GROWING UP THE HARD WAY (2): THE WAY UP

(Luke 22:54-62)
September 10, 2017

Read Lu 22:54-62 At a TGC pastors conf in 2009, Philip Ryken said,

Sometimes people insist on avoiding the advice you give as a pastor and
falling out of the Stupid Tree hitting every branch on the way down. If
pastors feel that way imagine how God must feel. See there are two ways we
learn. We learn the easy way by obeying; or the hard way by disobedience.

So heres Peter in miserable failure. Even as a believer. But God uses his
failure to grow him up -- the hard way. Better to just obey. Peter exemplifies
the hard way. First, I. The Way Down -- Peter boasted too much; prayed too
little; acted too fast; disobeyed too willfully; and compromised too easily. All
those are signs weve rationalized our way into disobedience, and are on a
slippery slope that can only end badly. Some of us are on that slope today.

But theres a way back. Its not necessarily easy. But it returns us to the realm
of reality and obedience. Three points applicable to all of us:

II. The Way Up

A. Peter Saw Himself for the Sinner He Was

Peters first epiphany of his human condition is in Luke 5. Jesus borrowed

Peters boat to preach from, then told him to put out to sea and fish. Peter, the
expert, replied theyd caught nothing all night and could expect nothing in
broad daylight. Nevertheless, he obeyed. He caught so many fish the nets were
breaking and the boat was sinking. Amazing that Peter didnt off Jesus an
immediate partnership in the fishing company! Instead Lu 5:8, 8 But when
Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me, for
I am a sinful man, O Lord. Peter saw his failed human condition up against
Gods perfection. Seeing his true self was the first step toward his conversion.

But grace isnt just for one time. We need it continually to cover our ongoing
failures. Jesus had told Peter earlier that night in Jn 13:10: The one who has
bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. In
other words, you dont need to get re-saved. Youre as saved as you can be.
But to keep the joy of your family relationship, you must keep short accounts
with the Father. On the way up, we need continued reminders of our
disobedience bc thats how we grow. Its the hard way but its the sure way.
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Thats what Peter experiences. 60 But Peter said, Man, I do not know what
you are talking about. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the
rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter
remembered the saying of the Lord. This is a miracle of providence. All 4
gospel writers know about it. All 4 mention the rooster crowed immediately
after Peter denied the Lord for the 3rd time. That triggered Peters memory of
Jesus prediction. They all knew. BUT only Luke mentions And the Lord
turned and looked at Peter, likely as Jesus transferred from Annas house to
Caiaphas perhaps as He passed thru a connecting alcove. In any case, just
as the rooster crowed, Jesus entered Peters line of sight. With swollen face,
black and blue from beatings, Jesus turned and looked at Peter.

Peter knows Jesus doesnt deserve whats happening. Jesus has told him He
could call 12 legions of angels to His rescue. But He does not. Hes paying
the price of ultimate humiliation and pain to do the will of the Father while
Peter warms himself by the fire of the enemy denying he knew Jesus. The
contrast couldnt be greater. As in Lu 5, when Peter sees Jesus, he also sees
Peter, and he sees what a wretched man he is despite all his good intentions.

Ever been there? We all need to be there occasionally. The more we see Jesus,
the more we see how short we fall of Gods glory even as believers. But the
point is not to bury us, Beloved. It is to elicit the heartfelt confession and
restoration Peter experienced. We cant grow until we see ourselves for the
failed individuals we are in constant need of Gods overwhelming grace.

Thats Johns point in I Jn 1. Writing to believers he says, 8 If we say we have

no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. The more we see Him, the more we know our sin. Then
confession, not denial, renews the joy of our relationship with the Father.

Were amazingly resistant to this. Like David. He saw Bathsheba, lusted after
her and took her. When she got pregnant he called her husband home from
war intending hed spend time with her to cover the sin, but Uriah was so
dedicated he refused the R&R with his wife. So David sent him back with his
own death warrant a sealed note to General Joab to send Uriah to the front
and then withdraw from him, leaving him to be killed. It worked to perfection.
David married Bathsheba and thought he got away with it. Admitted nothing.

