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They arrested Jesus, and led him away, and brought him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed far behind them. After the soldiers started a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat together, Peter sat with them. A servant girl saw Peter sitting there in the firelight, and looking closely at him, she said, “This man was also with him.” But Peter said this was not true; he said, “Woman, I don’t know him.” A short time later, another person saw Peter and said, “You are also one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he is from Galilee, too.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At once, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered what the Lord had said: “Before the rooster crows this day, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried painfully. The men who were guarding Jesus began making fun of him and beating him. They blindfolded him and said, “Prove that you are a prophet, and tell us who hit you.” They said many cruel things to Jesus. When day came, the council of the elders of the people, both the leading priests and the teachers of the law, came together and led Jesus to their highest court. They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe me. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the powerful God.” They all said, “Then are you the Son of God?” Jesus said to them, “You say that I am.” They said, “Why do we need witnesses now? We ourselves heard him say this.” Luke 22: 54-71 Denial and being treated like you are not there is some of the most hurtful emotions. And in our text, the creator of the universe has this experience. There are tree types of denial on display in this text: cowardice, contempt, and councils of power. Cowardice: Peter was following at a distance. Peter’s denial is proof that Peter is not prayed up, as he should be. He is the boldest of the disciples before this moment. But private confidence can be easier to muster up than public courage. The fear paralyzes him. Already before anyone attempts to connect him with Jesus, the fear is already beginning to land on him. The distance we see in this verse, represents not just physical distance, but the emotional and spiritual distance. Peter hasn’t denied Jesus with his words, yet. But his actions already show it. Peters fears hit their peak when he is confronted, however. His denials are complete and thorough. The first was a relationship denial - “I don’t know him.” Then he denies his identity - “you are one of them” and Peter says, “I am not!” Finally he denies his experience - “you have to be with Jesus, you sound just like Him!” And Peter says, “man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” Don’t underestimate what fear of the future can do to your soul. What fears are keeping you from following Jesus? Confess those fears and He will meet us in them. In this moment, Peter cries. He’s embarrassed and ashamed, but he is also convicted. And this conviction begins a turn towards his restoration. This is Proof that Jesus’ prayer succeeds. Contempt - Peter is not the only individual denying Jesus tonight. The guards (possibly temple guards), are blaspheming against him, mocking him through violence. The officials are railing on Jesus physically and emotionally, dishonoring him. They doubt the truth concerning him, so they feel free to beat him. Praise God that Jesus has Grace for those who mock him, and come to worship Him later. Paul is another prime example of this! Paul received mercy, despite his unbelief and blasphemy. The harshest denier of Jesus is not too far from Jesus to save. Councils of power - the ones who cooked up this scheme have Him in trial. This trial is not about justice. And Jesus’s answer tells them, “you are not interested in truth, but rather keeping your own power.” And sometimes, the more we learn about Jesus, the more we learn about how we are not following Him correctly. In this moment, they are asking questions, but they are not looking for answers, but they are looking for just enough info to suit their own motives. The halls of power will twist themselves in knots tying to present themselves as the correct representative of Christ. Many people will wield Jesus as a tool to keep hold of their own power. In this moment, the council thinks it’s holding a trial for an upstart man. But rather, they are in their own trials in this moment. But praise be to God there is grace for those who wield power wrongly. All of these denials is just a footstep to the cross, where Jesus will hang for the redemption of all the denials he is experiencing. As you wrestle with your own denials in life, just know there is grace for you. And there is proof of his grace in the cross. When you return, you will find Him welcoming you back with open arms!

