Jona Lawson - Class 4: Tried by Fire

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

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   Well, thank you very much for that reading and good evening again, everyone, welcome to those who have braved it out here tonight and also hello. To those who are reclining on the couch at home, with a cheese platter, enjoy that. But beware of reclining. That chair, too, too much. I know what that’s like. So tonight, we’ll continue our study of. life of Peter, and Suppose tonight, we’ve got to probably the very Crux of this man’s life.

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   Having we probably the most famous section about his life. Now, I’ve never done it myself, but I’ve seen it done at Sovereign Hill. I’ve seen how they refine gold 24 karat gold. And the way that you refine 24 karat gold is actually quite an intense process. You can go and watch it if you visit.

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   So and Sovereign Hill, I’ll show you how it’s done but you need to heat the metal to around 1200 degrees. And then you need to take it through a number of processes back and forth to slowly purify that gold until eventually after process after process. Burning this, this metal hot, all of the impurities are removed from it and you’re left with the purity of this beautiful metal of gold.

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   Well, that process of refining metal with gold was how G. How Peter later came to describe how characters are refined. And how his character was refined and how God refined his faith. I developed in into the man that he eventually became. Now we all have flaws in our characters. Don’t we, we all have imperfections and impurities and sometimes our floors are more obvious to other people than perhaps.

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   Even sometimes ourselves. I know my kids are always telling me about my impurities and flaws. But we all have them. And Peter had some flaws in his character as well. And I needed to be refined and they need to be worked on and God needed to do that through the trials. That would come upon his life.

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   One of the things that Peters character needed refining from. Is that He was a man and it comes out in the record in a number of ways. He was a man that was very confident in his own ability, and he was quite self-reliant. And it comes out in ways, when, when, when Peter often speaks before, he thinks, or he promises something great that he’s going to deliver. But can’t deliver it.

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   And it also comes out with his competitiveness with the other disciples. He was always vying to try and be the greatest as they all were and put themselves a little bit higher than the other person. Peter needed to learn humility. And humility is a hard trait to learn just come to Matthew chapter 18 where Jesus describes for us.

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   That humility is, is such a essential characteristic, which he’s looking for an all his disciples. And he says, in verse 3 and 4 of Matthew a name and he said, verily, I say unto you, except you be converted.

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   And become as a little child. You shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever. Therefore, shall humble himself as this little child? The same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, All of Us need to if we’re going to be in the kingdom of God, develop the characteristic of humility and Peter needed to learn that.

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    The other thing Peter needed to learn and it’s related to this was as a result of his confidence in his own ability. He often looked perhaps down at other people and their abilities. Just look over at verse 21 where Jesus Peter asked. Jesus a question. He says, then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall I shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him till seven times, so he comes to the law and says, look if my brother just keeps defending against me, surely Lord, surely if he does it seven times, that’s the limit.

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    I’ll never have to forgive After that, they have paid a probably thought he was being generous. Because, apparently, in the day, the Pharisees has set a limit on three. If someone sinned against you three times. That’s it. You never have to forgive them ever ever again. And no doubt some of that hardness of spirit that was amongst the community.

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    Had rubbed off on that, man. Peter, and he thought, surely, Seven times was the limit to which you’d need to forgive your brother. but Jesus says to Peter in verse 22, I sang to you Peter that until seven times seven until Seventy Times Seven. In other words, what what Jesus was saying was, there’s actually no limit to the Forgiveness that you should give to your brother.

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    Now, that was just Unthinkable to the disciples later. They would ask Jesus, the similar sort of questions, question. And Jesus would say, you need to forgive your brother even seven times in a day. And it says that the disciples are like, are you serious? I cannot even understand that concept. Peter needed to learn. Compassion.

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    And forgiveness for his brother and Jesus went on in that chapter and chapter 18 to talk to the user Parable, the parable of the unforgiving. Servant, I’m sure you remember it about a servant who came to his master and he couldn’t, he couldn’t repay his enormous debt that he had. and even though the debt was just so enormous because the man came and asked him for forgiveness, The master forgave you.

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    But then after he receive forgiveness, when someone came to him and asked him to have compassion on them, he turned his back on them. And he gave them no forgiveness. and Jesus concluded that Parable in verse 33 when he said shouldst, not thou also Have had compassion on your fellow servant. even as I had pity on you, why didn’t that servant show compassion to the man that came to him?

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    Because he’d failed to comprehend. How much he’d been forgiven? And that’s true, isn’t it? We learn compassion to others. when we realize how much compassion and forgiveness, Has been handed to us.

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    And Peter needed to learn that lesson. Because Jesus needed Peter to be a man in the Ecclesia, he was going to be one of the leaders of the Ecclesia and what he needed was a man of compassion. Who could look out and be a hand to pick up those brothers and sisters in his Ecclesia.

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    So, he needed to learn. The hard lesson. The tough lesson. Of how much he needed compassion himself. And so the Lord will teach the Lord is going to teach this man. I’m amazed always buy this story. How much the Lord is doing on this night. I mean, he’s got to achieve so much and within all that achievement that that man does that night. He’s also making sure that people like Peter and John and all these other disciples, her learning the little things that they needed to learn to be ready. And the Lord made sure that peda that night. Learn humility.

