Ps. 141: 1								Rev. S. de Marie
Ps. 141: 2						Reading	Matt. 10: 28-39
Ps. 34: 1, 2, 4, 6							Matt. 26: 30-35;
Ps. 34: 5									Luk. 22: 54-62;
Ps. 34: 7							Text:		Luk. 22: 60-62

Beloved Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The history of Simon Peter's denial is detailed in all four Gospels. Why should this be? Perhaps as a Christian to be armed against the sin that Peter displayed? Or to show how the Lord wants to forgive even this sin? Or does it tell us anything about the difficulties the disciples had with their Master being imprisoned? And how their hearts were moved by this and their minds confused?
Well, congregation, of all these things we could have much to say.  But before and above all, Scripture also proclaims the Christ to us here. And in particular His suffering and His actions in this history just before His death on the cross. That it is of the utmost importance to our salvation.
I may preach to you the gospel about this suffering and the actions of Christ under the following theme:

The Lord Christ shows Himself as the Mediator over-against Peter, who denies Him.
1. As High Priest He clashes with his heart
2. As a Prophet He calls to his heart
3. As King, He overcomes his heart

1. Our Savior's suffering increases by the hour. The Lord has entered the final stage of his suffering. The Lord’s Supper sacrament in remembrance thereof has been instituted. But his suffering also appears to increase at the time of that meal. Judas leaves and is going to betray Him. And his other disciples appear to have understood very little of His sufferings. Just at the time that He, as their Savior, makes Himself ready to surrender for them, in the bitterest hellish anguish and in the deepest imaginable suffering.
Jesus has announced this to them many times. And it is now also portrayed in the sacrament. But what do his disciples do? They argue about which of them should be given the highest position in God's kingdom! A terrible grievance for the Savior. While He is going to humble Himself to death, the disciples fight over which of them is the greatest, and most important. How contrary this is to the gospel!
After supper, the Lord explains to them for the last time that He is really going to die for them and His people. But also that they will then forsake Him! Not just forsaking out of fear or desperation, but because they will stumble because of Him, be annoyed at Him, vexed against Him.
Peter refuses to believe this. He, leave his Master, whom he loves so much? Never. And when the Lord specifically tells him that Peter will even deny him, he wants to know nothing of it. Peter denies this even when the Lord shows him a sign for it: that the rooster will not crow until he denies Jesus three times. Three times Peter will say that he has nothing to do with Jesus.
Congregation, it is a terrible accusation that Peter hears here. But it is his loving Master who tells him this. His Lord, whom he still confessed as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." Again, Peter firmly rejects His Master's oh-so-beneficial warning. No way. He would rather die for His Lord than commit such horrible treason. Peter is not alone in that belief. Matthew relates:
And so said all the disciples.
Yes, they want to stand up for their Lord! But then in their own way. And on their own terms. With their own ideas about the kingdom and about high positions, and display of power. They no longer remember the words from Zechariah, 4:6:
Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.
It is precisely by their declaration of loyalty to Jesus that they show how little they still understand Jesus' teachings. How little they grasp the profound meaning of the gospel of reconciliation and peace that Christ is coming to bring. A reconciliation that will be achieved only through His teachings and His death on the cross. With their words of conviction, the disciples do not help their Lord, but aggravate His suffering.
After this conversation, Jesus enters, with them, the garden of Gethsemane. Here, it is revealed how much He dreads the worst suffering that will now follow. For not only the Jews will forsake Him, not only all people, not only His own disciples, but even God His Father  will forsake Him. When the Lord Jesus brings this in prayer before his Father with great anguish, then it appears that the presence of his disciples is not helpful for Him: they sleep, while He has asked them to watch with Him.
And then the arrest follows. At first the disciples even resist, but then quickly flee. They do not understand: their Savior, who is God's Son, King on the throne of David, just willingly allows Himself to be taken away. And now Jesus stands alone, to be questioned in the house of the high priest.
And the disciples, where are they? Do they assist their Master now? Did they not swear to Him that they would lay down their lives for Him? But look, here comes Peter. And Peter followed Jesus at a distance, says verse 54. Will Peter now stand up for the Lord? Or at least try to assist Him? Peter hesitates at first to get closer. But when they start a fire in the courtyard of the house in the dark, he steps in. Several people are already waiting there. They are curious how it will end. That does not have to pose any danger to him. In the dark Peter just sits down between them, as if he were one of them, to warm himself by the fire.