They arrested Jesus, and led him away, and brought him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed far behind them. After the soldiers started a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat together, Peter sat with them. A servant girl saw Peter sitting there in the firelight, and looking closely at him, she said, “This man was also with him.” But Peter said this was not true; he said, “Woman, I don’t know him.” A short time later, another person saw Peter and said, “You are also one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he is from Galilee, too.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!” At once, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered what the Lord had said: “Before the rooster crows this day, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried painfully. The men who were guarding Jesus began making fun of him and beating him. They blindfolded him and said, “Prove that you are a prophet, and tell us who hit you.” They said many cruel things to Jesus. When day came, the council of the elders of the people, both the leading priests and the teachers of the law, came together and led Jesus to their highest court. They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe me. And if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the powerful God.” They all said, “Then are you the Son of God?” Jesus said to them, “You say that I am.” They said, “Why do we need witnesses now? We ourselves heard him say this.” Luke 22: 54-71 Denial and being treated like you are not there is some of the most hurtful emotions. And in our text, the creator of the universe has this experience. There are tree types of denial on display in this text: cowardice, contempt, and councils of power. Cowardice: Peter was following at a distance. Peter’s denial is proof that Peter is not prayed up, as he should be. He is the boldest of the disciples before this moment. But private confidence can be easier to muster up than public courage. The fear paralyzes him. Already before anyone attempts to connect him with Jesus, the fear is already beginning to land on him. The distance we see in this verse, represents not just physical distance, but the emotional and spiritual distance. Peter hasn’t denied Jesus with his words, yet. But his actions already show it. Peters fears hit their peak when he is confronted, however. His denials are complete and thorough. The first was a relationship denial - “I don’t know him.” Then he denies his identity - “you are one of them” and Peter says, “I am not!” Finally he denies his experience - “you have to be with Jesus, you sound just like Him!” And Peter says, “man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” Don’t underestimate what fear of the future can do to your soul. What fears are keeping you from following Jesus? Confess those fears and He will meet us in them. In this moment, Peter cries. He’s embarrassed and ashamed, but he is also convicted. And this conviction begins a turn towards his restoration. This is Proof that Jesus’ prayer succeeds. Contempt - Peter is not the only individual denying Jesus tonight. The guards (possibly temple guards), are blaspheming against him, mocking him through violence. The officials are railing on Jesus physically and emotionally, dishonoring him. They doubt the truth concerning him, so they feel free to beat him. Praise God that Jesus has Grace for those who mock him, and come to worship Him later. Paul is another prime example of this! Paul received mercy, despite his unbelief and blasphemy. The harshest denier of Jesus is not too far from Jesus to save. Councils of power - the ones who cooked up this scheme have Him in trial. This trial is not about justice. And Jesus’s answer tells them, “you are not interested in truth, but rather keeping your own power.” And sometimes, the more we learn about Jesus, the more we learn about how we are not following Him correctly. In this moment, they are asking questions, but they are not looking for answers, but they are looking for just enough info to suit their own motives. The halls of power will twist themselves in knots tying to present themselves as the correct representative of Christ. Many people will wield Jesus as a tool to keep hold of their own power. In this moment, the council thinks it’s holding a trial for an upstart man. But rather, they are in their own trials in this moment. But praise be to God there is grace for those who wield power wrongly. All of these denials is just a footstep to the cross, where Jesus will hang for the redemption of all the denials he is experiencing. As you wrestle with your own denials in life, just know there is grace for you. And there is proof of his grace in the cross. When you return, you will find Him welcoming you back with open arms!

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Mark 6:30-56 What kind of God is Jesus? Do you experience the good, kind, and merciful figure of the Bible in your own life? Jesus is a compassionate shepherd. He offers rest - in this passage, the disciples have just been casting out demons and preaching the gospel. Jesus doesn't tell them to keep working ceaselessly. He tells them to “come away to a desolate place and rest.” The Sabbath is not made for God, but made for man. At times, the most godly thing you can do is rest. In doing so, you show that you trust God can and is still working even when you are not. Jesus has compassion - he sees the crowd's sad condition- that they are like sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are vulnerable, and we are like them-- we need someone to walk us through the valley of the shadow of death. Compassion is never actionless. Jesus's compassion leads him to seek to teach the crowd. Jesus, the compassionate shepherd, has power! These people who are listening to Jesus are hungry. Jesus takes just a little bit of food, and fills the stomachs of all the people, and there is much left over! Jesus makes much of the little we can give! When you put just a little in the hands of God, He does a LOT! Jesus is present - He sees his disciples struggling on the sea, and he comes over to be with and comfort them. Our God is watching, He is present, and He sees. And there is a blessing in the hard moments of our lives by Him just watching. Jesus is welcoming - when He shows up in the new location, people bring the sick and infirm to him. The word has gotten out that Jesus heals. He does not turn away, but welcomes people. He’s willing and able and has the power to heal. When we come to the end of ourselves, whatever we put in Jesus’ hands, He can handle it! We carry needless pain because we do not give everything to Him. Be ever reminded of how far He came for us. He steps out of Heaven to welcome and be with us. He loves us! Ask him to be your Savior today - if you want a friend like Him.

