The Denial and the Betrayal Peter made his bold claim of loyalty in the upper room on Thursday evening, the night before Good Friday. Where was Peter later that night? As soon as the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter fled. He lurked outside the high priest’s house while the Jewish officials were inside judging Jesus, trying to get some report of what was going on and to learn the fate of his Master. Then a maid—not the sergeant at arms, not the captain of the guard—came over and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean” (Matt. 26:69), but Peter denied it. Later, another maid said, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth” (v. 71), but Peter denied it with an oath. Finally, a bystander said, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you” (v. 73). Did Peter say, “No”? Not exactly. The Bible says he denied it with curses. He started swearing like a sailor, emphasizing that he did not know Jesus—all because he was terrified by these maids and bystanders. What happened? “The Rock” was sifted like wheat. The moment of testing came, and Peter failed. Earlier that night, at the Lord’s Supper, Jesus had said, “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me” (Matt. 26:21). The disciples around the table, looking at Jesus apprehensively, said, one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” (v. 22). Then they came to the treasurer. Judas said, “Is it I, Rabbi?” Jesus said, “You have said so” (v. 25). John adds that Jesus said, “What you are going to do, do quickly,” and Judas then went out into the night (John 13:27, 30). Thus, Jesus dismissed Judas to his treachery. The Scriptures say that Judas already had agreed to give Jesus into the hands of His enemies in exchange for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14–16; Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6). When that deed was done, Judas hanged himself. He died in total disgrace, without his thirty pieces of silver, and with the legacy that has made his name a symbol of treachery and betrayal for all of human history. What was the difference between these two men? The answer appears in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer: “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). Simply put, Judas was never regenerate, but Peter was a regenerate son of God, and therefore the power of God kept him. Peter’s regeneration was permanent. Even though Peter fell violently, dramatically, and abysmally, his fall was neither total nor final. Peter was preserved by the One who had quickened him in the first place. The Holy Spirit not only is the causal agent for regeneration, but according to the Scriptures, He is “the earnest of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14, KJV). We sometimes speak of “earnest money,” which is something like a down payment. In a real estate transaction, the party making the purchase puts down some earnest money, which shows he is a serious buyer who intends to complete the transaction. Likewise, when God regenerates someone through the Spirit, He gives the Spirit to be with that person permanently. The presence of the Spirit is an “earnest” that God eventually will give that person all that goes with regeneration. Though human beings fail to complete their transactions from time to time, despite earnest money, God always does what He says He will do. He finishes the contract. He completes the deal. He never defaults. He never misses a payment. When God the Holy Spirit quickens you, you can be sure that your salvation is permanent. Sproul, R. C. (2010). What Does It Mean to be Born Again? (Vol. 6, pp. 66–69). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:56:22 +0000
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