Introduction:

Mark 14:66-72 "And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: (67) And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. (68) But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. (69) And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. (70) And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. (71) But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. (72) And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept."

1. Try to picture the scene and the events which transpired on that cold, bitter night, if you can. It was a solemn, solemn night. Our Lord Jesus himself called it "the judgment (crisis) of this world."

• The disciples had just observed the last passover meal of the legal dispensation and the first communion service of the gospel age.
• The Lord Jesus told them plainly of his certain, imminent betrayal and death.
• Peter, James and John had spent the night with the Son of God in Gethsemane.
• On that sacred evening, our Savior preached that marvelous sermon which is recorded in John 14, 15 and 16.
• It was on this night, earlier in the evening, that our Master, our great High Priest, offered that great prayer for us which is recorded in John 17.
• The soldiers came, like a mob of lynchmen, into the garden to arrest the Lord of glory, led by his own familiar friend, Judas Iscariot.
• Judas betrayed him with a kiss.
• And Peter denied the Lord Jesus, denied him again, and denied him a third time, cussing like a sailor.

2. Why do you suppose this record is given four times in the New Testament?

1. Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus must have greatly increased the pain and suffering of our tender-hearted Savior.
2. The Holy Spirit would set before us, in a most emphatic way, the greatness of our Savior’s saving power, the majesty of his unconditional grace, and the immutability his faithfulness.
3. The divine Comforter knew that we would all be subject to these same temptations.
4. This fourfold record of Peter’s fall is intended to be a startling, instructive lesson for us concerning the frailty of the best of men.

Proposition: My friends, we must ever watch and pray! We must each diligently watch over our own souls and prayerfully seek the Lord’s preserving grace, if we would live for the honor of his name.

1. The Circumstances of Peter’s Fall
2. The Means of Peter’s Recovery
3. The Signs of Peter’s Restoration
4. The Lessons for Us Today

1. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF PETER’S FALL

How did such a great man come to commit such a grievous evil? Our text is not talking about a lost man, but a saint, a child of God, redeemed by blood, justified in Christ, saved by grace, and sanctified by the Spirit. Peter was in the tenor of his life a faithful giant among faithful giants. Few before him and few after him could stand shoulder to shoulder with him. He was a man strong in faith, firm in conviction, bold in preaching and unrelenting in his zeal for Christ.

1. Peter’s fall was very strange because he was one of the Lord Jesus’ most highly favored and most highly honored disciples.

The Lord had done so much for Peter!

1. He was one of the very first to whom the Son of God made himself known while he was in the world, one of the first to be saved by the power of his word John 1:40-42).

John 1:40-42 "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone."

2. Peter was in the inner circle of the Master’s most intimate friends.

3. Peter seems to have been the chief spokesman for the early church.

NOTE: The greater our privileges and the higher our honors, the greater our responsibilities are and the more horrible our offenses.

2. Peter’s Fall is especially sad because he was plainly and faithfully warned of his great danger (Luke 22:31-34).

1. Satan desired to have him.
2. His faith would be fiercely attacked.
3. He must watch and pray, that e enter not into temptation.

3. Peter’s guilt is aggravated by the fact that it came so soon after he had confidently declared his loyalty to Christ (Matt. 26:31-35; Luke 22:33).

Matthew 26:31-35 "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. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples."

Luke 22:33 "And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."

Just a few hours after this proud, confident boast of his love for Christ, Peter cussed and denied him three times. How fickle we are!

4. Peter’s fall did not come at once, but by degrees.

1. He followed the Lord afar off.
2. He sat in the seat of scorners. - He sought the comfort and warmth their fire provided.
3. He denied the Lord Jesus by degrees.

1. At first, he pretended not to understand the maiden’s words.
2. Then, he denied that he knew the man (Compare Matt. 16:18 and John 6:69).
3. At last, he took the profane language of base, ungodly men to prove that he was no follower of the holy Lamb of God.

NOTE: It takes very little to make a great saint fall into great sin, if God leaves him to himself. Peter’s trial was nothing but the word of a weak young woman, who said, "Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth."