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Mark 6:30-56 What kind of God is Jesus? Do you experience the good, kind, and merciful figure of the Bible in your own life? Jesus is a compassionate shepherd. He offers rest - in this passage, the disciples have just been casting out demons and preaching the gospel. Jesus doesn't tell them to keep working ceaselessly. He tells them to “come away to a desolate place and rest.” The Sabbath is not made for God, but made for man. At times, the most godly thing you can do is rest. In doing so, you show that you trust God can and is still working even when you are not. Jesus has compassion - he sees the crowd's sad condition- that they are like sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are vulnerable, and we are like them-- we need someone to walk us through the valley of the shadow of death. Compassion is never actionless. Jesus's compassion leads him to seek to teach the crowd. Jesus, the compassionate shepherd, has power! These people who are listening to Jesus are hungry. Jesus takes just a little bit of food, and fills the stomachs of all the people, and there is much left over! Jesus makes much of the little we can give! When you put just a little in the hands of God, He does a LOT! Jesus is present - He sees his disciples struggling on the sea, and he comes over to be with and comfort them. Our God is watching, He is present, and He sees. And there is a blessing in the hard moments of our lives by Him just watching. Jesus is welcoming - when He shows up in the new location, people bring the sick and infirm to him. The word has gotten out that Jesus heals. He does not turn away, but welcomes people. He’s willing and able and has the power to heal. When we come to the end of ourselves, whatever we put in Jesus’ hands, He can handle it! We carry needless pain because we do not give everything to Him. Be ever reminded of how far He came for us. He steps out of Heaven to welcome and be with us. He loves us! Ask him to be your Savior today - if you want a friend like Him.

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”Luke: 22: 39-53 What fuels you before a hard test? Jesus prays and prays and prays before testing. From the phrase "as was his custom," we know that Jesus had a regular pattern of prayer. Jesus didn’t cram before the test: he was regularly on the Mount of Olives at night. And even before being in Jerusalem Jesus would withdraw to desolate places to pray. Even in the midst of times when Jesus was being sought after for his healings and sermons, he was going to empty desolate places where he could focus and pray. How often do you go away for solitude and prayer? Your answer is directly correlated to how you are going to be ready when testing comes in your own life. Jesus’s testing is for all who follow him! The disciples are told to pray “so you may not enter into temptation.” We are to pray in preparation for our trials. We cannot withstand temptation with our own strength. We need prayer. When we do not pray, we are saying that we don’t need God to protect us from temptation. If Jesus is strengthened through the gift of prayer, how much less should we depend on our own ability to stand against temptation, and how much more should we depend on God through our habit of prayer?! Prayer is an act of submission. Jesus kneels in this moment. Three times, he prays to the Father to take this path and his pain away from Him. And God answers, “No.” God is not only glorified in His “yes’s” but He is glorified in His “no’s” as well. We haven’t learned to honor God until we’ve learned to honor Him in His refusals. We should also pray with great exertion. In this text we see two groups of people who are emotionally and spiritually weary: both Jesus and the disciples. The disciples were sleeping “for sorrow.” They were grieving, and they had become tired. Contrary to how it is sometimes portrayed, the disciples are not just goofing off in this moment. They are tired in the soul. Theirs is one of two possible responses to grief - 1) Like the disciples, one can sleep on it (i.e. check out or seek escape.) Or 2) one can press in, which was the path chosen by Jesus. Being in agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly. Preparation does not come without obstruction, because we have an enemy who is interested in not just our body, but our soul. In the last few verses, we see who’s actually prepared. In this moment, Jesus knows He’s going to be betrayed, and he meets this moment without running. He’s prepared. There’s no ducking this moment. Judas betrays Him, not only in a sacred place, but with a sacred gesture. It is a heinous act, and Jesus meets it without anger. Retaliation would be totally understandable. But Jesus has been praying for this moment. The disciples on the other hand are ready to fight. They do what you expect them to do, because they haven’t been preparing. They ask “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” and they don’t even wait for an answer before attacking. Had their preparation been sound, this scene might have been different. Your fruit is a product of the soil you are growing yourself in. But Jesus says, in this moment, “No more of this.” He heals the guard. We are supposed to respond to hate with love. A prayerful church fights our battles with grace, love, healing and truth. And Jesus tells them the truth while meeting them with grace.

