Service Times
Sunday School 9:00 am
Worship Service 10:00 am

Location
1624 Broadway Avenue
Sheboygan, WI 53083
920.451.0991

Directions

Search the Bible

Inside with Jesus or outside with Peter?
(John 18:12-27)

The Passion of Jesus should be contemplated as we would admire Michelangelo’s Pieta`, without saying a word. When we read the account of the passion of Jesus in the gospel of John, it seems like the apostle devotes so much time to the last week of Jesus’ life. It’s as if he wants us to look intently at what we’re reading and to dwell with our imagination on some facets of the story in order to really appreciate and feel the sorrow, the mystery, the pain, the false security and the risk involved. Even by a quick look at our continuing story, we realize that John is drawing a contrast between what happens with Jesus inside the palace and what happens with Peter outside the palace.

Inside with Jesus (12-15)
Seized and bound
Outside with Peter (16-18)
At the door
Warming up: First denial

Inside with Jesus (19–23)
Interrogation
The slap
Outside with Peter (24-27)
Warming up – Second denial

In reading our text it is clear that inside the palace with Jesus or outside the palace with Peter is a matter of Courage v/s Fear, Giving up v/s Self-preservation and Truth v/s Lie.

Courage v/s Fear
When we take a quick look at some of the characters of the story, we soon realize that there is a contrast between courage and fear.

The courage of Jesus
INSIDE: It is clear that Jesus, even though “bound” (v. 12) and “led” by the soldiers into the palace of Annas, was fulfilling his call, as painful as it was. He was in complete control even though he knew that this would lead him to the cross. He was loyal to what he taught in his ministry, to what he believed, and to what he advised others to do in times of difficulty and suffering.

Second thoughts of Peter
OUTSIDE: The way the story unfolds is meant to demonstrate how difficult it was for Peter to follow Jesus all the way. Peter had all the good intentions to be loyal to Jesus and to what he had learned by being with his master. But in the face of increasing risk, he had second thoughts. He attempted to follow wherever Jesus was lead, but ended up stopping outside the door of the courtyard. While Jesus was being led by the soldiers to Annas’ palace, Peter was overwhelmed with fear and kept “outside the door” (v. 16, 17). Peter didn’t follow all the way because he was afraid. Peter understood what the ‘passion’ meant: suffering, shame, fear, physical pain and he took action, but he didn’t see where the ‘passion’ of Christ lead: to the resurrection and to freedom!

Peter became a type of so many of us who started out well following Jesus and then for some reason, either stopped or paused, looking from afar to the way we should have gone. We should have followed all the way through, with Jesus, no matter what the cost. If we could put ourselves in this story, where would we stand? Would we stand ‘inside’ with Jesus or ‘outside’ with Peter? To stay ‘inside’ with Jesus may not be an easy task, but it surely would lead to fulfillment and freedom.

What is admirable in Peter is that he tried, but failed. But failure was not the end! The Lord saw the good heart of Peter and forgave him.

Giving up v/s self-preservation
We must ask ourselves why the apostle John goes into such detail in this dramatic stage of the life of Jesus, describing “a charcoal fire” (v. 18), the weather, “it was cold” and feeling of warmth, “Peter warming himself”.

Accomplishing the salvation of ‘many’
INSIDE: ‘A plan to save the world’, that was the password of one the meetings of the G20 in London. Although these nations gathered together as an attempt to ‘save the world’ from economic catastrophes; the world has already been redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ and salvation has been offered to all. In the palace of Annas, Jesus was accomplishing the salvation of the world. Certainly the cross and the resurrection were still some days away, but Jesus, right there in those rooms, was accomplishing the will of the Father for the salvation of many by giving himself up. Those rooms represented to Jesus, solitude and physical pain. I am sure he would have preferred to be outside free, spending time with his disciples in the garden and teaching by a charcoal fire. Self-preservation must have kicked in…it is natural, and at times instinctive.

Accomplishing the salvation of ‘one’
OUTSIDE: Several times the text tells us that people were warming up outside, because it was cold. Peter also was there, outside, seeking some cover and finally timidly approaching the fire (v. 18, 25). Peter stands here as the natural man who seeks self-preservation. Not only was he not prepared to pay the cost of following Jesus, but he sought an alternative, a self-accommodation, a panacea, a surrogate, an imitation of affection, and a fake comfort. He was uncomfortably comfortable.

The Scripture says that, “God is a devouring fire” (Deut. 4:24; Heb. 12:29). Later some other disciples testified that their heart should have been burning because Jesus was with them: “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us” (Lk. 24:32).

Peter should have received the warmth, the affection, a sense of the presence inside where Jesus was, not outside. Inside there was the real thing, outside only an attempt. Certainly this is a paradox: ‘inside’ there were chains, interrogations, violence, but there was also real freedom with Jesus; ‘outside’ there was the fire, the open space, but at the same time only bondage to fear, lies and unhappiness.

Truth v/s lie
Inside the palace with Jesus or outside the palace with Peter is also a matter Truth v/s Lies. Ultimately, if we want to know the color of a toothpaste, we need to squeeze the tube that contains the paste. The pressure on the tube will reveal the content and the true colors of the paste. Jesus, under considerable ‘pressure’, revealed the truth, Peter instead, while “warming up himself” and being questioned, revealed a lie.

Jesus tells the truth concerning who he is
INSIDE: Annas questioned Jesus, who was under incredible pressure, concerning “his disciples and teaching” (v. 19). Jesus told the truth without hiding his mission. He, with his disciples, always spoke openly to the world, in the synagogues and in the Temple. The question stands: How could Jesus keep his cool and state the truth so clearly? In the face of rejection and aggression (see the slap v. 22), Jesus showed courage, self-denial and boldness. All of this could not have been accomplished if Jesus had not had a profound and deep love for each human being.

Peter lies concerning who he is
OUTSIDE: Often it is said that Peter in this story denied the Lord. The truth is that when Peter was questioned by, “the maid who kept the door” (v.17), the denial of Peter was very subtle. What Peter denies is not the lordship of Jesus, but his involvement with him, “Are not you also one of this man’s disciples…I am not (v.17, 25)”. What makes the lie more powerful is the denial of Peter of his new life since he met Jesus. The maid questioned Peter, who was under incredible pressure too, about his discipleship and she received a lie in return. The question stands: How could Peter lie so openly and shamelessly? Peter’s lies had to have been fed by fear, self-preservation and a lack of courage.

As we think about Jesus’ passion this season, may we do it being aware that for Peter, to be with Jesus was far more rewarding than to be without him; actually there is no good thing apart from Jesus, in Peter’s life. Without Jesus there is only loneliness, deception, fear, false security, instant gratification, enduring regret. To walk all the way with Jesus instead, is the emblem of a courageous, self-giving and truthful life.