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    And compassion. and they were going to be tough lessons for that man to learn And those lessons would be learned. It would feel like for that, man, he was in like a furnace of Fire. And we’re going to see Peter tonight, descend down. To his lowest point. But the beautiful thing about this story is it’s a comeback story and I love comeback stories and we’re going to watch tomorrow or on Monday. We’re going to see this man Rise Again out of the depths of his weakness.

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    To learn the lessons that he’s Lord wanted him to learn. Come to Luke chapter 22. Where we start this awesome story. It would have been a huge week for Peter. Even before he got to the last night, there was so many things that he had done with the Lord, had been the Olivet prophecy. They’d been amazing Miracles that would been had been done and Peter had been there for all of them. And then it came to the very last night that the Lord would be with his disciples and in Luke chapter, 22 and verse 18. Sorry, not Luke chapter 22 and verse 8, the Lord in preparation for that night.

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    It says, and he sent Peter and John saying go and prepare us the Passover that we might eat. So he sent Peter and John and these were the two trusted most trusted of his disciples, weren’t they? And he sent these two men. And they went into Jerusalem to this upper room, but they had to do it in a secret. Why they had to do it a secret way. Look what he says in verse 10 and he said unto them. Behold when you enter into the city. Now, the city was teeming with people. They reckon that at the time of Passover in Jerusalem. At this time, that could have been up to a million people in Jerusalem.

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    That’s the size of Adelaide, isn’t it? Maybe a little bit less in Adelaide and million That’s a lot of people, a million people in Old Jerusalem and he sent with this task to enter into the city in verse 10 and you shall find a man there. And that man will be bearing a pitcher of water follow him to the house where he entered, so they had to go into this city teeming with people all preparing for Passover and they follow this man to this special upper room. Now, why was Jesus being so secretive about? Look what it says in verse six, five and six and they were glad said the Pharisees and chief priests and they can covenanted to give unto him.

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    That’s Judas money. And he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. And Jesus knew that the Judas was looking for any opportunity. He could to now betray the Lord, but the Lord knew that he needed a little bit more time with his disciples. He needed that last night with them in the upper room because he had so many things to pass on to them before he would be taken by Judas.

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    And so he arranged this secret passageway, where math of Peter and John would follow this man with the pitcher of water and they would go and find the upper room and then once they’re Jesus said, I want you to prepare this Passover For us. And get it ready. Let’s go to John, Chapter 13, where we come to the upper room where the Lord is.

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    And, of course, now it’s it’s now night. And the Lord is with them in the upper room. And they share supper together, but there’s something that they didn’t do that. They would normally do that was a custom. And it’s interesting that they followed that man with the pitcher of water upon his head and maybe it was that picture of water.

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    That was the water that was used in the upper room and they watch that man come into the upper room and they took that big pitcher of water and he placed it down in the upper room and that pitcher of water. Was to be used for the custom of the day. And the custom of the day.

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    So tells us in Luke to the. In the story of Simon the Pharisee was that the lowliest person in the house the servant It would be their job to wash the feet. Of everyone who came through that door.

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    It was a humbling task but someone needed to do it. and when the Lord gets Midway through his supper, No one’s done it. And wide no one Donna. We’ll see the disciples at this point in the upper room although these are all these other things are happening, there’s contention amongst the disciples, you might remember that, it was just a couple of days beforehand that the disciples must one of the disciples mum’s had gone to Jesus and a discussed with him and said I’ll look can I was just wondering right amongst all the other things you’ve got going. Just wondering whether my boys might be able to get two of the most prominent positions in the kingdom of God. Next to you and your right hand and on your left. And you know what?

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    It says that the disciple the rest of the disciples found out about that and they were so angry. It says they had an anger of indignation at those other disciples that they got their, mum to go and get them The prominent positions. You see, there was so much competitiveness, and tension between these two men are so not to men, 12 men. And not one of them.

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    Was going to be prepared to go and pick up that pitcher of water and be the one that was the least, among all of them. To watch the fight. and so, the Lord Rises, The Lord gets up in verse 4. He rose from supper.

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    And laid aside his garments. And took a towel. And girded himself. And the Lord showed them, didn’t he? What humility was all about? There was no doubt whatsoever, who was the greatest man in that room? and yet, he laid aside his garments and took a towel. And you imagine how the disciples felt when they happen. They must have been so embarrassed, wouldn’t they? Peter must have been embarrassed and he shows his embarrassment as the Lord works.

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    His way through every single one of those disciples and he finally gets to Peter and what does Peter say in verse 6? And he cometh, he to Simon Peter. And Peter said unto him. Lord, I can’t take it anymore. There is no way that you are going to wash my feet.

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    He was embarrassed, wasn’t he? As I’m sure they all were and sheepish, but Jesus answered in verse 7 and said, What I do unto you now. You know, not. But Thou shalt know afterward and what the Lord meant by those words was what I’m doing for you. Hear Peter in washing your feet is actually just a symbol of something far. Greater Because tonight, I’m going to do the most humbling act that anyone’s ever done.

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    And I’m going to wash, you completely clean. And Peter says to in verse 8, and Peter said unto him. Thou shalt never wash my feet. Lord never ever will you wash my feet. And Jesus said to him, if I wash not your feet, Then you can have no part with me.

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    Peter needed to recognize, didn’t he? The need that he had. To be watched and he didn’t know he didn’t recognize that to this point. All of us need to come to that point where we recognize our need to be washed. And we allow the Lord.