But then Peter is discovered by a maid. The light of the fire shines on his face, and he is recognized by her. John says it is a doorkeeper, she has probably already seen him entering, and perhaps already suspected. By the light of the fire she can now have a better look at him and then she knows for sure: yes, he was also with him! With Jesus the Nazarene, who is within. All the attention of those in attendance is now  directed on Peter. Does this man also belong to that Jesus who stands there guilty before their high priest?
How will Peter now respond? Is he really true to his Lord? Does he testify of Him now? Can he now indeed also say that Jesus is innocent? But Peter denies this to all sitting there. Matthew and Mark also reveal that Peter also says:
I neither know nor understand what you are saying!
Woman, I do not know him!
That means: woman, how do you come to that, I don't belong to Him. I don't know Him, that doesn't mean I've never seen or heard Him. But: I have never belonged to Him, I have never been His disciple. I have nothing to do with Him.
Congregation, the step that Peter takes here goes very far: He denies His Savior. He released himself publicly from Christ. How did this happen? Well, because Peter is offended at Jesus the Christ standing there so helplessly before His accusers. The sacrifice that Christ wants to make hits his heart.
A few hours earlier, Peter had perceived himself in a high position in the Kingdom, but that has now become an impossibility. Of course He loves Jesus, but that does not mean that he can accept that Jesus simply surrenders to His enemies. He does not want to become a victim of that: I do not know Him, I have nothing to do with Him, Peter thinks he can save himself from it.
If we take the text of all the Gospels together, it appears that Peter leaves the courtyard at that time and goes outside.  Not because he is shocked by his own denial, but because he feels somewhat uncomfortable with so many critical looks.
He walks to the porch, but Peter is not left alone there either. There, too, someone addresses him, while others hear this. Verse 58:
You also are of them.
You too belong to that group around Jesus. But again Peter firmly denies this:
Man, I am not!
Matthew says that Peter even does this with an oath. So now he goes a step further in his denial. About an hour later, Peter joins in a conversation with the people standing there. That way it doesn't stand out too much. But then they hear his Galilean accent. Now people know for sure. Another now confirms with certainty:
Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean!
Now Peter feels really cornered.
But instead of speaking the truth now and confessing his allegiance to the Lord, Peter denies this
Man, I do not know what you are saying.
Mark says of this:
But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
What an absolute deep-point of unfaithfulness.
But Congregation, what does this mean for the Lord Jesus Christ? He is standing there in front of the high priest, while this is taking place a few meters away. Peter, his called faithful one and apostle who is destined to proclaim His gospel of salvation and help build His church. Peter the man with his rock-solid confession and declarations of faith. Peter, how he grieves his Lord at this very moment, How he aggravates Jesus' suffering. Yes, the Lord knew that this had to happen, but to really experience this is very difficult. Because this is about love and loyalty, which is betrayed tossed and denied. It is about Peter's relationship with his Savior, which is publicly spurned and trampled on. Work of the devil.
It already started that night with the fact that Peter and the others in the garden did not want to watch and pray when the Lord Jesus was having such a terrible time.
What, could you not watch with Me one hour?
Then the arrest came and Peter and the others fled. Jesus allows himself to be led away like a lamb for His bondage of suffering. Alone. Forsaken by his disciples. That was a further aggravation of his suffering. But this public renunciation of Peter so soon after his    declaration of faith is extremely hard for the Savior. This probably affected him much more severely than Judas's betrayal.
Because Jesus, as the promised Messiah, who comes to redeem his people, has already been widely rejected by his people. There is only a little flock left around Him now. Eleven of the twelve disciples, in addition to some others including some women. But now the worst suffering is coming, the apostles' leader, his closest disciple, denies Him three times under oaths and curses. He wants nothing to do with Jesus.
Thus, nobody stands by Christ at the hour when false accusations are thrown at Him by the false leaders of the church. None of His own, given Him by His Father, stands up for Him. None of them for whom He will give His blood as their Shepherd. No support, no adhesion, but annoyance and denial.
Jesus stands there as the Lamb of God, for the sins of the world. But also as if no one needs him. As the only High Priest forsaken by his own people. Soon His own Father will also forsake Him. But congregation, what would the Lord do all this for, now that His own people are turning away from Him? How can the church be saved through Him today?