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”Luke: 22: 39-53 What fuels you before a hard test? Jesus prays and prays and prays before testing. From the phrase "as was his custom," we know that Jesus had a regular pattern of prayer. Jesus didn’t cram before the test: he was regularly on the Mount of Olives at night. And even before being in Jerusalem Jesus would withdraw to desolate places to pray. Even in the midst of times when Jesus was being sought after for his healings and sermons, he was going to empty desolate places where he could focus and pray. How often do you go away for solitude and prayer? Your answer is directly correlated to how you are going to be ready when testing comes in your own life. Jesus’s testing is for all who follow him! The disciples are told to pray “so you may not enter into temptation.” We are to pray in preparation for our trials. We cannot withstand temptation with our own strength. We need prayer. When we do not pray, we are saying that we don’t need God to protect us from temptation. If Jesus is strengthened through the gift of prayer, how much less should we depend on our own ability to stand against temptation, and how much more should we depend on God through our habit of prayer?! Prayer is an act of submission. Jesus kneels in this moment. Three times, he prays to the Father to take this path and his pain away from Him. And God answers, “No.” God is not only glorified in His “yes’s” but He is glorified in His “no’s” as well. We haven’t learned to honor God until we’ve learned to honor Him in His refusals. We should also pray with great exertion. In this text we see two groups of people who are emotionally and spiritually weary: both Jesus and the disciples. The disciples were sleeping “for sorrow.” They were grieving, and they had become tired. Contrary to how it is sometimes portrayed, the disciples are not just goofing off in this moment. They are tired in the soul. Theirs is one of two possible responses to grief - 1) Like the disciples, one can sleep on it (i.e. check out or seek escape.) Or 2) one can press in, which was the path chosen by Jesus. Being in agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly. Preparation does not come without obstruction, because we have an enemy who is interested in not just our body, but our soul. In the last few verses, we see who’s actually prepared. In this moment, Jesus knows He’s going to be betrayed, and he meets this moment without running. He’s prepared. There’s no ducking this moment. Judas betrays Him, not only in a sacred place, but with a sacred gesture. It is a heinous act, and Jesus meets it without anger. Retaliation would be totally understandable. But Jesus has been praying for this moment. The disciples on the other hand are ready to fight. They do what you expect them to do, because they haven’t been preparing. They ask “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” and they don’t even wait for an answer before attacking. Had their preparation been sound, this scene might have been different. Your fruit is a product of the soil you are growing yourself in. But Jesus says, in this moment, “No more of this.” He heals the guard. We are supposed to respond to hate with love. A prayerful church fights our battles with grace, love, healing and truth. And Jesus tells them the truth while meeting them with grace.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” Luke 22:31-38 At the time of our text, Jesus had just called out a betrayer in their midst. And here Jesus points out that none of us are safe. Just because Satan overcomes one of us doesn’t mean he’s going to stop. We should always be focused on defending against the attacks of the enemy. Our enemy does not rest, so neither should we. Our enemy loves the destruction of our faith. He often prefers the torture of your soul over simply the torture of your body. Satan can even hide your blessings. He is watching out for us to drop our guard. We take courage and remember that God is sovereign. Satan has to ask God for permission for everything he does. God, in his sovereignty, allows Satan to test us. But take heart - if you are God’s, you cannot be Satan’s. You may stumble and may falter, but Satan cannot have your faith or your soul. Deep down among Peter’s denials is a scared man that loves his Lord. Jesus prayed for Peter, but Jesus also is praying for you. We hear throughout the Bible that Jesus is making intercession for us. You can be certain of your faith, because you have the God of the universe praying for you! There is always a pathway back to God because of the cross. Note that God keeps us so that we may keep one another. God tells Peter “when you return, strengthen your brothers.” In this way, God demonstrates His sovereignty throughout the household of faith. Peter’s failure and his restoration is not just for his benefit. He is to strengthen the other brothers and be an example for those who are weak or faltering. Also, note that while Peter may be called out for his denial, ALL the disciples scatter! Peter is called out because he is the de facto leader of the group. So his restoration is impactful to others! In the