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Atlantis: the domain of the Stingray
10Mar
2010
Wed
23:13
author: Stingray
category: Sermons
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Midweek Lent III

Luke 22:31-62

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tonight's Gospel begins with Jesus informing the disciples that Satan intends to sift them like wheat, to separate them and put them through agony. The "you" in that verse is plural; Jesus is referring to all of the disciples. The time had come, Satan has found his opportune time following his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness some 18 chapters ago in Luke.

But, Jesus has a different plan.

Sure, the temptations will come. Soldiers will come to arrest Jesus and the disciples will arise armed to defend Him. Once He's taken into captivity, they will all scatter and flee for their own safety. Peter, in fact, will follow at a distance and watch what happens to Jesus. He is recognized, three times, but all three times denies who he is and that he knows this Jesus who is on trial. "I may be a Galilean, but apart from hearing about Jesus, I don't know who He is."

Satan gets them on the ropes. If he can scatter this troupe of followers, then the work that Jesus has done to this point (and for the future) will all have been in vain. If the closest followers of Jesus can be dissuaded against Him, then there's no hope for anyone who could have come after. If the disciples can be scared off, then they won't be a threat against his plan to bring all of humanity to himself—who will be around to teach the people what Jesus taught and did?

But, Jesus has a different plan.

"I have prayed for you, Peter! Oh, Simon, Satan is going to do some terrible things to you and the rest of the disciples. Things are going to be difficult for the lot of you. But I have prayed for you, dear Simon, that your faith may not fail." Listen closely to this next part: "[A]nd when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

Jesus had in mind what was going to happen. Of course He did, He is God almighty. "Peter, even you will succumb to the temptations of the devil. You are going to stumble and fall, but I pray, despite that and because of that, that your faith will not fail. And when you return to Me, strengthen your brothers. Gather them together, forgive them, and reassure them that I am doing this for you and for them and for the world."

Peter is commissioned as the leader of the disciples here, even though he, like the rest of them, will deny Jesus and leave Him. Peter is portrayed as a sinner who falls from faith, but he is also portrayed as one who is moved by the Lord to return, repent of his fall, and receive forgiveness. Notice that Jesus does not say "if": "If you return to Me, strengthen your brethren." No, Peter will certainly return—he will certainly repent: "When you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." The focus, therefore, is not on Peter's denial, but on his repentance and the forgiveness He receives, and, consequently, his leadership of the other disciples.

But, no, not Peter...not to Peter. "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." "What, me fall away from You? I have been with You this long, why would I now abandon You? No, I'll go with You; I'll go to jail with You...I'll even die with You."

But, Jesus has a different plan.

"I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me." "No, Peter, you won't. You won't go to prison with me. You won't even die with Me. On the contrary, you'll deny even knowing Me. In fact, just as I just said, you will fall away from Me. But, like I also said, You will return to Me; and when you do, strengthen your brothers."

This troupe then moves into the Garden of Gethsemane—the Mount of Olives St. Luke calls it. Here, Jesus once again addresses the failings of His disciples: "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." "Don't stop praying. Keep praying that you may not enter into temptation. Remember, Satan has asked to sift the lot of you like wheat." Unfortunately, the disciples, weary from the long day, fall asleep.

Meanwhile, Jesus goes off on his own, just a short distance away, to pray Himself. Those of you who have seen Mel Gibson's movie will recognize what's going on here. Jesus is again being tempted by the devil. And why not? I mean, what person, knowing what's going to happen, would want to die like a criminal for anyone? What person would want to suffer such pain and agony as at a crucifixion, especially knowing that you're innocent? So, He prays, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me."

What a difficult petition to hear. The purpose for which Jesus came is at stake in this request. He is asking not to go to the cross. He is asking not to go to the cross for you. It's an innocent enough request. To have suffering removed is a valid petition to make before God. But, here, in this instance, we must see the temptation of the devil behind it, much like He was tempted by devil in the wilderness to do the Son of God thing without going to the cross—much like we will see in the temptation to do the Son of God thing but coming down from the cross.

But, Jesus has a different plan.

His prayer continues, "[N]evertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." An angel comes to strengthen Him. Temptation has been overcome. Jesus is resolute on His goal and purpose, but He continues praying in agony. He, like anyone else would not, does not look forward to the pain and agony. It is overwhelming—to the point of sweating blood—but He continues. He continues to the cross, first finding the disciples asleep in the garden, again bidding them to keep on praying.

It is then that it happens. Judas leads the group of temple guards, kisses Jesus, and has Him arrested. A temple guard is attacked by a disciple, but Jesus, ever merciful and gracious, restores the man's ear. Now is not the time for violence and bloodshed. "Permit this," Jesus said. He might as well have said it to the disciples. These things must happen that what has been written of Him in the Law and the Prophets should be fulfilled.

So, He is led away to the chief priest's house. While in the courtyard, Peter is approached three times, and all three times denies knowing Jesus, just as Jesus had told him he would. The rooster crows, Peter and Jesus look at each other, and Peter remembers Jesus' words. Peter leaves and weeps in agony.

But, Jesus has a different plan.

Dear hearers, how often we like to look down at the disciples. We claim that we have hindsight, and so we know what Jesus is about when he speaks of His death and resurrection, while they deny it. We sometimes go so far as to mock them for their lack of faith or for showing a lack of faith. We can even complain and wonder how they could be so stupid—while all we have is witness accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, they are the very witnesses of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection—they should get it better than we do.

But, Jesus has a different plan.

Our focus is in the wrong place. Jesus tells them that Satan has asked to sift them, but tells Peter that he has been chosen to lead the disciples and restore them. He tells Peter that he will be restored himself. Jesus is a just and merciful God. He weeps bitterly over sin, but He also forgives sin. He is more than gracious enough to forgive the sins of the disciples who denied Him.

And, honestly, we're no better or worse than the disciples. All that we say of them, we could say of ourselves. Our hindsight is no better than their first-person sight. Our faith wavers as much as theirs did; we display as much of a lack of faith as they ever did. How could we be so stupid? They are the very witnesses who have given us the witness accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

And, given the choice, if Jesus were to still be walking among us, we, like them, would want to keep Him around and from His appointed and chosen task. Who wouldn't want a miracle worker among them all the time? He can do the Son of God thing without suffering and dying, right?

And, we would, just like the disciples, deny knowing Him, if it suited our needs. Sadly, every time we sin, that's exactly what we do, for when we sin, intentionally or not, we proclaim that our way is better than His way, denying that His Word is true...denying Him.

But, Jesus has a different plan.

Our focus is still in the wrong place. While it certainly behooves us to look at our shortcomings in light of the ten commandments, to examine ourselves and find that we have sinned against God, that is not to be the focus of our lives in Christ. Satan certainly does his best to sift us like wheat, as he did the disciples, but just as Jesus has chosen one such as Peter to lead and restore the disciples, He has chosen one such as myself to lead and restore the followers here. And, just as Jesus restored Peter, He is just and merciful and gracious to restore the one speaking to you this evening. Jesus weeps bitterly over sin, but He also forgives sin. He is more than gracious enough to restore us and forgive our sins, we who deny Him.

Because, Jesus has a different plan...

Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer,
All sins Thou borest for us, Else had despair reigned o'er us:
Have mercy on us, O Jesus! O Jesus!
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.


audio recorded on my digital recorder and converted to mp3
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