NOTE: There are many, many ways by which men and women deny the Lord Jesus Christ; but usually the falls of God’s saints are not sudden. Normally, great falls are preceded by much smaller inconsistencies.

5. Here is another very great aggravation of Peter’s sin - All this was done very close to the place where his Lord and Master was at that time suffering for him, bearing his reproach!

The Lord Jesus Christ was standing right in front of Peter, hearing every word!

6. What was the reason for Peter’s fall?

How can we account for all of this? How did this man, so great, so unique in so many ways come to commit such an horrible offense?

1. Peter was far too proud of himself, far too confident of his own strength.
2. He was overcome by the fear of man, in this case, by the fear of a woman who had no obvious power against him.
3. He neglected watchfulness over his own heart and soul (Pro. 4:23).
4. I suspect that, like mother Eve, Peter had begun to doubt the Savior’s word.

2. THE MEANS OF PETER’S RECOVERY

Peter fell; but he didn’t perish. His faith weakened; but it did not die. He sinned; but he was not cast off or forsaken. He denied the Lord; but the Lord did not deny him. Peter belonged to Christ; and Christ can never lose one of his own. The good Shepherd can never lose one of his sheep. Peter fell; but Christ graciously raised him up.

The righteous fall seven times a day; but the Lord raises them up (Pro. 24:16). How did the Lord Jesus restore his fallen servant? I see four things the Lord used to restore his fallen child.

1. A Work Of Providence - "The cock crew!"

God has many ways of reaching a man’s conscience. He can make asses speak as easily as prophets and roosters to crow on cue.

2. A Work Of Grace - "The Lord turned and looked on Peter" (Luke 22:61).

• " I have loved thee with an everlasting love."
• "Ye have not chosen me; but I have chosen you."
• "I gave unto you eternal life; and you shall never perish."
• "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
• "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions."
• "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee."
• "In me thy righteousness found."
• "I am thy strength."
• "I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
• "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
• "Return unto me, return unto me; and I will pardon."

3. A Work Of The Word - "Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him" (v. 72).

D. A Work Of Our Advocate - "I have prayed for thee" (Luke 22:32).

• His Love.
• His Favor.
• His Mercy.
• Hi Care.
• His Saving Power.
• His Omnipotent Hand Of Grace!

3. THE SIGNS OF PETER’S RESTORATION

The Lord’s works for and upon Peter were effectual. They accomplished their intended design. And Peter was graciously restored by the very Savior he so vehemently denied.

1. Peter’s trial and fall were not accidents.

Satan ran God’s child through his rough sifter; but he lost nothing in the process but chaff. Peter came out of this thing a much better man than he was before (Acts 2 and 4). Even this tragic affair was under the control of God’s sovereign providence and according to his purpose of grace.

B. Peter went out of the place (Luke 22:62).

3. Peter wept bitterly (v. 72; Luke 22:62).

Psalms 51:1-5 " Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

4. THE LESSONS FOR US TODAY

What are we to learn from this tragic event in Peter’s life? How can we benefit from it? What lessons are taught by this man’s fall and restoration?

1. Let us learn something about ourselves.

1. We must never be presumptuous about ourselves.

1 Corinthians 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

1 Corinthians 4:7 "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

2. We ought never be severe with our erring brethren.

2. Let us learn something about God’s grace and his salvation.

1. It is unconditional.
2. It is in Christ.
3. It is free.
4. It is indestructible!

3. Let us learn something about the faithfulness of our great God and Savior.

"He will never, never leave us,

Nor will let us quite leave Him."

"He abideth faithful!" "Faithful is he that calleth you!" "Great is thy faithfulness!"

2 Timothy 2:13-19 "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Mark 16:7 "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."

1. Trust Christ alone.
2. Live around the cross.
3. Cling to Christ always.
4. As often as you fall, return to Christ.

• He will receive you.
• He will forgive you.
• He will be gracious to you.
• He will forget the wrong you have done!

Illustration: Big Jake

AMEN.