same way, God does not keep you for yourself. God restores and keeps and sustains you, so you might be a sustainer for those around you! Who has God placed around you, so you might keep them moving forward and focused on God? As you run the race to your finish line, who has the lord put in your path that you may support them as they run? Despite our delusions, we cannot live out this faith on our own. Peter tells Jesus, “I’m ready to die for you!” And Jesus corrects Him. In Peter’s bravado, Jesus exposes Peter’s own weaknesses. We need all the help we can get! Our pride and the illusion of our inner strength are prime targets for Satan. And in our American context, we are raised to believe we can handle things on our own. But we are not as strong as we believe we are. So we should pray like we are capable of falling. We should live like we are always capable of falling. And if we live like we are capable of falling, we will always remember our dependence on God. We cannot do this alone. Do not resist the opportunity to lean on God, and live faithfully among the community of believers. And remember, the world will become more adversarial to Jesus and Jesus’ followers. But when we go and we encounter difficulty, we go with the prayers of our Lord. The disciples think they are going to fight a physical battle - looking for swords. But Jesus is speaking metaphorically, as we see in a few verses when Jesus chastises Peter for attacking a man with a sword. The sword is not what keeps us. God does! We will be kept because God is in control. We will be kept because Jesus is praying for us, in heaven, making intercession. And when we fall, He has paid the price on the cross.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” Luke 22:31-38 At the time of our text, Jesus had just called out a betrayer in their midst. And here Jesus points out that none of us are safe. Just because Satan overcomes one of us doesn’t mean he’s going to stop. We should always be focused on defending against the attacks of the enemy. Our enemy does not rest, so neither should we. Our enemy loves the destruction of our faith. He often prefers the torture of your soul over simply the torture of your body. Satan can even hide your blessings. He is watching out for us to drop our guard. We take courage and remember that God is sovereign. Satan has to ask God for permission for everything he does. God, in his sovereignty, allows Satan to test us. But take heart - if you are God’s, you cannot be Satan’s. You may stumble and may falter, but Satan cannot have your faith or your soul. Deep down among Peter’s denials is a scared man that loves his Lord. Jesus prayed for Peter, but Jesus also is praying for you. We hear throughout the Bible that Jesus is making intercession for us. You can be certain of your faith, because you have the God of the universe praying for you! There is always a pathway back to God because of the cross. Note that God keeps us so that we may keep one another. God tells Peter “when you return, strengthen your brothers.” In this way, God demonstrates His sovereignty throughout the household of faith. Peter’s failure and his restoration is not just for his benefit. He is to strengthen the other brothers and be an example for those who are weak or faltering. Also, note that while Peter may be called out for his denial, ALL the disciples scatter! Peter is called out because he is the de facto leader of the group. So his restoration is impactful to others! In the same way, God does not keep you for yourself. God restores and keeps and sustains you, so you might be a sustainer for those around you! Who has God placed around you, so you might keep them moving forward and focused on God? As you run the race to your finish line, who has the lord put in your path that you may support them as they run? Despite our delusions, we cannot live out this faith on our own. Peter tells Jesus, “I’m ready to die for you!” And Jesus corrects Him. In Peter’s bravado, Jesus exposes Peter’s own weaknesses. We need all the help we can get! Our pride and the illusion of our inner strength are prime targets for Satan. And in our American context, we are raised to believe we can handle things on our own. But we are not as strong as we believe we are. So we should pray like we are capable of falling. We should live like we are always capable of falling. And if we live like we are capable of falling, we will always remember our dependence on God. We cannot do this alone. Do not resist the opportunity to lean on God, and live faithfully among the community of believers. And remember, the world will become more adversarial to Jesus and Jesus’ followers. But when we go and we encounter difficulty, we go with the prayers of our Lord. The disciples think they are going to fight a physical battle - looking for swords. But Jesus is speaking metaphorically, as we see in a few verses when Jesus chastises Peter for attacking a man with a sword. The sword is not what keeps us. God does! We will be kept because God is in control. We will be kept because Jesus is praying for us, in heaven, making intercession. And when we fall, He has paid the price on the cross.