2. Christ shows Himself to be the Mediator over-against Peter, who denies Him.
1. As High Priest He clashes with his heart, 2. As Prophet He calls to that heart
Peter is offended at his Lord, whom he called the Christ the Son of the living God. He took offense after the first announcement of suffering. Then the Lord reproved him as Satan. Also at the table at the Lord's Supper the Lord found it necessary to address Peter and the other disciples about the work of Satan among them. 
Simon, Simon, indeed, Satan has asked for you to sift you as wheat.
That sifting work of Satan is now visible and audible with Simon Peter. Taking offense now leads to the denial of his Savior. Even though Peter strongly denied this just a short time ago, Matt. 26:33, 35:
“Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”(…)
“Even if I had to die with You, I will not deny You!” 
And so said all the disciples.
What has became of those strong words? The opposite happened, as the Lord Jesus had foretold. Peter does not want to deny himself in order to follow his Savior. He would rather deny his Savior. Follow Him? No, rather flee from Him. Take up his cross? No way. Peter rather prefers to pronounce a curse.
But what does the Lord Jesus do now? He knows that His disciples of themselves are unable to follow Him, that they of themselves would rather follow the devil unless…. unless He and the Father will draw them. Well congregation, look what happens.
The Lord makes the cock crow after the third denial. Will Peter pay attention? 
Congregation, then something happens, recorded only in Luke, verse 61:
And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
Jesus experiences firsthand what happens to Peter. When the rooster crows, He looks toward His disciple. He thus calls back His disciple with His gaze. Jesus’ look penetrates to Peter’s heart. His look is full of seeking love while He is ready to deliver His own from eternal death. His look shows perhaps also hurt love and rebuke, but is at least a look full of compassion that seeks Peter and mercifully calls Him back.
No, there is no cry here, no cry for help or cry of indignation. The Lord only looks towards his disciple with an all-telling look straight into his heart. As our supreme Prophet and Teacher, Jesus knows that this is now more effective than is possible with words.
Thus stands here our Mediator Savior wounded, as it were, by all the deceit and foul slander of the Jews, but also by the deceit and denial of his own disciple. Yet even in these gruelling circumstances, Jesus is busy preserving and saving His church. He also now lives up to what He said to His Father in that high priestly prayer a few hours ago: John. 17:12
When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your Name.
Those whom you give me I have kept;
and none of them is lost except the son of perdition,
that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.
Yes, congregation, the church cannot do without the preserving and saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the only High Priest, He has already prayed for Peter, as He said that evening, verse 31,
Simon, Simon, indeed, Satan has ask for you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I prayed for you that your faith should not fail.
Now Jesus, as supreme Prophet and Teacher, is calling Peter back to faith and conversion. For this He uses the crowing of the rooster in conjunction with God the Father, who rules all things. Through the penetrating gaze of Jesus,  Peter having heard the crow of the rooster, remembers now the words of the Lord, which he previously refused to believe. Thus Christ shows His seeking and saving love for Peter, and in it for his church. When it appears that all have sinned and denied, the Lord still seeks out His own and does not destroy them. But, that must be in the way of conversion. For this, Jesus uses everything that is available to Him.
Congregation, the Lord Jesus does not do that for everyone. Judas must go ahead and do what he planned to do in haste, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. But despite everything, Peter is called back again by Jesus, in order to be able to be a servant of the Most High.
Again, Peter's flesh and blood have no significance therein. On the contrary, the ego also rejects this calling back. It is only God's good pleasure that Peter may return. Because of Christ's atoning work.
Congregation, now this word, of this matter, also comes to us. Christ is also our High Priest and our Prophet. Here, we too hear of His terrible sufferings because of our sins. We too hear of His great love for us. What of our flesh and blood? Is it better than Peter's? How important it is to us that we also hear the strong appeal of Christ to accept Him as He is, and therefore obediently follow Him. By not going our own way, for our own sake. But to turn back from all wilful ways, from all self-will, from all unfaithfulness to our given word. To put away all lies, deceit and denial. To surrender to the Savior who Himself has gone the way of surrendering to the will of the Father.
Congregation, in the meantime, we may now look to Jesus Christ in heaven. Christ has completed His glorious work of redemption on earth. He has finished His suffering there. And in that way loved his own to the end (John 13: 1). In that way He has redeemed His Church and will keep it until His second coming. No, we cannot and must not compare ourselves to Peter. Not everything we now know had been revealed to Peter. The Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out upon him. He had not yet known how glorious and mighty Christ would be as the Redeemer who has come to glory through suffering. But we do know all of that.
