December 22, 2010

GOD'S PROMISES ARE STRONGER THAN OUR SINS

John 18:15-27

Adam Tarnow
Wednesday's Devo

December 22, 2010

Wednesday's Devo

December 22, 2010

Central Truth

God's response to Peter’s denial of Jesus gives all of us hope.

Key Verse | John 18:27

Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed. (John 18:27)

John 18:15-27

Peter Denies Jesus

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants 1 18:18 Or bondservants; also verse 26 and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Footnotes

[1] 18:18 Or bondservants; also verse 26

Dive Deeper | John 18:15-27

Thank God for His response to Peter’s denial of Jesus, for it gives all of us hope.

To be fair, I’m sure that at the time of his denial this was a very big deal in Peter’s life. I’m sure that the sorrow was gut-wrenching, and the shame was overwhelming. Not only did he just deny Jesus in front of a slave girl and others, but he wasn’t able to follow through on his passionate promise to lay down his life for Him (see John 13:37-38).

We have the luxury of knowing the rest of Peter’s story. We know that all hope was not lost as the rooster started to crow. We know that Jesus’ promise to use Peter in His kingdom (see Matthew 16:18-19) was much stronger than Peter’s denial of Him.

Up to that point in Peter’s life, he, like many of us, may have believed that having a relationship with God and being used by Him were based on his own performance. But shortly after Peter's denials, the Savior of the world received the punishment that Peter deserved. A few days after that, the two were reconciled and restored.

The hope that we have from Peter’s story is that the game is not over when we sin. The beauty of the gospel is that our behavior does not cause us to be unfit for service in God's kingdom. God was not finished with Peter after he sinned, and He is not finished with us after we sin. What a relief to know that God “has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. . . . He is mindful that we are but dust.” (Psalm 103:10, 14b)

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think we so easily believe that God won’t bless us today because we have failed Him?

2. What “denial” (i.e. sin) in your life do you believe is being held against you by God? How does this line up with Psalm 103:6-14?

3. In what ways is your relationship with God being controlled more by what you do rather than what Jesus did for you?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When the temple guard struck Jesus in verse 22, had Jesus said anything wrong?

2. As we talked about yesterday, Jesus knew that He had to die. Why did Jesus have to die?

3. What does His willingness to die on the cross for your sins tell you about how He feels about you?

4. Have you accepted Jesus’ death as the sacrifice for your sins? Pray together thanking Jesus for His sacrifice on the cross.