October 15, 2017
Scripture:
Read Mark 1:40 - 42. This man would die because of his leprosy. We too were sentenced to death because of our sin. Jesus had compassion on the leper, and he had compassion on us. He went to the cross and took the punishment for our sins so that we could be cleansed.
Hymn 341 - Jesus bids us shine
Prayer
We’ve looked at the six court cases that Jesus went through, but today let’s go back and look at how Peter denied the Lord during that time. When Jesus was arrested, all the disciples fled; however, Peter and John followed the group to the High Priest’s palace, and that is where Peter denied Jesus. In this story, to deny something means to say that it’s not true.
Luke 22:31-34. Jesus warned Peter beforehand that Satan would tempt him, and that he would fail. Once Peter repented of his sin, though, Jesus wanted him to strengthen his brethren. Peter didn’t think that he would fail, he thought that he would die with the Lord. However, Jesus said that before the roosters crowed in the morning, Peter would deny Him three times. If he actually believed Jesus, Peter would have begged that this wouldn’t happen; but he was proud and felt very sure of himself.
Luke 22:54. It must have felt good to go around with the Lord; He could heal anyone, and feed crowds whenever needed. He was always above any circumstance. Now, though, He had been arrested. Every other time He had escaped. Peter continued to follow Him, but it was far off. Let’s not be like that; we should follow the Lord closely. Peter was too afraid; he might get arrested as well! He really wasn’t ready to die with the Lord.
Luke 22:55. Apparently the night was chilly, and so the people who arrested Jesus built a fire to keep warm. Peter was usually close to the Lord, but here he stood and then sat with his Lord’s enemies and tried to get comfortable. Psalm 1:1. After Jesus’ arrest, Peter walked afar off in the counsel of the ungodly, then he stood with them, and finally sat by their fire. He wasn’t listening to Psalm 1! It was a scary time for him. They had bound Jesus, and they might do the same to Peter if they knew that Jesus was his Master.
Luke 22:56-57. Peter got really frightened when one of the maids pointed out that he had been with Jesus. Peter denied, and said that what she had said (which was true) was false. v58. This is the second denial. Peter started to get emphatic; and declared that he wasn’t part of Jesus’ group. v59. It got worse; the people recognized that Peter was from Galilee, just like Jesus. In another gospel, someone effectively says to Peter, “You talk like Him!” Does our speech sound like we’ve been with Jesus? V60. Here is Peter’s third denial, and the cock crowing. Peter remembered what Jesus had said, and guilt and shame flooded over him.
Meanwhile, the Lord was busy with the priests and other people. Was He thinking about Peter at all? Luke 22:61-62. The Lord knew what was going on. Peter saw the Lord look at him, and he started to cry.
The good news is that Peter repented, just as the Lord had also foretold. Let’s look at him after Pentecost, when the Lord had sent the Holy Spirit from Heaven into the believers. Acts 3:12-14. Peter is once again right with the Lord, and even able to rebuke others that had denied Jesus. He had been restored, and was able to be useful to the Lord once again.
Titus 3:7 - 15
We have seen how vv. 3 - 7 are a gospel classic. These verses show us what we are by nature (v.3), the transition from our sinful nature to the grace of God (v. 4 - 6), and what we are by grace (v. 7). It is marvellous to see how we are saved by grace, and not by works of righteousness or our own strength. We receive the Holy Spirit, who regenerates us. And the result is so much more than just that we are forgiven. We are justified: that means we are accounted righteous. We are all guilty of the behaviour in v. 3: none of us is righteous. But through salvation, we have been justified. Even better than if we had not sinned, we have sinned and have been forgiven of that sin and have been given righteousness. We have had our debt paid for and have been given a credit balance. We can never comprehend the riches of that inheritance that we have received by Christ’s death.
Because we know all this, we can look for that hope: eternal life (v. 7). This is the divine life of God, and we have been given a part in it.
Verse 8: All that we have seen so far is the faithful saying referred to here. As a result of all this truth, we must maintain good works. There have been several references to good works throughout this book (ch. 2:7, ch. 2:14, ch. 3:1). These blessings should affect our way of life.
Then Paul mentions some things to avoid in v. 9. These things are unprofitable: if our time is spent in the good works, we will keep ourselves from these things.
The epistle ends in much the same way that many other epistles do: with personal admonitions. Good works are mentioned again in v. 14. How important to live out the truth the book of Titus has taught us!
Hymn 369 - I claim for my own a King on a throne
Prayer