Prayer
Because the primary goal of our time together is to establish relationships and learn how to walk with one another in all that God has called us to be and do, we’d like to begin by praying for one another. So, does anyone have anything you’d like us to pray for or anything to share regarding how you’ve seen God moving in your life that we can celebrate together?
Opening Question
What is something you fear that some other people do not?
Peter’s Courage
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.– Matthew 26:31-35
Peter courageously refuses to believe he will be disloyal to Jesus. How does his past behavior support this self-confidence? How does it contradict it?
Do you think Peter really understood at this moment what Jesus was about to face and was at stake?
What is one of your character traits you hope will rise above your weaknesses in difficult situations?
Peter’s Cowardice
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[e]
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”– Matthew 26:57-72
In the sermon, we heard how Jesus endured the suffering and pain of accusation and injustice, while Peter denied any connection to Jesus in order to avoid pain or condemnation of any kind. What was Peter afraid of as he watched Jesus suffer?
Consider all the miracles Peter had witnessed as he followed Jesus and the many sermons he had heard— what do you imagine Peter’s mind did with all he had witnessed as he denied Jesus?
What are some things you most fear in life? How do you deal with those fears when they arise?
Peter’s Cure
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.– Matthew 26:73-75
We heard in the sermon about how history records Peter as courageously facing accusation and suffering later in life. How were Peter’s tears and sorrow over his denial of Jesus the first step toward a more courageous life?
In John’s gospel, we learn that the risen Jesus tells Peter that if Peter loves Jesus, he will care for Jesus’s followers. How do you imagine Peter’s failure and denial of Jesus before the crucifixion helped him to better love and serve people later?
What hope does Peter’s story offer us when we face weakness or failure in our own lives?
Closing Thought
In your final time together, take turns praying for one another by having each person offer a brief prayer to God, thanking him for the person sitting on their right and asking him to meet them this week as Easter Sunday approaches.