I Don’t Know Him

Luke 22:54-62

Key Verse 57

“But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.”

Introduction

In today’s passage Peter disowned Jesus three times. Undeniably Peter had desire to follow Jesus even to the point of death, but he totally failed by denying Jesus three times. In the midst of Peter’s failure, Jesus still helped him. Through this, we can learn how we can follow Jesus to the end.

1. Read verses 54-56. Where was Jesus taken? (54a) Why might Peter have followed at a distance? (54b) What did he do? (55) Who recognized Peter and what did she say? (56)

1-1. Read verses 54-56.

Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

1-2. Where was Jesus taken? (54a)

Into the house of the high priest. – they took him to the place to put charge on him with plan to kill him.

1-3. Why might Peter have followed at a distance? (54b)

Peter followed at a distance

• He did not want to follow Jesus too closely. Following Jesus at a distance was the exact expression of his human dilemma.

• When we follow Jesus at a distance, we create room for Satan to enter into our hearts.

• We need a full commitment in our relationship with Jesus. Peter was not spiritually prepared for the events that were about to take place.

– As Jesus’ disciple, he was afraid of being arrested together with Jesus. But he remembered his promise to Jesus that he would follow to the end.

Matthew 26:33-35 reads,

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

- Peter also wanted to know what would happen to Jesus.

- Even though he had desire to follow Jesus, he was not strong enough to overcome the fear of death.

1-4. What did he do? (55)

And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them

• Peter followed into the courtyard and sat down together with others. He didn’t expose himself to others. He was sitting there pretending he didn’t have any relationship with God.

- He didn’t want to expose his identity as Jesus’ disciple because of the fear of persecution.

- He hid himself among the unbelievers.

1-5. Who recognized Peter and what did she say? (56)

· A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and exposed his identity by saying, “This man was with him.”

- Peter wanted to avoid suffering by hiding himself but God exposed him through the girl servant.

- Through this event, God wanted to expose his lack of faith and weakness so that he might find himself, repent, and grow.

- Often through certain situations, God exposes who we really and the condition of our faith so that we can grow.

2. Read verses 57-60. How did Peter deny Jesus? (57) How did Peter deny Jesus a second time? (58) Who else noticed him again? (59) How did Peter reply? (60a) What happened as he was speaking? (60b)

2-1. Read verses 57-60.

But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.

2-2. How did Peter deny Jesus? (57)

But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said

- He disowned Jesus even though he said that he would never disown him.

- ‘I don’t know him’ – This meant he didn’t have any relationship with Jesus. To save his life, he denied his relationship with Jesus.

2-3. How did Peter deny Jesus a second time? (58)

A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”“Man, I am not!” Peter replied

- Someone else recognized him as Jesus’ disciple.

- “Man, I am not” – It means ‘ I am not his disciple’ Before he was proud of being one of his disciples.

- But now he denied his identity as his disciple.

2-4. Who else noticed him again? (59)

About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean

- People kept recognizing him. One of them was very sure about his identity recognizing his Galilean accent.

- Now it was hard for Peter to hide himself.

2-5. How did Peter reply? (60a)

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

- Peter denied him three times just as Jesus predicted.

- By disowning Jesus three times, he disowned Jesus completely.

- According to Matthew 26:74, he even began to curse and swear.

“Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.”

2-6. What happened as he was speaking? (60b)

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed

- Everything happened exactly as Jesus had told him.

3. Read verses 61-62. Why might Jesus have turned and looked straight at Peter? (61a) What did Peter remember? (61b) What did Peter do? (62) What can we learn from Peter’s failure?

3-1. Read verses 61-62.

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

3-2. Why might Jesus have turned and looked straight at Peter? (61a)

The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.

-Jesus looked at Peter not to criticize him but to help him to remember what he said.

Luke 22:31, 32, and 34 reads,

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

- Jesus wanted Peter to restore his faith after his failure instead of losing heart and suffering with a sense of guilt or failure.

- Sometimes we fail due to our weakness. But we should stand up again by remembering and holding onto God’s word.

- Peter disowned Christ, yet Christ did not disown him, though he might justly have cast him off, and never looked upon him again. But Jesus looked at him with hope to restore him.

- God looks at us with His compassionate heart even as we fail.

- Jesus’ looking led Peter to repent.

- Peter might have understood why Jesus was looking at him

3-3. What did Peter remember? (61b)

Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

· By remembering Jesus’ word he was humbled and could repent of his pride.

Also he could come back to Jesus instead of getting lost with self-condemnation or a sense of guilt.

3-4. What did Peter do? (62)

And he went outside and wept bitterly

- He had godly sorrow recognizing his pride and sins. Godly sorrow led him to repent and be restored.

- Shedding tears with godly sorrow and recognizing our sins helps us to repent of our sins and make changes.

2 Corinthians 7:10 reads,

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

3-5. What can we learn from Peter’s failure?

· We should be humble and rely on God acknowledging our weakness and limitations.

· We should remember God’s word and his love and mercy in the moment of our failure so that we can stand up again to serve God’s will.

· We have to pray that we may be empowered to overcome Satan’s attack and challenges.

Conclusion

Peter completely failed by denying Jesus three times. Despite his desire to follow Jesus, he couldn’t overcome his fear and weakness by himself. His pride and self-confidence were crushed and was humbled. But God still helped him to restore his faith. Peter remembered what Jesus said. Jesus looked at him to help him repent and restore his faith. We must rely on God through prayer. We must also restore our faith by remembering God’s word, his mercy, and grace even after our failure.

One word: The Lord looked straight at Peter