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So a year later, God sent Nathan to David with a tough job. Nathan posed a
situation to judge. A rich man with great herds lived next to a poor man with
one little lamb he loved dearly. When a visitor came to the rich man rather
than take from one his thousands, he stole the poor mans one lamb and served
it for dinner. Guess what? David still didnt get it. Stone-cold self-deceived! II
Sam 12:5: Then Davids anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he
said to Nathan, As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,
6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because

he had no pity. 7 Nathan said to David, You are the man! Despite your
many wives, you stole the one wife that Uriah had. Youre the man, David.

How could a man after [Gods] own heart (I Sam 13:14), grow lethargic,
commit adultery, cover it with cold-blooded murder and not acknowledge it?
Why? Because, as Calvin said, our hearts are idol-making factories. Even
believers can rationalize anything. Only against Gods perfections are we are
brought up short. But brought up short we must be if we are to grow. Peters
road to recovery started with seeing himself for the sinner he was; so must
we. He had to see his pride in himself for what it was, and so must we. Theres
no growth without seeing who we really are.

B. Peter Saw the Word for the Truth It Is

This is beautiful. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter
remembered the saying (logos, word) of the Lord. When Jesus looked at
Peter, He was pointing him back to the Word. In this case, the words Jesus
had spoken. For us, His written Word, serving the same function. So, Peter
remembered the [word] of the Lord, how he had said to him, Before the
rooster crows today, you will deny me three times (61b). Jesus has set this all
up ahead of time. The rooster crowing and Jesus look brought Peter back to
reality. The devastating failure happened just as Jesus predicted. That would
bury anyone, right? BUT WAIT!! Thats not the only word Peter had from
Jesus. Remember? Just before Jesus told Peter he would deny him 3 times, he
told him something else. Lu 22: 31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to
have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that
your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again (repented),
strengthen your brothers. Peter could not have remembered the predicted
denial without also remembering that Jesus prayed for him, predicted he
would repent and be restored to service. That was Jesus word, too!

What a beautiful picture of grace mediated thru Gods Word. Think of Peters
despair had he not had these words. Satan intended this test to defeat Peter
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like every test of obedience. Without Jesus word, Peter might well have been
buried lost in the throes of intolerable guilt and failure. But in remembering
Jesus word, hope flickers. Peter sees what he didnt see before. Jesus knew
him better than he knew himself. Jesus expected him to fail more than he
did. But Jesus also knew hed repent! What a beautiful pix of grace!

Some here today need Gods truth in your life. Satans lie is that some past
failure has disqualified you. Youre done, washed up. But the truth is God
expects you to sin more than you do. And the beautiful truth of Gods Word
is, If we confess sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. All! Gods truth is as far as the east is
from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Psa
103:12). Gods Word is, 19) He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will
cast all our sins into the depths of the sea (Mic 7:19b). Gods truth is,
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased,
grace abounded all the more (Rom 5:20). So do you choose Gods truth or
Satans lie. The truth will set you free (Jn 8:32), not the lie.

Forgiveness is so wonderful its hard to accept, especially that pervasive sin

that keeps coming back. But heartfelt confession always results in forgiveness
-- not because we do better, but because Jesus died for that sin. Its not what
we did or will do but what He has done that matters. Samuel Goldwyns
secretary once asked if she could destroy files that were more than 10 years
old. Goldwyn replied, Yes -- but keep copies. Thankfully God doesnt keep
copies. God forgave David; God forgave Moses; God forgave Peter and God
will forgive you, too, the moment you turn to Him. You have His Word on it!

