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ADULT STS LESSON 146 FRUITS AND TITHES

Peter Denies Christ, Adult STS Lesson 64

In our previous lesson 63, we looked at ”Last Supper and Betrayal of Christ”. Today, to we considering ”Peter Denies Christ”.

MEMORY VERSE: “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice, And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).

TEXTS: Matthew 26:31-35,69-75; Mark 14:27-31,66-72; Luke 22:31-34,54-62

The gospels according to Matthew, Mark and Luke record accurately the unfortunate denial of our Lord Jesus Christ by none but Peter,  one of His front-line apostles. His so-called boldness, outspokenness and grit failed in a moment of threat and fear. He had boasted to the Lord that, “Though I should die with thee, yet will l not deny thee..” (Matthew 26:35). He had forgotten that the Christian race is not to the swift or the battle of life to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11). No believer is sufficient on their own to run the Christian race successfully. Everyone needs the grace of God to overcome temptations and trials without failing or faltering. Whatever caused Peter to fail at this crucial, critical moment in his life, calls for reflection, introspection and understanding so that believers across board can take heed to guard against moments of challenge, tests and trials which come to all Christian pilgrims to avoid failing in the day of adversity (Proverbs 24:10).

1. PETER’S DENIAL OF CHRIST FORETOLD

Matthew:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34; Zechariah 13:7; John 6:64;13:11;18:4

Our text opens with Christ’s prediction of His imminent arrest and the scattering of the disciples.Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31). Our Lord had known that He was destined to go to the Cross and the path to this eternal purpose would involve persecutions, oppositions, ridicule and reproach from the people and religious authorities of His day. He knew that after His arrest, His disciples would be scattered to fulfil the Scripture (Zechariah 13:7), but He was determined to do God’s will knowing that after the travail of the cross comes the triumph of His resurrection (Matthew 26:32). His reference to His passion and eventual crucifixion were not accidental but part of God’s redemptive plan for man. Christ’s revelation of the plight of His disciples at His trial was meant to awaken and prepare them for the challenge ahead. But they did not understand. How many times had the Lord warned us about things to come through His word or dream or revelations, yet we did not perceive or prepare for the battle! For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed” (Job 33:14,1 5). Peter only bragged about his courage and resolve to stand instead of praying. He could have avoided the pain and sorrow of denying His Lord if he had prayed against Satan’s devices towards him (Luke 22:31). Judas Iscariot was another disciple who ignored warning and walked into the snare of the devil through covetousness and greed. He betrayed the Lord and sold Him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). Believers need to be on guard against the wicked devices of our adversary, the devil, so as not to fall prey to his wiles (Ephesians 6:11). A believer is nothing without the power of our Savior (John 15:5). Every Christian worker, leader or minister, irrespective of age or experience, is daily kept by the power and sustaining grace of God. That we need to constantly look unto Jesus for grace, spiritual strength, stamina and power to be victorious over temptations and all vicissitudes of life, is particularly underscored by Peter’s experience. The point is that every believer must be circumspect to heed the warning of the Savior. All the disciples, including Peter, responded to the prediction with over-confidence by declaring their readiness to lay down their lives for the love of Jesus. Peter even went as far as bounding himself with an oath that he would never be offended in Christ. According to Luke’s narrative, Christ had warned Peter specifically of the impending test of faith and temptation to which he would fall but He ignored and despised the warning. To show his readiness to go with Jesus, even to prison and death, he boasted, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will l never be offended” (Matthew 26:33). He seemed not to know that he that thinketh he standeth [should] take heed lest he fall“(1 Corinthians 10:12). This is not the first time Apostle Peter was caught up in irrational speech and lack of spiritual discernment. He had earned the Lord’s rebuke: Get thee behind me,Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God but the things that be of men” (Mark 8:33). On another occasion, “Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles… For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid” (Mark 9:5,6). As Christians, we should be “swift to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19). However, this presumptuous boast and contradiction of Jesus’ prediction by Peter was in no doubt made out of sincerity and his closeness to Him. Perhaps, this relationship beclouded him from paying attention to Jesus’ repeated warning about the impending fall. Peter’s response shows that he was ignorant of himself, particularly his spiritual status. There are lessons for believers here. One, over-confidence leads to unexpected fall and disappointment. Two, our close walk with God should not degenerate into familiarity and contempt for the Lord and His word. Three, we need to remember constantly that it is by the grace of God we stand (1 Peter 5:12). We should be watchful irrespective or present relationship with God. Four, that all humans are ignorant of them selves, particularly of what lies ahead, hence the need to hear from God regularly. Five, we should never develop an attitude that ignores the use of daily means of grace. Knowledge of our frailty should constantly keep us on our guard and total dependence on God. Therefore, “let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). 