We may also receive the same love from Christ, and, are already richer on earth. That is why we also have a greater responsibility to remain faithful. Not to deny the name of Christ. In our deeds, in our actions and in our speaking. And congregation, what is our attitude?  How are we doing, in relation to our Lord?  
Have we been faithful in keeping our vow, given at our profession of faith? At our wedding. Do we talk about our Savior with other people, or rather remain silent to avoid a difficult situation? Let us also realize that Jesus also sees in our hearts whether we really love Him. Let us therefore always remember His words, also those He repeats through Paul after His Ascension in 2 Tim. 2: 12.13:
If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 
If we are faithless, He remain faithful. He can't deny Himself.
But let us also realize that Jesus also will pray and plead for us just as he did for Peter. That He will assist us, if we continue to trust in Him. So that, when we repent, we may also receive forgiveness for the times when we had not confessed His name.

3.  Christ shows Himself the Mediator over against Peter, who denies Him. 1. As High Priest He clashes with his heart. 2. As a Prophet He calls to his heart. This brings us to our last point: As King, He overcomes his heart.
The moving and penetrating gaze of our Savior reaches the heart of Peter and brings forth repentance in Peter. For Peter now also remembers the word that Jesus spoke to him in such a warning. For his good.
Yes, congregation, our Savior often uses very penetrating and admonishing words for the good of His own. It is good that we are also aware of this. For we are all somewhat tainted with touchiness and rebellion as soon as we are personally corrected, admonished, punished or when we perhaps even experienced censorship. History teaches that just admonition and discipline often lead to rebellion among Church members. Then it is forgotten that such admonition, punishment and chastisement are intended for the salvation of the sinner and therefore an expression of love.
Congregation, see how the Lord Jesus Christ leads us in this, with his admonition to salvation. His deep-cutting warning, and his piercing look, are here to save Peter from eternal destruction. And what a miracle of grace, which is ultimately beneficial here for Peter. By the power that the Lord gives to His Word and by the power with which His Spirit works in Peter's heart. Thus the Lord Christ here with his royal strength breaks up rebellion and resistance. Thus with royal power He shatters the proud and self-righteous heart of Peter.
As a perfect Mediator, Jesus works out in him remorse and repentance. And, congregation, in that Jesus shows himself as King, also, being servant and Savior. In obedience to His Father who gave Him: His own. In his own misery, Jesus here, as King, overcomes the power of sin in Peter. And the power of Satan over Peter.
Peter now goes out, he leaves the porch, and now weeps bitterly.
Literally it says: he breaks out in loud and woeful weeping. 
The Lord has broken his wayward and hardened heart. He has removed the offense in him. And so there is genuine repentance in Peter. Peter does not show this in front of Jesus, but out of His sight. Thus Peter reacts very differently from Judas here. Judas also weeps when he understands that he has betrayed Christ. But not out of love for His master. But because of his their own impotence and remorse.
Peter weeps because he sees his Lord and now realizes how deeply he grieves Him through his denied actions and speaking of denial.
Congregation, what Jesus achieves here in the heart of Peter is of great significance to him and to the whole church. It is then only the beginning of conversion with Peter. It still needs reinforcement. The Lord continues to work on this with Peter after Easter. He then makes him and the other disciples see who He really is to them. Their only High Priest and Savior, Their Eternal Lord, King and God. Their highest Prophet and Teacher and Leader. He teaches them thoroughly about this from the scriptures that speak of Him. He teaches them and us again that the Church will also have to suffer for the sake of that Kingdom and for the sake of His name. That we are willing to lose our lives for His Name's sake.
Thus, here Christ is preserving His church, during His own suffering and through defects of human sinfulness and diabolical temptation. Here he breaks all the work of the devil, the father of all lies and deceit and of denial and unfaithfulness. In this way Christ shows himself here as the Mediator who continues His work against all resistance. And yet He makes suitable apostles out of averse people. Later Jesus also did that to Paul, the Christian hater. He continues to do so to this day. As Eternal King and Conqueror.
Even in our days when we as His church experience resistance, troubles and suffering, Christ continues as the Priest-King. He also preserves and carries us. And He equips us with His prophetic Word and His Holy Spirit. Likewise, we too are repeatedly called to faith and repentance.
Congregation, so listen to your Savior, let yourself be blessed by Him, confess His name before the people and be faithful to Him. He will guard you and keep you in His redemption that He also worked for you on the cross. He will then give you His peace, acquittal from judgement and life for ever. See His grace in all of this.
Amen