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    To wash us. And to cleanse us. But Peter didn’t think he needed washing. And so, the Lord gives them an example. I’ve had to be humble. and he says that, In verse 15. I have given you an example. That you should do as I have done to you Peter, never forgot that lesson.

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    If you go to S, if you go to his letter and Peter, when he talks about humility he says we need to be clothed in humility. and he remembered that night, when the Lord Washed their fate.

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    Now after the Lord had lost what had washed their feet, he then had to bring up the elephant in the room which was the fact that there was a betrayal amongst their midst and the Lord in verse 21 brings this up and he does it with anguish. it was something that was very much pain, the Lord and it says in verse 21 when Jesus said unto, so when Jesus had thus said he began to be troubled in spirit And he testified and said, verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

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    And we know that what then happened is all of the disciples started to look at each other across the table and across the room to work out who it was. And you know what, none of them knew who it was. They all suspected that maybe it could even be them. But they looked across the room at who it was, and it’s interesting.

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    Isn’t it? Like sometimes we always because of what the way we know this story so much that it would be that, you know, perhaps Judas is dressed in a black cloak or something to be so obvious that he’s the evil one, but they never knew. Don’t even you. In fact, do you know that Judas was actually one of the most prominent of the disciples. And we can find out from this little story here as it says in verse 26.

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    That Judas was actually probably right next to the Lord. because he said the one that I dip the bread in and give it to him, he’s the one and he’s able to do that in verse 26 without anyone else. Knowing And so we know the seating arrangements or some of them for that night.

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    We know that Judas was on one side. And verse 23, says, that leaning on his on, Jesus bosom was the disciple that Jesus loved and that’s John. So, he’s got John on one side. On his right hand or on his left and he’s got Judas on the other side. Where’s Peter? Will Peter in verse 24 as got one of the back seats because what he has to do, when this whole discussion, is having it happening with the Lord verse 24. It says, in Simon Peter, therefore had to beckon with his hand and John and say John, you asked Jesus, what’s going on? We need to know.

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    And the whole night like Julie this upper room. That’s where Peter is he sharing from the back because he’s trying to be more prominent. He wishes, he was right next to the Lord but he’s right in the back is beckoning.

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    But Jesus, Jesus hasn’t put him there. Deliberately hasn’t he? So you can speak to Judas about what he needs to get done. And then finally, Judas leaves. And it’s interesting how Judith is described in this chapter. Look what it says in verse 26. And Jesus answered. And he said unto him, I shall give us op.

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    And when I have tipped it and when he had dipped this op, he gave it to Judas. Iscariot the son of Simon and he’s cold that again, in verse 2, the son of Simon And Peter in this chapter is always called, Simon. Peter. You see, there’s two Simon’s in this chapter. And the Bible that the record of these men’s lives. Actually contrast these two men.

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    These to Simon’s, Judas, and Peter. Because they actually had a lot in common between the two of them. Both of them when you look at the lists. of the disciples, those for Less we talked about in our first study, always on the top is Peter And always listed last is Judas. Both of them.

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    We know were very close to the Lord. Peter is very close to the Lord, and Judas must have been close to the Lord as well because he was put in charge of the finances. He was one of the key men amongst the 12 and he’s sitting right next to the Lord or in the upper room on the last night and no one questioned it.

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    Everyone just thought that that’s what happened. So, both men were very prominent. Both men were very close to the Lord, both were his disciples.

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    Both were lured by the glory of now. And we saw that last night, and I studied with Peter, didn’t we? In Matthew chapter 16, where Jesus had to say? You need to refocus your mind, not on the here and now and the glory. Now what you can have But you need to set your your mind on the future.

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    And see Judas struggle with that as well. And there’s all sorts of different theories and we don’t know exactly about What Judas was trying to do, but some of them seem to be that what he was trying to do, was bring Jesus out to bring him to power now so that he could be part of it.

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    And he was caught up in now. And what he wanted to do today. And Peter was similar. And both of them. Would betray their lord. Both men would. and I believe that they’re in the record is a contrast for this reason because although, they’re so similar here, The difference is in the final result for these two men. And we’ll see that in our final two studies. About what Peter was able to do, and what Peter’s Outlook was, and how it was different from Judas. And so Judas goes out into the night and it must have been a relief for for Jesus, in that upper room that at least now he knew.

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    Although he was so sad that Judas went out and he was sad because he wanted to save him too. He now it up on opportunity. A little window to speak to these disciples and tell them what he needed to to give to them before he goes. And he starts that in verse 33.

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    Little children. He says, Yet a little while I’m with you. And you shall seek me. And, as I said unto the Jews, Whither, I go. You cannot come. So now I say unto you And as Jesus was going into some of the most important information that he could possibly relate to the disciples about some of the key Commandments, Peter’s not listening.

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    And we know that Peter is not listening because look what happens in verse 36. Peter just interrupts the Lord, and all he can think about is what Jesus had said in the first, in his first message about, I’m going somewhere and Peter says, in verse 30, 36 Simon, Peter said unto the Lord.

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    Where are you going Lon? What, what do you what are you talking about, Lord? Where are you going? See, Peter still had no idea and none of the disciples. Didn’t we talked about that last night even though Jesus had relayed, it to them over and over again in so much detail, they still didn’t know. What later had that night?