"And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Luke 22:14-30 In the context of this scripture, the Passover meal is a special meal for the celebration of salvation of the Jews from Pharaoh. It has been celebrated for centuries. But in the passage, we see that Jesus has something new in mind. He indicates the feast is no longer a day of remembrance, but a day of longing and deliverance. Jesus is preparing to be led to the cross, and he will not eat the Passover meal. He indicates that the next time He eats it will be after his Second Coming. Today, when the followers of Jesus come to the table, we are looking forward to Jesus’s return - our Passover Lamb is the Lamb of God. When we partake of communion, it is partaking in the longing for God’s return. There are multiple lessons we can take from this passage. The first lesson is about spiritual betrayal: we cannot hide from God. Jesus outs Judas there at the table, though the disciples do not realize it. Jesus knows all hearts. Many verses in the Bible have God knowing our inner thoughts, even before we know them. There is nowhere to hide from God. We can fool a lot of people, but we cannot fool Him. So there's no point in running from God. The next lesson is also about spiritual betrayal - like Judas, you can be around Jesus and still miss Him. Jesus is not just taking us through a set of rituals, He seeks a relationship. The final lesson is about spiritual greatness - the disciples erupt into chaos, talking about which of them is the greatest. On the heels of this incredible moment, when Jesus is bearing His heart and revealing that he’s going to be betrayed...the disciples start having this ridiculous argument about which of them is the greatest. Pride is a MONSTER! Pride can show up anywhere and at any time, and this is a prime example. And the Lord meets His disciples in their pride. He meets their pride with a gentle and lowly spirit. He tells His disciples, in so many words, “You are acting like people who don’t know the true God.” And he follows up by explaining how the people who know the true God should act. Jesus illustrates that the great spiritual leaders serve. Freedom and greatness are found among those who serve others. We do not seek to be served, but to serve. Jesus, God incarnate, is among those who serve. In following Jesus, we should be serving and demonstrating greatness in the way that Jesus does. When we get to take communion, let it be a reminder that we have already got the biggest seat at the biggest table! So we don’t need to jockey for position on this side of life!

