"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren." And he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me." Luke 22:31–34 (RSV)
Some sermons make more of an impression than others; some are forgotten before you leave worship. Such is the nature of preaching; you can't hit a home run every Sunday. We do try to preach a meaningful sermon each week, but even I can't recall what I preached a week or two back sometimes.'
I do remember a sermon Pastor Jolivette preached on this text at Bethesda Lutheran in Jewell. He began by asking, 'What would you do if someone walked into the church today, automatic weapon in hand, and announced, "If you want to live, all you have to do is deny Jesus and leave. If you do not deny Him, you will die!"'
There was what seemed to be an extremely long pause, then Jolly asked, 'What would you do? I bet many of you said to yourselves, "I would stay and confess Jesus!"' He went on to remind us that is precisely what St. Peter did when Jesus told them what he was facing at Jerusalem. Peter's courage and resolve were unshakable at that moment. He truly believed he could face prison and death with Jesus.
Luther noted that Peter's courage collapsed when a teenage girl confronted him as he huddled at a fire the night Jesus was arrested. 'This man was with the Nazarene!' declared the servant girl. St. Peter's bravado was gone in an instant, and he denied that he knew Jesus. Peter would deny two more times before the rooster crowed, to his shame.
As Jolly preached his sermon that Sunday, I probably thought, 'I would stand with Jesus.' I had all kinds of courage then. I am not so confident about what I would do today. I would like to believe that I would confess my Lord at that moment as I have all my life. I want to think that I would unflinchingly stare down the muzzle of the gun and its holder. St. Peter knew Jesus in the living flesh. He had seen Jesus do all manner of miracles. He had heard Jesus teach and preach with authority beyond anyone he had ever encountered. St. Peter has all this, and he failed Jesus at the critical hour.
St. Peter betrayed Jesus as cruelly as did Judas. They were both broken-hearted by their betrayal. One wept bitter tears of repentance; the other did not. St Peter was forgiven. We say Judas was not. There is a part of me that hopes there was yet mercy for Judas as well. Still, that is the Father's business, and I have no right to speculate one way or the other.
No, rather than sit in judgment of some other poor sinner whose courage fails them, I need to look well to my soul. Jolly's question still waits for an honest answer, 'What would you do?'