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    And so Peter wants to know, what is it? Lord. Where are you going? And Jesus says to him. Jesus answered in verse 38. Aw, sorry, Peter answers in verse 32. Jesus answered in verse 36 with a go now, Kent. So verse 36, I’ll read it again. Simon Peter said unto the Lord, with a goest. Thou And Jesus answered him.

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    Where I go, they are Kent’s, not follow me now. But you will follow me afterwards. So he says to Peter, you can’t come where I’m going now. And Peter jump scene immediately in verse 37, says unto the Lord. Why can’t I follow you, Lord. Why can’t I go with you now? I will lay down my life for you. Lord.

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    That’s how much I love you. I will lay down my life for you. Now, it’s going to be the other way around. I wasn’t it. It was going to be Jesus. That would lay down his life for Peter. But see Peter flipped it and said I can do it for you Lord and I am ready to do that. See he was overconfident, wasn’t he? And he had this faith and trust in the power of his own faithfulness.

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    And his own ability. To stand right with the Lord that night in anything. That was going to happen. and Jesus says to him verse 38, Will you Peter?

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    Will you lay down your life for my sake verily, verily. I say unto you. The cock shall not Crow till thou Hast denied me three stat, Dow has denied me three times. So Jesus gives a prophecy here about what was going to happen on that night. Now, the cock-crowing is as most people understand, it was probably not a rooster, but it was probably this Roman Watch chain.

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    So when the guards change, they would blow a trumpet sound and that would be the call to know. They should change their watch and they would blow that every 3 hours after 12 p.m. so, from 12 p.m. And then to 3 a.m. And Jesus says before that cock crows. Now, Mark adds before that cock, crows twice and marks record is usually thought to be the record that Peter wrote, or Peter got Mark to write to write. And so, Peter, puts a few little bits of information in his chat, in his gospel record, to highlight some of the things. And Peter says, there was two crows of the cock that night. They were tow signals that I was given. Before I was to make those three denials. Now.

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    As a result of that rebuke almost by the Lord to Peter there. Broke out amongst the disciples. Again, another big fight amongst them about who was the greatest just come to Luke chapter 22. And you can imagine how that probably happened. Yeah, who wants the Lord had said to Peter? Yeah. Yeah, you haven’t got it yet, haven’t got it in you.

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    Peter, you’re not going to be able to stand with me. I’m sure some of the other disciples played on that and started to stir up and say, yeah, I told you Peter, you’re not up for it mate, but some of us are and then the whole thing erupts in verse 24 and there was also a Strife amongst them.

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    Which of them should be accounted the greatest. Imagine that. On the most important night in history. And he is these 12 men. Arguing about which one of them is the best.

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    And the Lord gently rebukes them. He knows what they’re like, he’s been with them, he understands And he rebukes them for what they’ve done and then he turns to Simon again and and probably by this stage, he’d who’s getting all defensive or in front of his other disciples and getting all worked up. And the Lord says to him again, for the second time verse 31 Simon, Solomon.

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    And he uses his original name, doesn’t he? That name, which means listen. Simon, you need to listen to what I’m saying. Because what I’m saying to you is actually really important. And he says Satan. Has desired to have you. That he might sift you as wheat as well. Now, Satan had been the one that came into the heart of Judas. Just in Martin, John Chapter 13 that he might go and do the things that he was, and the Satan for him was probably this this inward conflict about Glory Now versus glory in the future, and Jesus says to Simon Simon that same conflict, which was his in it, which is within Judas is within you. And you need to be careful.

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    And he says he’s desired to have you this night and sift you as wheat. The way they sifted week back though. In those days is they would get like all the weight and they’d put in a big area with the little wall around it and they would take a big stick, right? And they would beat that wheat. And I would smack that wait.

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    Until what would happen is the wind would come and all the charge off. Would come off the top of that weight, and the wind would come and blow it away and you’d be left on the bottom with the precious sweet.

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    And that was a painful process for wheat, wasn’t it? And that would be the process that Peter would go through that night in order to bring forth the wheat of his character. But Jesus says to him, look at he says in verse 32, but I have prayed for you Peter. I have prayed for you that your faith fail. Not I’m right here with you Peter. and when thou art converted Peter, strengthen your brethren. And all Peter would have heard from that whole dissertation from the Lord would have been two words when you are converted.

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    And he’s like, are you serious? Just saying that I need to be converted. Like, are you serious rod? I have given the last two years of my whole life, I left my family. I left my job. I gave up all for you. And I’ve been working. I’ve been asking questions. I’ve been seeking you.

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    I’ve been learning about you. I’m one of your most trusted. I would give everything for you, Lord. And you sign on need to be converted.

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    And that’s what he says in verse 33. Lord, I am ready. I’ve been with you for two years, I am ready. Now, both to go to prison and to go to death if we can if need be And that’s what he thought later. Head in the night. See Peters still got dreams of beautiful, Glory of him and Jesus riding into Jerusalem. On the back of horses and getting rid of the Romans, and taking the glory now, and I’m ready with my saw Jesus. But that wasn’t the plan.

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    And Peter wasn’t ready. They were parts of his character that needed to be refined. and so, Jesus says to him again, gently he said unto him, I tell you Peter The cock will not Crow this day. It’s this day. Peter Before Thou shalt deny me. That you ever knew me.

