“Innocence Denied”

Luke 22:54-62

Pastor Ryan Brice

March 24, 2019

The Setting of Peter’s Denial

• ^{54, 55}Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

ₒ  Luke 5:8

ₒ  Luke 9:20, 33

ₒ  Matthew 14:28, 30

ₒ  John 13:8, 9

ₒ  Luke 22:33, 50

Peter Denies Christ Three Times

• ^{56, 57} Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”

• ⁵⁸ And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”

• ^{59, 60a} And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly his man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.”

ₒ  Matthew 26:73, 74

Peter Remembers and Grieves

• ^{60b, 61} And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”

ₒ  Luke 22:34

• ⁶² And he went out and wept bitterly.

So What?

• We are all, in one way or another, as guilty as Peter of self-reliance and denial of Christ; but the gospel offers hope, assurance, and sanctification to those who repent.

ₒ  Matthew 10:32, 33

ₒ  Luke 22:31, 32

ₒ  John 21:15-19

ₒ  I Peter 1:3-7

Further Discussion

• In what ways do I rely on my own power instead of the work of God in my life?

• How am I also guilty of denial alongside of Peter?

• Do I grieve over my sin in the same way that Peter did?