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“Are  You  Denying  Jesus?”  Matthew  26:69-­‐75  

   Message  by  Michael  J.  Barnard                                                                                                                                      October  11,  2015      Teaching  Aim:    To   examine  Peter   as   he   denied   Jesus   three   times   and   to   recognize   how  we  might   be  denying  Jesus  today  without  even  realizing  it.    To  explore  the  mindset  that  led  to  Peter’s  failure  and  to  see  how  the  denials  affected  Peter  both  emotionally  and  in  ministry.    To  understand  Jesus  loved  Peter  even  in  spite  of  his  failures  and  after  repentance  restored  him  to  leadership  in  ministry.    To  realize  it  is  Christ’s  desire  that  we  demonstrate  our  love  for  Him  by  faithfully  ministering  to  others  in  His  Name!  

DIGGING  DEEPER  INTO  GOD’S  WORD  (BIBLE  STUDY)  Part  I:  Under  pressure  Peter  denies  Jesus  three  times  (Matt.  26:69-­‐75)  1. What  state  of  mind  do  you  think  Peter  was  in  as  he  sat  outside  of  the  courtyard  that  night  (vv.  65-­‐68)  

Why  do  you  think  Peter  was  sitting  on  the  outside  of   the  courtyard  (vs.  69)?     (See  John  18:15-­‐16)    Which  of   the   twelve  disciples  do  most   scholars  believe  had  access   to   the   inside  of   the  courtyard?    (See  Commentaries)  How  did  he  get  this  access?    

             2. What  mistake  did  Peter  make  according  to  Luke  22:54-­‐55?    Why  is  it  not  a  good  idea  to  get  cozy  with  

the  enemy  at  their  fire?    What  are  some  ways  we  might  do  this  in  our  lives  today?                3. Who  confronted  Peter  while  he  was  waiting  by  the  fire  in  the  courtyard  (vs.  69)?    What  accusation  did  

this  servant  girl  make  against  Peter?    How  did  Peter  respond  to  her  charge  (vs.  70)?    Do  you  ever  feel  uncomfortable  when  people  question  you  about  your   faith?      Why  or  why  not?    How  do  you  respond  when  people  open  the  door  to  talking  about  religion?  

             4. Who  recognized  Peter  as  he  retreated  and  went  out  to  the  gateway  and  subsequently  identified  him  

as  a  disciple  of  Jesus  (vs.  71)?    What  did  she  do  once  she  recognized  Peter  (vs.  71b)?    How  did  Peter  deny  his   relationship  with   Jesus   this   time   (vs.  72)?    Have  you  ever  held  your  hand  up  and  said,  “I  swear  to  God!”  just  joking?    By  so  doing  you  have  God  in  to  witness  your  lie.    What  should  we  do  the  moment  we  realize  we  have  sinned  against  God  or  someone  else?    (See  1  John  1:9)  

         

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5. In  verse  73  Matthew   refers   to   the  events  happening  as  “a   little   later”.    How  much   time  does   Luke  indicate  had  passed  in  his  gospel?    (See  Luke  22:59)    What  evidence  do  the  people  use  in  verse  73  to  accuse   Peter   of   being   a   disciple   of   Jesus?    How   can  we   tell   by   their   talking   that   people   are   from  different  parts  of  the  United  States  today?    Note:     In   Israel  the  Galileans  were  looked  upon  during  the  time  of  Christ  as  being  uneducated  and  ignorant  people.    Are  Christians  still  looked  at  that  way  today?  

             6. How  did  Peter  respond  the  third  time  he  was  accused  of  being  a  disciple  of  Jesus  (vs.  74)?    Does  this  

mean  Peter  (the  tough  fisherman  that  he  was)  was  using  curse  words,  or  was  he  calling  down  curses  from   heaven   on   himself   if   he   wasn’t   telling   the   truth?     Why   do   you   think   there   was   so   much  animosity  towards  Peter  from  the  servants  of  the  high  priest?    (See  John  18:26-­‐27)    

7. Have   you   ever   said   something   foolish   under   pressure   that   you  wish   you   could   take   back?     Do   you  

think   Peter   thought   through   what   he   was   saying   before   he   spoke?     What   had   Jesus   previously  warned  Peter  and  the  disciples  of?    (See  Matt.  5:34-­‐37)    Do  people  forget  how  faithful  God’s  Word  is  today  when  under  pressure?    (See  Psa.  8:8b;  Isa.  40:22a;  Deut.  32:12-­‐13;  Job  29:5-­‐6)  

               8. What  immediately  happened  when  Peter  denied  Jesus  for  a  third  time  (vv.  74  &  75)  According  to  Luke  

22:60-­‐62,  what   did   the   beaten   and   bloodied   Jesus   do   at   that   exact  moment?     How  do   you   think  Peter  felt  when  he  made  eye  contact  with  Jesus?    Have  you  ever  let  the  Lord  down  by  your  thoughts  or  actions?    What  happens  when  we  confess  our  sins  and  get  right  with  God?    (See  Psa.  103:11-­‐12)  

               Part  II:    Peter  and  six  other  disciples  return  to  fishing  (John  21:1-­‐14)  1. After   the  denial   of   Jesus   and  His   crucifixion,   the  disciples  must   have   felt   like   they  had   let   the   Lord  

down  and  were  unfit  to  serve  in  ministry.    According  to  John  21:1-­‐14,  what  did  Peter  and  six  other  disciples   decide   to   do?    Was   this   a  one-­‐night  outing,   or  were   they   returning   to   their   old   lifestyle  before  Christ  and  a  career  in  fishing?  