"And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Luke 22:14-30 In the context of this scripture, the Passover meal is a special meal for the celebration of salvation of the Jews from Pharaoh. It has been celebrated for centuries. But in the passage, we see that Jesus has something new in mind. He indicates the feast is no longer a day of remembrance, but a day of longing and deliverance. Jesus is preparing to be led to the cross, and he will not eat the Passover meal. He indicates that the next time He eats it will be after his Second Coming. Today, when the followers of Jesus come to the table, we are looking forward to Jesus’s return - our Passover Lamb is the Lamb of God. When we partake of communion, it is partaking in the longing for God’s return. There are multiple lessons we can take from this passage. The first lesson is about spiritual betrayal: we cannot hide from God. Jesus outs Judas there at the table, though the disciples do not realize it. Jesus knows all hearts. Many verses in the Bible have God knowing our inner thoughts, even before we know them. There is nowhere to hide from God. We can fool a lot of people, but we cannot fool Him. So there's no point in running from God. The next lesson is also about spiritual betrayal - like Judas, you can be around Jesus and still miss Him. Jesus is not just taking us through a set of rituals, He seeks a relationship. The final lesson is about spiritual greatness - the disciples erupt into chaos, talking about which of them is the greatest. On the heels of this incredible moment, when Jesus is bearing His heart and revealing that he’s going to be betrayed...the disciples start having this ridiculous argument about which of them is the greatest. Pride is a MONSTER! Pride can show up anywhere and at any time, and this is a prime example. And the Lord meets His disciples in their pride. He meets their pride with a gentle and lowly spirit. He tells His disciples, in so many words, “You are acting like people who don’t know the true God.” And he follows up by explaining how the people who know the true God should act. Jesus illustrates that the great spiritual leaders serve. Freedom and greatness are found among those who serve others. We do not seek to be served, but to serve. Jesus, God incarnate, is among those who serve. In following Jesus, we should be serving and demonstrating greatness in the way that Jesus does. When we get to take communion, let it be a reminder that we have already got the biggest seat at the biggest table! So we don’t need to jockey for position on this side of life!

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Luke 22:1-6 There are three illuminating ironies that we can learn from in today's text detailing Judas's betrayal plot. 1. The chief priests and scribes were planning for a salvation celebration. Passover and the feast of unleavened bread were times of sacred remembrance of the salvation of the Hebrews. It was a time when the leaders hearts were to be focused on God's deliverance, but instead they focus on killing the Savior himself. Their eyes are fixed on fear of the people and their own political and social power. When our eyes are not fixed on the majesty of Jesus, our worship of the Lord is abhorrent in His eyes. Don't fix your eyes on the ritual that represents salvation, but on the Savior himself. 2. The biggest conspirator in the story is not ever seen. Judas is not the most important character in Jesus's betrayal. We are told that Satan enters Judas. Satan is the puppet master. Satan shows up a number of times throughout the gospel story, and some of the most dangerous are when he is the most quiet. The devil is far more subtle and influential than mere overt displays of power. Make no mistake, Satan is speaking to your heart right now in ways that can make you think his ideas are your own. And note that mere physical proximity to Jesus does not inoculate you from Satan's advance. Judas and many others throughout scripture are corrupted by Satan when they are in the very physical presence of Jesus and likewise, we can be corrupted when we are physically present with the church. Satan is not scared of things of God when we are not using those things to draw us closer to Jesus. We must stay alert, as Satan is looking for our weakness. But note that Satan does not have complete power over us. He presents us with choices, but in the end we choose to yield our will to him. So we should always keep our eyes focused on God and resist the Devil. 3. Satan's big plan is all a part of God's bigger plan. The kings of the earth and the devils plot in vain. All of their plans are subject to God's will. There is nothing they can do to prevent God's will. They couldn't stop the plots against Jesus, and they still cannot stop the will and plans of God. Satan's plan is only in service to God's ultimate plan. In a world where it seems like Satan is winning, you can have faith and peace that no plan of Satan will succeed against God's bigger plan, which God calls us to be a part of. God can handle anything Satan throws against us. Call upon the name of Jesus today, and have eternal life and joy. Don't wait. His plan is perfect and cannot fail, and you are a part of it.