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    That you ever knew me. They must have been tough words for Peter to hear muscle night. But you know what, he didn’t hear those words that the Lord was trying to say to him. He was he was probably tight, he probably took from that, he was more committed, he was more determined and sits there.

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    Always laugh at this verse verse 38. Jesus talks them and he says to them and he said unto them, he was talking to them about what life was going to be like after he was gone and they completely mistook him. And I guarantee verse 38 is Peter, when he said, and they said, Lord, it’s all right, don’t worry about a security.

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    We’ve got two swords here. To go and J’s says, it’s enough. Peter You’re not getting it. And paid. It was still bound up with what he was going to do that night for the Lord. Now, the Lord then went out. To get cemani with the disciples. they left the upper room and they probably, Made their way around the walls in the moon, light of the full moon of Passover.

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    And this was something that I did regularly, so they knew this path but they had to be very careful as they went around that path, because Jesus knew that there’d be Judas. His eyes watching and looking And they made their way around that path until they get perhaps around here about halfway point and it’s at that point where Jesus sits down with him again and he goes through some of the things that he wanted to talk to them about. And if we come to Matthew chapter 26, we take up some of the words that Jesus was saying to them. And Jesus needed to bring the reality not just to pater. They were all thinking the same way and he needed to bring a reality to their thinking about what was going to happen on that particular night.

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    And he does this in verse 31. Then Jesus said unto them all. It’s not just Peter. All of you. Will be offended because of me this night. Fritz been prophesied. I will Smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

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    Lost and leaderless. That’s what’s going to happen to you tonight and all your ideas of impending Glory. Are going to be shattered. And ruined.

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    And paid a pops up again for the third time. Determined. Verse 33, then, Peter answered and said unto him though. All men Jesus. I don’t know about these guys. You’re probably right? Lord, they’re not up for it. But he says, though, all others Lord. will be offended because of you this night, I never will offend I would never do. And so Jesus, for the third time, Has to tell Peter. verily, Peter I sang to you.

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    This very night, Peter. In just a few hours. Before the cock crows. You’re going to deny me three times. And pay to get all worked up.

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    And all passionate. and he says again, for one last time, though, all Would forsake you Lord. I would die for thee. And I will never deny you. And so passionate must have been that last call from Peter that all the disciples said we’re the same. Jesus will stand with Peter. We would never ever ever.

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    forsake, you And then they move from there. And they went to get cemani and Gethsemane was where the Lord for his hardest Battle of all, wasn’t he?

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    It says that his demeanor changed in verse 38 and they must have noticed it. Particularly the three man that he took closest to him, Peter, James, and John, those three men came, right? Close to the Lord and they must have seen the Lord, a man who is always in such control.

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    They must’ve seen the, the lines on his face and the trouble, which surround him as he says there, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death, please be with me here. And we know that from the Psalms that the Lord looked for comfort as he wanted men to be with him during this toughest of moments for him. And so we ask those three closest disciples to come with him.

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    As he knelt to pray to his father. But what do they do? I fell asleep. You see that the night was too big for these men. they were strong, tough fisherman, the toughest of men But it was all too much. For these men. And Jesus comes in verse 40 after he’s been praying for an hour or so and he cometh unto his disciples and he found them asleep and he picks on Peter again. and he says, Peter

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    couldn’t you wait for me just one hour? And he’s trying to get Peter to think back and he’s violent disagreement with him just a few hours beforehand when he said he would do anything for the Lord and he says you couldn’t even stay awake with me for just one hour.

88. 42:32

    Now, Peter Jesus wasn’t angry with Peter. Can you hate? It was like and he says that in verse 41 he says, watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. And Peter didn’t understand that yet. Jesus could see the sincerity of his words, but Peter yet was yet to understand the weakness of his own flesh to achieve what he thought he could achieve.

89. 43:04

    And that’s the lesson that he would learn that not. And so the Lord goes back to pray game. And then I have to read prayed three times and won that victory. In the garden, all of a sudden, there’s a commotion in the garden and the disciples are still asleep. And Jesus goes to the disciples and wakes them up and says wake up.

90. 43:30

    There’s a crowd that’s now. Come into the garden. He says that in verse 46 rise, let us be going behold. He is at hand that Duff betray me and so the disciples paid, who’s groggy with sleep, get up from their sleep. And all right there with the Lord and who’s coming down verse 47 and while he yet spake Judas comes down.

91. 43:57

    One of the twelve and who’s with him. There’s a great multitude with swords and with staves, and the chief priests, and the elders, and there’s people, they’ve got clubs, they’ve got swords, they’ve got Spears, there’s a violent group of men that are coming down with Judas to get these men. And they’ve got violent intent.

92. 44:22

    and when they come down, the Lord is amazing in his demeanor. Always love in John’s record when all the soldiers come down and they ask. Where is Jesus? Who is Jesus? And Jesus says, I’m Jesus. And it says, all of the soldiers fell back onto the ground, they were amazed. At the calmness of this man.

93. 44:48

    At the clarity of mind. See they were they would do a hunting fugitives every day and no one just put up their hand and said I’m the one come and get me.

94. 45:01

    And Jesus concern in that moment was only for his disciples. Mock’s record says that as they came to take him that Jesus said, just can we can you please let these go these men? Can you let my 12 disciples go? I’m here you can take me, please don’t let them be harmed. And in the commotion of what was going on. Peter sees his moment.

