Sunday's Message - Beside(s) Jesus: The Apostle Peter

As we approach Easter, Christians all over the world focus their attention on the cross and tomb. And because of this, the usual challenge to follow Jesus just doesn’t seem appropriate. I mean, let’s face it, we’re not Jesus, and we usually stop short of going all the way to the cross and tomb; therefore, using him as an example just doesn’t seem particularly helpful, not as we deal with issues much less dramatic than the crucifixion and the resurrection. But fortunately, Jesus wasn’t the only character in this story. In fact, there were some who just might provide examples that we should follow while there were others whose actions and attitudes we might want to avoid. And this will be our focus on each of the Sundays leading up to and including Easter. 

You see, using the Gospel of John, we’ll look at the following six men and women so that we might better understand who they were, what role they played in this story, and how we might use their examples in our own lives:

• March 16 – Philip
• March 23 – Peter
• March 30 – Annas
• April 6 – Pilate
• April 13 – Nicodemus
• April 20 – Mary Magdalene 

On Sunday, March 23, we looked at the Apostle Peter and discussed how we might develop a quality he lacked, self-control. Below is the podcast and text of the sermon. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.

Well, congratulations, this week we crossed over, didn’t we? I mean, last Sunday we were in winter. And the temperature was cold. And the skies were grey. And for all of us who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, man, we were feeling all emotionally depressed and extremely fatigued and deprived of sunlight. But that was last week. Now the temperature is warm. And the sky is clear. And we’re no longer feeling down and tired and denied. Why? Because it’s spring, ring-a-ding ding.

And since it’s spring, that must mean Easter is just around the corner. And that’s the reason we started a new sermon series entitled Beside(s) Jesus: Other Characters Around the Cross and Tomb. You see, during this time before we celebrate the resurrection, we’ll use the Gospel of John to consider some of the other people who encountered Jesus on his way to his crucifixion and resurrection. And last Sunday we kicked this off by talking about the Apostle Philip, you know, how he sort of connected people to Jesus and how we might do the same. 

And this morning, we’re going to move on to Peter. And I’ve to tell you, while Philip was pretty much a minor character even to the Evangelist John, Peter, the Rock, was a big deal in all the gospels. But even though he was really important in a lot of ways, he did have one characteristic that got him into trouble more than once. You see, in spite of all his strengths, and there were many, Peter had a tendency to be impulsive, you know, to act before thinking. I guess you could say he lacked self-control. That was Peter.

And I’ve got to admit, that’s a characteristic with which I sort of struggle. Now don’t get me wrong, I was never the kid who’d try to find his Christmas presents early or the guy in class who was always blurting out the wrong answer. And I’m fairly decent in organizing information into lessons and essays and sermons. And as anyone who knows me will say, I never and I mean never just “wing it.” No, if it’s at all possible, I’m always prepared. Still, I’m also pretty emotional and when I’m fired up about something, well, I’ve been known to spend when I should have saved or to speak when I should have listened or to jump when I should have kept my feet on the ground. And if you have any doubt about whether or not that’s true, just ask Debbie or better, just count the number of little football helmets in my office while remembering that I have hundreds of more packed away at home. You see, I tend to be impulsive and to act before thinking. In other words, although I don’t like to admit it, there are times when I lack self-control, and frankly, like it did with Peter, it’s gotten me into trouble too.

But I’ll tell you, because I don’t think I’m alone, that’s what we’re going to be looking at this morning. You see, using Peter as an example, we’re going to talk about how we might be better at controlling ourselves. And as we did last week, we’ll approach this by answering three questions. First, what role did Peter play in the last week of Jesus’s life? And then, second, who was Peter according to John? And then, third, how can we use Peter’s example? In other words, how can we avoid the negative consequences of Peter’s impulsiveness by strengthening our own self-control? Now that’s what we’re going to be doing for the next ten minutes or so.

And I’ll tell you, according to the Evangelist John, based on Peter’s role during the last week of Jesus’s life, I think the Rock could very well serve as the poster boy for impulsiveness at the expense of self-control. As a matter of fact, during this time, I think there are three really good examples of what I’m talking about. I mean, just think about the whole business around Jesus wanting to wash the disciples’ feet. This was what the Evangelist wrote:

Jesus knew he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.

But when he came to Simon Peter, this disciple asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“You will never wash my feet!” Peter replied.

“If I don’t wash you,” Jesus told him, “you don’t really belong to me.”

Peter said, “Lord, don’t wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head.” [John 13:3-9, CEV]

Now that’s one example of him being impulsive, talking with thinking. And a little later, after Jesus had prayed in the garden and as he was allowing himself to be arrested, this happened:

Simon Peter had brought along a sword. He pulled it out and struck at Malchus, the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. I must drink from the cup that the Father has given me.” [John 18:10-11, CEV]

Again, a second instance of Peter being impulsive. But without a doubt, I think the best example of this “speaking before thinking” involved a promise he’d made earlier and some actions he took later. And I bet most of y’all know what I’m talking about. I mean, as to Peter’s promise, this was what John wrote:

Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus answered, “You can’t go with me now, but later on you will.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I go with you now? I would die for you!”