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. Luke 22:1-6 There are three illuminating ironies that we can learn from in today's text detailing Judas's betrayal plot. 1. The chief priests and scribes were planning for a salvation celebration. Passover and the feast of unleavened bread were times of sacred remembrance of the salvation of the Hebrews. It was a time when the leaders hearts were to be focused on God's deliverance, but instead they focus on killing the Savior himself. Their eyes are fixed on fear of the people and their own political and social power. When our eyes are not fixed on the majesty of Jesus, our worship of the Lord is abhorrent in His eyes. Don't fix your eyes on the ritual that represents salvation, but on the Savior himself. 2. The biggest conspirator in the story is not ever seen. Judas is not the most important character in Jesus's betrayal. We are told that Satan enters Judas. Satan is the puppet master. Satan shows up a number of times throughout the gospel story, and some of the most dangerous are when he is the most quiet. The devil is far more subtle and influential than mere overt displays of power. Make no mistake, Satan is speaking to your heart right now in ways that can make you think his ideas are your own. And note that mere physical proximity to Jesus does not inoculate you from Satan's advance. Judas and many others throughout scripture are corrupted by Satan when they are in the very physical presence of Jesus and likewise, we can be corrupted when we are physically present with the church. Satan is not scared of things of God when we are not using those things to draw us closer to Jesus. We must stay alert, as Satan is looking for our weakness. But note that Satan does not have complete power over us. He presents us with choices, but in the end we choose to yield our will to him. So we should always keep our eyes focused on God and resist the Devil. 3. Satan's big plan is all a part of God's bigger plan. The kings of the earth and the devils plot in vain. All of their plans are subject to God's will. There is nothing they can do to prevent God's will. They couldn't stop the plots against Jesus, and they still cannot stop the will and plans of God. Satan's plan is only in service to God's ultimate plan. In a world where it seems like Satan is winning, you can have faith and peace that no plan of Satan will succeed against God's bigger plan, which God calls us to be a part of. God can handle anything Satan throws against us. Call upon the name of Jesus today, and have eternal life and joy. Don't wait. His plan is perfect and cannot fail, and you are a part of it.

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

This is the full collection of sermons preached at City Light Church in Vicksburg, MS. For more information on the church and its ministries, please visit citylightvicksburg.org

"In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem." 2 Samuel 11:1 How do we remain connected to Christ and each other in an age that promises connectedness, but only undermines that connection? Sin is often borne in passivity. Sin is rarely without warning. Sin is compounding in its deception and destruction. Sin is no match for Grace. . Normally, kings go out to battle in springtime. But in today's text (2 Samuel 11) we see that David chose to hang back. After a long period of success, he’s on cruise control, allowing his officers to handle things. He even arises from his couch "in the afternoon"! It seems that David is just being lazy. Note well that his fall didn’t begin with him looking down at Bathsheba, but when he chose to stay home and not be out with his men in battle. A large part of our life in Christ is simply being where we are supposed to be. Before we can be obedient to Christ, we need to show up as an active participant. Show up, so you do not fall into sin! . The road to sin is littered with a lot of road signs. Not only was David at home when he should have been in battle, but David was looking from his rooftop and thus seeing things no one was supposed to see from his position of power. Then, after he looks on Bathsheba illicitly, David inquires about her and his counselors tell him that she is connected to three separate men in his inner circle. Warning sign after warning sign arises on David's path to adultery and murder. We get way too comfortable with sin in our lives and find ourselves ignoring the warnings. . Sin compounds its deception and destruction. Immediately when David gets word that Bathsheba is pregnant he begins trying to cover it up. Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) refuses to fall for David’s coverup so David kills him by sending him to the front line. Note that the tactic that David uses kills many other people in battle. And after all of this, the last line in this chapter is “because of this, David displeased the Lord.” Treat sin with the weight it deserves. But, thankfully, sin is no match for Grace! David, despite the pronouncement of destruction against him, is given a second chance. He confesses his sin, and God gives him grace. God mercifully tells David he will not die despite David’s own pronouncement of his death! His actions cost him severely, but grace is still there! Your sin will tell you that you are too far gone to receive God. But that is a lie. You are never too far gone. Even after all the treachery, God gave David the opportunity to have another chance to show up - and go to the city and attack it. God gives us second chances to be where we are supposed to be - flaws and all, injured by failures, but just needing to show up! God’s grace keeps offering us chances. At the end of the story, David got a second chance at a son and family . The biggest scandal of Grace is that Jesus would come from the lineage of David through this very son! Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more!