95. 45:33

    And he’s got his sword, hasn’t he? In his jacket. And he’s determined to be loyal. and verse 51 says, and behold, one of them which was with Jesus, suddenly jumped out from the rest of the disciples and he stretched out his hand and he drew out a sword and he struck a blow to one of the soldiers and took off one of his ears and John says that that was Peter, Peter in a moment of Glory kicks. This is it.

96. 46:07

    This is my opportunity and he pulls out his sword and he what swipe to the enemy and he takes off an ear, right? I can imagine the other disciples looking at what? Peter Dunne, we’re all finished, right? This great commotion, and just been like, what are you doing? Peter, you serious, right? You’ve taken off this guy’s here. And Jesus knew.

97. 46:30

    That any second that could just arrived and all of the disciples would be killed and Jesus acts and instant and takes that ear and puts it back on the the side of the man’s head and instantly, people don’t even know what’s going on. And Jesus says, please let these disciples go. And he turns to Peter in verse 54 and he says, and now then shall sorry. Verse 53.

98. 46:57

    He says, to Peter thinkest thou that I cannot. Now, pray to my father and that he shall presently give me more than Twelve Legions of angels. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled? That it must be.

99. 47:18

    And that’s what Jesus had said to Peter in Matthew chapter 16, you remember, Peter. It must be This is not something that’s optional. It’s something that I must do.

100. 47:34

     And he rebukes Peter in the garden. and then, once he’s done that, All of the disciples. Realize the gravity of the situation. and verse 56 says, and all this was done that the scriptures might be scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all of the disciples forsook him and fled and you know wasn’t an easy getaway marks record says that as they scampered and scattered through in every single direction that the soldiers were hunting after them, they ran after them, they didn’t leave them.

101. 48:17

     Because one of them, was one of the soldiers, grabbed one of the men’s garment and Was left. Running with nothing on Because they wanted to get the disciples as well. Sometimes we look at that scene and we think our answer, you know, the disciples were able to walk out of the garden. They ran for their lives, knowing that the soldiers had grabbed them. They were going to be killed as well. And they were scattered off in all directions Into the Night. And then Peter as he wherever he went in the first instant moment, he catches his breath.

102. 48:57

     Any regrets himself. And he remembers the words that he said to the lord, it’s all a blur Now, isn’t it? Because he’s he’s thrown his sword out. There’s all these things have happened, he’s run. They’ve tried to get him. But he’s found a little hiding spot and he thinks now about his loyalty of what he’d said to the Lord. I would never betray you.

103. 49:14

     I’ll be with you. I’ll stand with you. And so he gets back up quickly. And verse 58 says, and Peter followed him. Afar off unto the high priests Palace. And he went in. And sat with the servants to see the end. See Peter thought? That’s what was going to happen now. He thought All Is Lost.

104. 49:44

     Everything that I thought was going to happen this night. Everything that I dream was going to happen over this Passover of the Lord coming to Glory. It’s all now going to come to an end and he sneaks through the streets of Jerusalem. A far-off behind that band. And he makes his way around the temple through the streets creeping. So careful that he doesn’t get seen as they lead Jesus, Through the winding Streets, back to the high priests house. And Jason and Peter goes there to see the end. And John’s record says that, when he got to the high priests house, the door was locked for him, he couldn’t get in and he knocked at the door and they didn’t let him in. And you know what?

105. 50:27

     Was a dangerous place, the high priests house, you can actually go to Jerusalem today, it’s amazing. You can go to Jerusalem and you can actually they’ve actually found that the ruins of this exact house and you can stand and walk in the areas of that house where Pete of must have walked the walls. There’s only a few of the walls there but You can map out and say and it’s not a huge house.

106. 50:51

     So it wasn’t going to be easy for pay to go in there and be able to hide completely. It was dangerous. But there’s a courageousness about Peter here, isn’t it? At least he went He was determined to go. And he knocked on the door and he couldn’t get in. And John’s record says that John had gone there as well.

107. 51:11

     And he was already in that priests house and the reason why he was there was because they knew him somehow he had some kind of business connection with them, and they knew who John was. They knew that John that the personality of John and the damsel at the door had left him in. And paid a Siege John in the house, and he calls him said, hey, John, can you get me in as well? And John comes over to the door.

108. 51:39

     And he speaks to the damsel the door. He says, look this guy’s with me. Can he come in? And she knew him. And so, Peter is allowed in. You can imagine Peter, I can imagine. He must have had a lot cloak on just trying to hide himself as he walked in there, he sees all the soldiers in the courtyard. And Peter just walks into that courtyard to try and find a spot where he couldn’t be seen.

109. 52:04

     And that’s what it says in verse 58 that he came into the palace. The sorry verse 70. Sorry, first 69, now, Peter sat without in the palace. So, he found her a spot where he hopefully thought that he couldn’t. Be saying. But then someone came straight up to him. From the palace and it was a damsel girl. And John says it was the same girl that he’d spoken to to let him in the door.

110. 52:40

     The same one that knew John. And she’d probably known John for years and she would have known that John was From Galilee and she would have known that. John was a follower and disciple of Jesus. And so she comes to peda not long after letting him in and Peter’s trying to hide himself in the porch. And the damsel comes to him.