2. PETER’S DENIAL OF CHRIST FULFILLED

Matthew 26:69-74; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-61;John 18:17,18;Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31;Psalm 119:89

At the arrest of Jesus, His disciples forsook Him and fled. However, Peter still had a sense of attachment to his Master, but in his cowardice and faintheartedness, he could not identify with Him. He began to toe the path of backsliding by following Jesus afar off. He was afraid to identify with his Master. Peter’s undue consideration for personal safety, ridicule and persecution prompted his following Jesus afar off. Backsliding often starts with withdrawal of commitments. Believers who for one reason or the other begin to see the need to keep a distance from the fellowship of God’s people are definitely on their way to backsliding. There is always danger in drawing or looking Peter’s second step towards his fall was his keeping company with the enemies of Christ (Psalm 1:1). He sat among the opposition and warmed himself by their fire. Believers easily lose their spiritual strength and convictions through close affinity with unbelievers and people they do not share the same doctrinal convictions. Unequal yoke is hazardous to our Christian life and convictions. “Ephraim has mixed himself among the people… Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him,yet he knoweth not” (Hosea 7:8,9). If Peter Who was a faithful follower of Jesus Could deny his Master thrice, it shows that our status, position and titles, cannot give us immunity from temptations or backsliding. It is also proof that the doctrine of unconditional security is false and unscriptural. In Peter’s denials of Christ, we notice lies, deceit, false oath and cursing. This is a reflection of how far a believer can go in a moment of unwariness. It shows also the gravity of presumptuousness and the need for daily watchfulness. On no condition should a Christian lie, take false oaths or act out falsehood, because “...all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21:8). There are several reasons Peter denied His Lord, which has made many to deny Christ today. One, the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25; Isaiah 57:11). Two, following afar off with the Master (Matthew 26:58). Three, association with sinners (John 18:18,25). Four, forgetting the Lord’s warning (Luke 22:61). Five, faithlessness at a critical moment (Hebrews 10:38,39) 

3. PETER’S REPENTANCE AFTER THE FALL 

Matthew 26:75; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:22; Psalm 51:17;Jeremiah 3:22;1 John 1:9;2:1 

The fulfilment of the prediction of Peter’s denial of Christ was a dark spot in his life, which placed him at the risk of eternal rejection. But he remembered the words of the Lord and immediately broke down and wept bitterly. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75). “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). Peter’s prompt repentance is instructive. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works..” (Revelation 2:5). He differed from Judas who failed to repent even when he realized that he had betrayed Christ. While the word of God does not encourage deliberate sinning and backsliding, there is however, a promise of restoration for all sincere and penitent sinners and backsliders. Peter did what many Christians fail to do when there is a moral slip or an act of backsliding. Instead of going back to the Lord quickly to repent from their sin, they remain in that position until it becomes too late. The Scripture admonishes us: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”(1 John 2:1). There is hope for backsliders who take the right steps to return to Christ’s fold by genuinely casting off the old garment of sin, repenting and pleading with the Lord for mercy and restoration. God has promised that He will forgive their backsliding.Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God” (Jeremiah 3:22). 

Questions For Review: 

1.What can a believer learn from Christ’s prediction of the scattering of His disciples immediately after His arrest? 

2.What led Peter to boldly contradict Jesus’ prediction and what are the lessons for Christians? 

3. What makes Peter’s case different from that of Judas? 

4.What are the consequences of following Jesus afar off? 

5. What is the effect of believers’ close relationship with unbelievers and backsliders? 

6.Mention five reasons that can make a believer to deny his Lord and how can one be free from them?

7. What does the Lord expect a backslider to do? 

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