matthew opens with those same Pharisees coming and seeking a sign from Jesus to prove what he was saying was true.
Later in the chapter, Jesus speaks on his coming death again, but this time it is only with his disciples.
It is also here that Peter does not like what he hears.
And, he speaks out. And he receives just as harsh a rebuking as he gave out.
I wish we had more time.
It seems like just last week we brought Peter to this moment of beginning to learn more.
He is beginning to open up and listen. But we only have so many Sundays until Easter.
It seems as if we are simply turning around and casting a terrible light on him again.
But, the gospel account also seems that way also.
There are so many things to cover. So much to remember about the moments of those three and a half years of ministry. The lives touched. The people healed. The characters central to the story.
We must never forget who the central figure is here. Jesus.
The Savior of the World. The Son of Living God.
Peter is a player in the story. A meaningful character who seems to always be front and center.
That's what the others seem to remember about him. Always ready to speak up.
Always ready to make a statement. Always ready to ask a question.
For the two accounts that seem to be 'firsthand' (Matthew & John) there is much said and remembered about this man, Peter.
But, today we look at Mark's account. It is said he got much of his info from Peter himself.
If that is so, isn't interesting that Peter would cast himself so central to this moment.
You would think that this might be a moment you'd want to forget.
He's been rebuked once already. He's told Jesus his feelings about seeing Jesus going to his death.
And, now he speaks up again. And, his feelings have not changed.
For all the growth and change we seek out in this Christian life, there are somethings that become rather thorny for us. Paul would speak on this subject. The "thorn in his side". He never said what it was in that famous 2 Corinthians 12 passage. But, it was a something that always knew how to get to him, drive him crazy.
For Peter, this seems to be his thorny moment. Jesus going to his death. And, he doesn't handle it very well. The first time he rebuked Jesus. This time he declares an oath he only thinks he can keep.
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”As I read this passage I imagine Jesus standing there shaking his head.
If I'm in Jesus' shoes, I'm torn. It's hard to imagine how Jesus might be feeling, but entertain me here.
Jesus has warned Peter before. Satan wants to sift him like wheat.
Jesus has seem him follow. He has seen a disciple who truly wants the best things.
But good intentions will only get a person so far. There needs to be a deeper commitment.
Jesus knows what is truly in a person's heart. And, whether they can handle the load.
James and John came to him one time asking to sit on his left hand and his right.
Another moment where I imagine Jesus burying his face in one hand and shaking his head.
"Man, you guys are a piece of work." Do you think you can be baptized with the same baptism as me?, Jesus would ask them. And, their response, "Sure can."
"Well, guess what guys, I know you don't understand all of this yet, but, yes you will be. And it ain't gonna be easy either."
Now, Jesus is speaking with the whole twelve and tells them of the events just ahead.
He will die. He will give his life. Because he has to.
But, it is often the ones closest to us who have no idea what is really going on.
The ones we want to actually understand the message we are conveying are the ones sitting there with the puzzled look on their face. And, instead of seeking the truth on the matter, they have their own remedy. Do it their way.
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[b] you yourself will disown me three times.”And what is Peter's answer? Would it be any other kind of answer?
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”A parent raising a strong willed child is the only person who will get the pain associated with this kind of tension. You have laid it out there. You have shared your wisdom and your heart with them. And, still, they come back emphatically with their own take on the matter. It's their way or the highway. And, all you can do is sit there with your elbow resting on the table, hand half covering your mouth, slowly shaking your head, and say..."Ok, have it your way."
I have no definition to share with you in this message, but you have to see the transitive moment here in this passage. At the end of verse 31...
And all the others said the same.Yep. James and John said they would, just like Peter. And, slowly it moves through all twelve.
Everybody thinks they know what is best. Everybody thinks they will follow Jesus to his death.
What's true with one party can be transferred to the next party, and on to the third party, until we have gone all the way around the table.
So, what is the final lesson here? What is it that we need to learn from Peter's life that we can take with us today? Was there something in this moment that Peter might have looked back on and thought, "I wish I'd have listened." "I wish I would have realized that Jesus knew what he was talking about."
1 Peter 4
New International Version (NIV)
Living for God
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.Was Peter really ready to suffer back in that gospel account? No, he wasn't. He was like the kid who wants to be on the sports team simply because it's cool to be on the team. But, at some point you have to be able to show that you belong on the team. To be able to play the sport. To hit the ball. To make the jump. To run with all your might. You can't ride the bench. Eventually you going to get put in the game. And, you have to be able to show that you can play the sport.
Peter doesn't realize he is going to get quizzed very soon. He doesn't realize how harsh the elements will be around those fires as he is pelted with the questions.
"You know him don't you?"
"You're one of his disciples, aren't you?"
"Aren't you one of his disciples?"
How many of us can put ourselves in the shoes of the kid who doesn't want to hear the truth from his parents? How many of us can put ourselves in the shoes of the kid riding the bench?
We are doing our own thing, our own way. Then suddenly, our name gets called. (To use a gymnastics analogy) We find ourselves needing to make a long run down a path, hit the board, make the jump, land on our feet and raise our hands in the air successfully. But, we don't listen to the advice given us. We do it our own way. We don't run fast enough. We don't hit the board the right way. We don't even make it up in the air. And, our instructor...our parent...our friend...is standing there shaking their head.
"I told you everything you needed to know. But, you didn't listen."Peter didn't like what he heard. But, it didn't make it any less the truth.
So many times in life we hear things that we don't like. Advice given to us. A sermon spoken to us.
Sometimes even scripture shared with us. It rubs us the wrong way and we just can't make it settle right, like a bite of food in the belly the ends up causing us heartburn.
Sometimes even the best bite of comfort food can end up coming back to us and causing us some problems later on. But, know this. Jesus knows what he's talking about. Even if the answer is hard for us to handle or understand.
The truth isn't always easy to bear. But, accepting it has a lasting effect we will cherish for eternity.