111. 53:04

     And says to him, weren’t you also? So thou also was with Jesus of Nazareth. Sorry, Jesus of Galilee. And John’s record says that she went further and said you’re one of his disciples. Like John Wall’s was probably what she was thinking. See she’d made the connection. It wasn’t, it wasn’t an unusual connection for her to mate. It was she just been observant and she’d seen this man. Maybe she’d seen Peter before with John. And paint it paid at, instantly replies to her in verse 16. Sorry verse 670.

112. 53:50

     But he denied it before them all saying. I know not what thou seest. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I actually do not know what you’re talking about at all. I know not who you are talking about marks record says, I don’t know him. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.

113. 54:17

     How? Was Peter able to do that to the Lord? So quickly. After the Lord had just told him. Just a few hours before. That this would be what happened. And he just didn’t tell him once did he, he told him three times in detail, what would happen to him that you would deny me, and here’s Peter, having all that information and knowing everything about it.

114. 54:51

     And yet, when the question gets asked, he says, I don’t know him, I’ve never known him before. How did he do that? We’ll see, he was caught off guard, wasn’t he? It wasn’t how the night he expected would turn out. And he’d expected that the moment that he was going to stand for the Lord was the moment of heroic Grandeur in the garden, but this temptation was different. And it came from a little girl.

115. 55:23

     A damsel woman. And she’s the one that asked him. The question. And paid, I wasn’t ready to answer. And you see that’s how Temptation comes. Doesn’t it in our life? Temptation comes. Unexpectedly. It comes usually from Left Field. It comes when we’re not ready. It usually comes when were in a stressful period in our life or all we’re tired or there’s a stuff going on, but we’re afraid or there’s all sorts of things happening in our life.

116. 56:04

     And all of a sudden Temptation will strike upon us. It’s a lot hotter. To resist temptation and I life when that happens. And that’s what happened to Peter. He was caught unexpectedly. By temptation. And so, he creeps out into the porch verse 71 says, and when he had gone out into the porch, so, he went out into another Courtyard, that was next to it to try and get away from the situation to hide himself further. And marks record says, at this point, he heard the cock Crow the first time And that would have been a reminder to him. They’ve what the Lord had said.

117. 56:53

     And I think Peter must have put that into his record, because he did hear it. He did hear that, that cock Crow. And he did remember what the Lord had said that he would deny him and he remembered what he’d said the first time, he couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe that already.

118. 57:07

     He denied his Lord, And then he said to himself. I’m never going to do that again. I can’t believe I did that. I’m never going to do it again.

119. 57:29

     Have you ever said that? when you been tempted, and then when you’ve been drawn away by your own lust and enticed, Have you ever said I’ll never do it again?

120. 57:50

     And then you do it again. How do you say I’m never gonna do it again. And then you do it again. That’s Peter here, isn’t it? He’s in the midst of Temptation.

121. 58:11

     And he’s learning. As we all do in life. About our own weakness. As much as we want to be strong. As much as what we want to stand for the Lord.

122. 58:31

     We can’t do it. And that’s what paid is discovering In This Moment. In the courtyard. And they come to him again. And this time, it’s not just one. There’s a lot of them.

123. 58:55

     There’s a crowd of them. And Peter stands with the crowd. Next to the fire. It’s easy, isn’t it relatively to stand with Jesus and to profess our love for him when we’re in here? It’s a lot harder when you’re by yourself. Or were alone with a different crowd. And that’s where Peter is.

124. 59:31

     What man? Huddled around a fire. And you’re burning, isn’t he? He’s learning what it’s like to be Tried by fire to refine his character. To understand who he really is. That’s what the Lord is doing to me. That’s how God’s working with him. And the maid asked him again.

125. 1:00:04

     And she said unto them. So a second maid comes. And she says before all of them. You’re one of Jesus disciples, aren’t you? And Peter denied it.

126. 1:00:24

     And this time, he denied it with a note so that everyone could hear and everyone would know I’ve got nothing to do with him.

127. 1:00:34

     Have you ever done that? He might not have done it with an oath. But I’ve done that. I’ve denied by Lord. I’ve not stood up for him. And professed on you in. When I should have done.

128. 1:01:00

     We’re no different to this man, are we? And that’s what I love about him and that’s why I love how the scripture depicts him. He’s just like us. And in moments of life, when we should stand for Christ. for so many reasons we don’t and that’s what Peter did and a while later verse 73 says Peter stood again with the crowd. and John tells us that by this stage, The crowd included soldiers.

129. 1:01:44

     And some of those soldiers. With a very soldiers. Which had been with him in the garden. And Peter knew what he’d done in the garden.

130. 1:01:57

     He’d been the one with the sword and he and John’s record says that the man that recognized Peter this time. Was a relative. Of the very man who’d cut he’s whose ear head cut off. And what did that mean for Peter? Well, if they recognized him now, with all these soldiers, That take him, wouldn’t it?

131. 1:02:29

     And that cast him into prison. And then maybe they’d cast him to death. And that’s what Peter had said, hadn’t. He I’m ready, Lord.

132. 1:02:46

     To go with you to prison. And to go with you to death. And so, they ask him. You are with him. And it wasn’t just one, it was a number of them and they all said, started saying Your Voice. Sounds like a Galilean. You’re absolutely definitely with him. And the one that knew in that saw him in the garden said it is him. and in that moment, the 74 says, He began to curse.