“Would you really die for me?” Jesus asked. “I tell you for certain before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t even know me.” [John 13:36-38, CEV]

Now just think about what Peter said, “Lord, why can’t I go with you now? I would die for you!” [John 13:37b, CEV] I’ll tell you, that would have sounded really impressive, if this hadn’t happened later:

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That disciple knew the high priest, and he followed Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest’s house. Peter stayed outside near the gate. But the other disciple came back out and spoke to the girl at the gate. She let Peter go in, but asked him, “Aren’t you one of that man’s followers?”

“No, I am not!” Peter answered.

It was cold, and the servants and temple police had made a charcoal fire. They were warming themselves around it, when Peter went over and stood near the fire to warm himself. [John 18:15-18, CEV]

While Simon Peter was standing there warming himself, someone asked him, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ followers?”

Again Peter denied it and said, “No, I am not!”

One of the high priest’s servants was there. He was a relative of the servant whose ear Peter had cut off, and he asked, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with that man?”

Once more Peter denied it, and right then a rooster crowed. [John 15-27, CEV]

Now that’s what happened, example number three. And I’ll tell you, in each case, Peter’s impulsiveness, his tendency to speak first and think later, in other words, his lack of self-control made him look pretty foolish, didn’t it? I mean, it made him look less like a solid rock and more like a quivering bowl of JELLO. And that would sure seem to be the role Peter played in the last week of Jesus’s life.

But I’ll tell you, that’s not all that different from who he is in other parts of John’s gospel. For example, after he’d been raised and after he’d appeared in the upper room, Jesus showed up on the shore of Lake Tiberias, in other words, the Sea of Galilee. And, according to John, this happened:

Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples. Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing!”

The others said, “We will go with you.” They went out in their boat. But they didn’t catch a thing that night.

Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”

“No!” they answered.

So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.”

They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.

Jesus’ favorite disciple told Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon heard it was the Lord, he put on the clothes he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. The boat was only about 100 meters from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.

When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. Jesus told his disciples, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were 153 large fish, but still the net did not rip. [John 21:1-9, CEV]

Now that’s what happened. And frankly, I’m not sure there’s a better example of impulsiveness than this. I mean, after this miracle with the fish caused the disciples to recognize that it was Jesus there on shore, did Peter do what Thomas, Nathanael and the brothers James and John did? I mean, did he stay on the boat so he could help his friends pull the net full of fish onto the shore? Is that what he did? Heck no. Instead, he put on his clothes, jumped in the water and swam to shore. Now, I understand he was excited. But good night nurse, I think, according to the text, the boat may have gotten to the beach before the person who jumped into the water fully dressed. You see, according to John, that’s just who Peter was, a guy who had a lot of enthusiasm but who also lacked self-control. 

And I’ll tell you, I think that really points us to how we can use his example as we go about living our lives. In other words, how can we develop some self-control while, at the same time, still feel enthusiastic in what we believe and maybe a little impulsive in how we respond? How can we do it? And you know, even though I don’t think there’s a single instance of Peter showing this kind of balance, I believe there’s another example in the Gospel of John where a person really did, and it’s found in a story that starts like this:

Jesus left Judea and started for Galilee again. This time he had to go through Samaria, and on his way he came to the town of Sychar. It was near the field that Jacob had long ago given to his son Joseph. The well that Jacob had dug was still there, and Jesus sat down beside it because he was tired from traveling. It was noon, and after Jesus’ disciples had gone into town to buy some food, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. [John 4:3-8, CEV]

You see, while Peter may be the poster boy for impulsive chaos, I think this Samaritan woman is a wonderful example of self-control. I mean, even though what happens after v. 8 is pretty detailed and really too long to read right now, as she and Jesus talked, I think that woman did three things. First, she discarded some of her assumptions about Jews and Samaritans. And second, she paused so that she could ask questions and listen for the answer. And then, third, she thought about what Jesus said. Now that’s what she chose to do. And just to show that this didn’t rain on her enthusiasm, just listen to how the story ends:

The woman left her water jar and ran back into town, where she said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Could he be the Messiah?” Everyone in town went out to see Jesus. [John 4:28-30, CEV]

You see, if anything, her self-control may have actually enhanced her enthusiasm by giving it some focus and direction.

And I’ll tell you, it can do the same for us. You see, before we start shooting from the hip, before we start speaking off the cuff, before we start going with our gut, in other words, before we just react to something impulsively, maybe we should follow the example of that thirsty woman at the well. You see, maybe we should discard some of our assumptions, if only for just a moment, so that we can see the situation from a slightly different angle, one that’s not distorted by all that stuff we sort of carry around all the time. And then, like her, maybe we should pause so that we can ask some questions and then listen to some answers. And then, like her, maybe we should think, you know, think about what we’ve heard and think about what it might mean and think about how we might respond. You see, we can decide to discard. And we can decide to pause. And we can decide to think. And then we can respond with a whole more focus and direction than those who just react and make fools of themselves and others. You see, in my opinion, that’s how we can use the example left to us by Peter.

Of course, having said all that, I recognize that self-control is never easy; at least, it’s not for me. I mean, it’s always easier and more comfortable to let our emotions be our guide and to react, you know, to tell Jesus to give us a bath when a foot washing will do or to draw our sword and chop off an ear or to promise that we’re willing to die only to find that, when the heat is on, we can’t even stop ourselves from denying. Now this we can do.