C. Peter Saw Jesus for the Savior He is

Keep in mind, even tho Jesus looked at Peter, that wouldnt have helped had
Peter not also been looking at Jesus. Jesus is always available. Were not. So
the Bible often reminds us: Isa 45:22: Turn to me and be saved, all the ends
of the earth! For I am God and there is no other. Or Heb 12:2, looking to
Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. He is always looking for us. But
we must look to Him to receive His forgiveness. This was the difference
between Peter and Judas. Judas hanged himself; Peter looked to Jesus.

That look started his restoration. What was in Jesus look? Questioning?
Disappointment? Accusation? I told you so? If those had been there, Peter
might have hung himself, too. Instead he went out and wept bitterly (62).
Judas went into the darkness of betrayal and denial, and he never came out.
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Peter went into the darkness of betrayal and denial but came out. Why? Bc he
looked to Jesus. And he saw LOVE there. He saw forgiveness. He saw the
gospel. He saw how bad he was, yes. But he saw how good Jesus is. Jesus
had said, Simon, youre going to deny me. But Ive prayed for you. And
when you turn to me, Im going to turn you into a leader. Thats the gospel.
On one hand youre more wicked than you ever dared believe. On the other,
youre more loved than you ever dared hope. Thats what Peter saw. I know
you have failed, Peter. I expected it. But Im going to save you anyway. This
beaten face is just the beginning; Im going all the way for you.

The Lord turned and looked at Peter (61). See, its not enough to believe
with your head. The HS has to help our heart see Jesus, chained, beaten,
bleeding and forsaken by all, including His own Father all for us. Thats
what we all need an industrial strength love someone who will never
forsake us not even when we fail Him. Thats Jesus.

He came to seek and to save. How? By taking our guilt; by becoming sin for
us; by being abandoned by the Father for us; by suffering our hell even as
we warm our hands at the fires of disobedience! So, if He has already taken
hell for you, do you think your failure, however despicable, is going to knock
Him off stride?! No! Thats why He died in the first place. Hes already taken
the absolute worst for you. Look to Him. He will never let you down. When
you look at Jesus and see this, it will melt your heart. This is why we need the
gospel all the time. We need it to be saved, yes. But we need it every day to
continually renew our relationship. We need His love more than we need life
and it is always there. When Peter looked at Jesus he saw his Savior, and
well find the same Savior by looking to Him.

Mark Strand had a guilty conscience. During his first year of college, while
Mom and Dad were on vacation, he crumpled the side door on Dads pickup.
When his dad returned, Mark denied any knowledge of it. To his surprise, the
hired man admitted he did it. Hed passed the pickup one day while pulling
the cultivator, heard a loud noise, and assumed he had caused the damage.
Mark breathed a sigh of relief. But he had no peace. At long last, he could not
hold out any longer. Dad, I need to tell you. You know the pickup door? I
was the one who did it. Mark tells what happened next: Dad looked at me. I
looked back at him. For the first time in weeks I was able to look him in the
eyes. To my utter disbelief, Dad calmly replied, I know. Silent seconds,
which seemed like hours, passed. Then dad said, Lets go eat. He put his
arm around my shoulder, and we walked to the house, not saying another

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word about it. Not then, not ever. Thats the look Peter got. Thats
compassion, cleansing and forgiveness.

After the resurrection, Jesus met Peter at the Sea of Galilee. First, Jesus fed
him breakfast. Then, 3 times He gave Him opportunity to affirm His love for
Jesus one for each denial. Beautiful restoration. The road up is wonderful,
Beloved. Look to Him. Whatever you havent confessed, look to Him.

Conc Learning the hard way. Tough. But worth it. C. S. Lewis said in Mere
Christianity: Though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It
is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite
relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at
whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him. Make no mistake, He says,
if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My
hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You
have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not
push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through.
Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, [because of what] it
cost Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect
until my Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with
you, as He said He was well pleased with me. This I can do and will do. But
I will not do anything less. Amazing grace!!! Amazing love! Lets pray.