133. 1:03:29

     And he began to swear. And he said, I know not. That man. And that was the old Simon coming out, wasn’t it? He became the fishermen again. And he forgot all the things that Jesus had taught to him in that moment. And he wanted to make sure that everyone knew that he wasn’t with Jesus.

134. 1:04:05

     And at that moment, that exact moment. As Peter was still voicing those words, as they were still coming out of his mouth. That he’d never ever known his Lord. Verse 74 says.

135. 1:04:30

     Immediately. The cock crew. Luke’s record says while he was still speaking. And Luke’s record also goes on to say that. Not only that, not only did the cock Crow at the exact moment that he was making his third denial, not only that at the same moment, a door opens from up the top, maybe of this priests house. And at that very moment, our comes the Lord And threw a perfect line of vision.

136. 1:05:15

     He sees the Lord’s eyes. And he looks upon him. And suddenly it all clicks together, and he’s mind. Everything that’s happened that night. everything, the Lord had said, Everything that he done. And, you know, I think that’s beautiful. And why I think that’s beautiful as hard as it is to read is that that didn’t happen by accident, did it? The Lord orchestrated that God’s Providence made all of that happen, exactly as it did.

137. 1:06:02

     So that people Peter would experience that moment with the Lord, and by that experience with the Lord, he would learn the lessons of that night. And why I think that is so beautiful. Is this? Sometimes we think God’s only working in our life when we’re going well. And we’re moving on the path.

138. 1:06:26

     That we think that we should go in, but this story tells us that even in our weakest and darkest moments, has God, forsaken us has God. Let us go. No, he’s working in our life. To bring about change. To bring us closer to him. Two motifs. To shape us. And that’s a beautiful thing.

139. 1:06:53

     Never feel like we’ve got into such a spot that we can never return or that God would never work with us. He’s always working. That’s his character. He loves us. And that’s what he’s doing for Peter. And what would that look have been like? What do you think that look? Would have been like as he looked into the Lord’s eyes?

140. 1:07:20

     We actually get a couple of clothes. The same word looked. That is used here when Peters eyes catch. The Lord’s is the same word used when he first met him. Remember when he met him for the first time? It said he looked at him. And he knew who he was and what was that look all about that.

141. 1:07:45

     First look it was a look that looked into the eyes of Peter and he knew his potential. And that was the same look, that, that Jesus gave to Peter, he had not given up on him.

142. 1:08:01

     And the other time that word is used is when Jesus was speaking to the Rich Young Ruler. And it said that he looked upon that, man. And he loved him.

143. 1:08:17

     It was a Look of Love, wasn’t it? And from that, parable. It was a look of compassion. I understand Peter. I understand. And Peter Runs Out. Into the nine.

144. 1:08:46

     And he weeps bitterly. It would have going to be a tough few days for Peter, wasn’t it? And it was so many things that he was going to think about.

145. 1:09:00

     But amongst all that anguish and pain that he thought about over those three days. And we’ll look at some of those things. He would have gone through in our next study. One of the things he must have thought about and gone through in his mind.

146. 1:09:17

     Despite his own weakness that night. As he thought about the events of that night. He must have been amazed. At the behavior of the Lord.

147. 1:09:35

     And every step of the way. when he had fallen, The Lord had stood strong. In the upper room when they had fought and were envious against each other. He was humble when he’d slept and was unable to support his master in the garden. Jesus struggle.

148. 1:10:08

     When they was confused in the garden and all of them ran off into different directions Into the Night. The Lord was calm. The Lord was composed. The Lord knew exactly what he needed to do. and when he was in the upper it when he was in the the priests house, And he was wracked with fear. And he denied his Lord.

149. 1:10:40

     The Lord spoke truth. And he stood for God. and I wonder whether you noticed in verse 63, what the Lord said the question that the Lord was asked, And it was this question, which was the question that would send into his death? Look what it says in verse 63, but Jesus help, sorry.

150. 1:11:06

     But Jesus held his peace and the high priest answered him and said I adjure Thee, By the Living God. that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the son of God, remember that was the same confession that Janet Peter had made. and when it was going to cost him everything, The Lord says in verse 63 64.

151. 1:11:41

     thou Hast said, He stood for truth, even though it cost him his own life. Let’s finish in First Peter chapter 2, where we’ll just read a couple of verses

152. 1:12:05

     years later, when the law, when Peter was looking back at the example of his Lord, he penned these words. In his appreciation, for all the Lord had done for him. for a even tear on to verse 21, says of First, Peter chapter 2 for even hereunto, were we called Because Christ also suffered for us, he left us an example that we should follow in his steps.

153. 1:12:38

     He did. No sin. Neither was guile found in his mouth who when he was reviled, he reviled not again, but when he suffered, he threatened, not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. Who his own self bare our sins in his body? On the tree. that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness. By whose stripes we are healed.

154. 1:13:15

     For all of us. Were like sheep going astray. But are now returned unto the shepherd and Bishop of your souls. And Peter is going to be brought back in our next session by that Shepherd. As he runs out into the night. Three things that we learnt from tonight. One, the need for humility.

155. 1:13:48

     And Peter learnt that tough lesson that night didn’t he, he also came face to face with his own weakness and all of us at some point will come to that realization, but he also came to the realization of the amazing strength of his Lord.