         

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   2. How  many  fish  did  the  disciples  catch  after  following  their  flesh  and  returning  to  fishing  (vs.  3)?    What  

happens   when   we   follow   our   flesh   today?     Who   was   standing   on   the   shore   when   the   disciples  returned  (vs.  4)?    Did   they  recognize  Him?    What  did   the  resurrected  Jesus   tell  His  disciples   to  do  (vv.  5-­‐6a)?    How  would  you  have  reacted   if  you  were  a  professional   fisherman  who  had   fished  all  night   catching   no   fish   and   someone   on   the   shore   that   you   didn’t   know   told   you   to   go   back   to  fishing?    

             3. What   did   the   disciples   do   (vs.   6-­‐7)?     Who   was   the   first   to   recognize   it   was   Jesus   (vs.   7)?     (See  

Commentaries)    What  seemingly  crazy  act  did  Peter  do  in  his  attempt  to  reach  Jesus  first  (vs.  7b)?    What  did  the  disciples  find  when  they  reached  the  shore  (vv.  8-­‐9)?  

             4. What  does   Jesus   instruct   them  to  do   in  verse  10?    What   if  any   significance   is   there   in   the  disciples  

eating   fish   together   with   the   resurrected   Lord   (vv.   11-­‐14)?     What   can   we   learn   about   the  resurrected  body  from  this  illustration?  

               Part  III:    Jesus  publically  restores  and  reinstates  Peter  into  ministry  (John  21:15-­‐19)  1. What  group  of  men  were   listening   in  the  background  as  Jesus  began  to  question  Peter   in  verse  15?    

By  what  name  does  Jesus  refer  to  Peter  (vs.  15)?    Why?    What  question  did  Jesus  ask  Simon  in  verse  15?    Who  or  what  do  you  think  Jesus  was  speaking  of  when  He  referred  to  “these”   in  verse  15:  1)  the  disciples  love  for  Him;  or  2)  the  catch  of  fish  and  a  career  of  fishing?    Why?  

2. In   English   we   tend   to   use   one   word   for   love,   but   in   the   Greek   there   are   three   distinct  words:   1)  

“agapao”;  2)  “phileo”;  and  3)  “eros”.    What  is  the  meaning  of  each  Greek  word?    (Hint:    Google  it!)    Which  words  for  love  did  Jesus  and  Peter  use  in  verse  15?    (See  Commentaries)    What  subsequent  command  did  Jesus  give  to        Peter?  

             

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 3. Which  words  for  love  did  Jesus  and  Peter  use  in  verse  16?    What  did  Jesus  command  Peter  to  do  this  

time?                  4. Jesus  used  a  different  Greek  word   for   love   in  verse  17,   in  effect   lowering   the  standard,  why?     (See  

Commentaries)    What  point  was  Jesus  making  to  Peter?    How  about  you,  how  real   is  your  love  for  Jesus?    How  does  Peter  respond  to  this  painful  questioning  from  Jesus?    What  does  Jesus  command  Peter  to  do  this  time  around?  

             5. How  many  times  did  Peter  publically  deny  Jesus  in  Matthew  26:69-­‐75?    How  many  opportunities  did  

Jesus  give  for  Peter  to  publically  affirm  his  love  for  Him  in  John  21:15-­‐17?    Why  do  you  think  Jesus  did  this?          

             6. How   was   the   call   of   Peter   and   the   disciples   to   public   ministry   (See   Luke   5:1-­‐11)   similar   to   their  

restoration  and  reinstatement  to  public  ministry  (See  John  21:1-­‐14)?                    7. What  does  Jesus  prophesy  about  Peter’s  future  in  John  21:18-­‐19?    Jesus  commanded  Peter  to  follow  

Him  in  verse  19,  did  he?    (See  Acts  2:14;  3:11-­‐12;  4:8-­‐10;  5:1-­‐4)    Who  was  the  most  notable  leader  of  the  early  church?  

             8. Have   you   let   the   Lord   down   in   the   past?     Do   you   feel   unworthy   to   serve   Him?     The   underlying  

message  from  Jesus  was  this:    “If  you  love  Me,  then  go  and  live  like  it!”    Are  you  living  like  you  are  a  follower  of  Jesus  Christ?  

     9. Have   you   received   Jesus  Christ   as   Savior   and   Lord?     If   not,  why  not   confess   your   sins   and  do   so   in  

prayer  right  now?  

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 MINER’S  CORNER  ~  Manna  to  live  by!  • It  is  possible  each  of  us  could  be  tempted  to  forsake  Jesus  under  the  right  circumstances.  • Peter  let  fear  and  panic  take  control  of  his  thinking;  sometimes  we  are  guilty  of  the  same.      • For   Peter   the   moment   of   greatest   shame   came   when   the   rooster   crowed   and   immediately   the  

bloodied  and  beaten  Jesus  turned  and  looked  at  Him  with  disappointment.  • After  failing  to  stand  for  Jesus,  Peter  apparently  felt  he  was  no  longer  qualified  for  ministry.  • Jesus  had  other  plans  for  Peter  and  the  disciples  as  He  restored  and  reinstated  them  into  service.  • 3x  Peter  denied  Jesus  publically,  3x  Jesus  gave  Peter  opportunity  to  reaffirm  his  love  for  Him  publically.  • The  underlying  message  Jesus  taught  to  Peter  was:  “If  you  love  Me,  then  go  and  live  like  it!”