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peter and john the sons of zebedee the sons of zebedee i'm sorry peter and john brothers of i'm sorry peter and john brothers of each other and the son of john and older each other and the son of john and older john john will you just let me get that right i'm will you just let me get that right i'm sorry i dropped a very bad stitch then sorry i dropped a very bad stitch then we will have this record correct now we will have this record correct now peter and andrew are the sons of john peter and andrew are the sons of john and james of john the son of zebedee and james of john the son of zebedee were called by the sea of galilee some were called by the sea of galilee some little time afterwards and it was about little time afterwards and it was about that time that we have a description of that time that we have a description of the first important episode in peter's the first important episode in peter's career which if you'd like to turn to career which if you'd like to turn to you will find in luke chapter five the editor of tapes is going to have quite a job putting that slip straight quite a job putting that slip straight but it won't matter but it won't matter luke chapter five now verse one and it came to pass that as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of god pressed upon him to hear the word of god he stood by the lake of guinesses and he stood by the lake of guinesses and saw two ships standing by the lake but saw two ships standing by the lake but the fishermen were gone out of them and the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets were washing their nets and he entered into one of the boats and he entered into one of the boats which was simon's and prayed him he which was simon's and prayed him he would thrust out a little from the land would thrust out a little from the land and he sat down and taught the people and he sat down and taught the people out of the ship out of the ship now when he had left speaking he said now when he had left speaking he said unto simon launch out into the deep and unto simon launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draft let down your nets for a draft now simon now simon so far so far as far as we know as far as we know has said nothing in the lord's hearing has said nothing in the lord's hearing nothing that we've been told nothing that we've been told now he willingly places his boat at the now he willingly places his boat at the master's disposal as a pulpit to preach master's disposal as a pulpit to preach from and the lord preaches long and from and the lord preaches long and effectively and now it seems the day is effectively and now it seems the day is growing older and the preaching is over growing older and the preaching is over and the lord has something else to ask and the lord has something else to ask for go out into the sea the lord says to for go out into the sea the lord says to simon and let down your nets and catch simon and let down your nets and catch some fish some fish now we have the first of what you might now we have the first of what you might think was peter's hot-headed statements think was peter's hot-headed statements master we toiled all night and took master we toiled all night and took nothing nothing nevertheless nevertheless thy word thy word i will let down the net i will let down the net was it so hot-headed was it so hot-headed they'd only recently met jesus after all they'd only recently met jesus after all they didn't really know him very well they didn't really know him very well yet they knew he was a good preacher yet they knew he was a good preacher they knew he could see something of what they knew he could see something of what went on inside the hearts of men but went on inside the hearts of men but fishing why should a carpenter from fishing why should a carpenter from galilee why should even the preacher galilee why should even the preacher sent by god know anything about fishing sent by god know anything about fishing let every man peter might have been let every man peter might have been saying stick to his lust saying stick to his lust lord you know about preaching and i lord you know about preaching and i listen to you listen to you i know about fishing you listen to me i know about fishing you listen to me there's no fish in this sea at this there's no fish in this sea at this point we know we tried all night and we point we know we tried all night and we didn't catch so much as a solitary strat didn't catch so much as a solitary strat it could have been it could have been an upstart superior assumption of an upstart superior assumption of knowledge but it might have been knowledge but it might have been something better something better wrong but quite sensible from a human wrong but quite sensible from a human point of view point of view peter could have been saying lord peter could have been saying lord wouldn't it be wiser if you didn't run wouldn't it be wiser if you didn't run the risk the risk everybody is listening to you preaching everybody is listening to you preaching and they know your preaching is and they know your preaching is wonderful but if we go out to see it wonderful but if we go out to see it your commander we don't catch any fish your commander we don't catch any fish what will they think of you then lord what will they think of you then lord your reputation won't be so good then your reputation won't be so good then will it will it stick to your preaching lord i would stick to your preaching lord i would humanly speaking extremely wise counsel humanly speaking extremely wise counsel not from the lord not from the lord the lord knew more than words the lord knew more than words he knew god's universe he knew god's universe he knew what went on in the mind of his he knew what went on in the mind of his father so put out for a draft he says father so put out for a draft he says all right an effect says peter i will do all right an effect says peter i will do it but remember it's your responsibility it but remember it's your responsibility you're the captain from now on at thy you're the captain from now on at thy word word i will let down the net i will let down the net the thing is fairly and squarely on your the thing is fairly and squarely on your shoulders shoulders it says something for peter's common it says something for peter's common sense that he did that sense that he did that but he was wrong but he was wrong it says something for the lord's great it says something for the lord's great confidence that he took that what confidence that he took that what humanly speaking would have been risk humanly speaking would have been risk and went out and went out his reputation did hang on this his reputation did hang on this a failure a failure and he might have been a failure too and he might have been a failure too well they let down the net and they got well they let down the net and they got the fish and the amount was so great the fish and the amount was so great that the nets were about to break and that the nets were about to break and the boat to sink and they had to have the boat to sink and they had to have help from james and john to get the help from james and john to get the catch home and peter's reaction catch home and peter's reaction depart from me depart from me for i'm a sinful man for i'm a sinful man oh lord that was not to be the only time that people would ask jesus to leave them people would ask jesus to leave them there was a later occasion by this very there was a later occasion by this very sea sea when the lord had healed an incurable when the lord had healed an incurable demoniac demoniac and the madness from that man had gone and the madness from that man had gone within the bodies of a herd of swine within the bodies of a herd of swine who had rushed down the steep place and who had rushed down the steep place and been drowned in the sea been drowned in the sea and the swine herds saw that cured man and the swine herds saw that cured man and they saw those lost pigs and they and they saw those lost pigs and they weighed them in the balances and decided weighed them in the balances and decided for the pigs and decide lord for the pigs and decide lord go away go away they besought him they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts that he would depart out of their coasts they were sinful men who didn't want to they were sinful men who didn't want to change change peter was a sinful man who knew that it peter was a sinful man who knew that it would be painful to change but whose would be painful to change but whose attitude was quite plainly not lord attitude was quite plainly not lord don't stay but lord i'm not fit that you don't stay but lord i'm not fit that you should stay should stay a bit like the man who said i am not a bit like the man who said i am not worthy that i should have come under my worthy that i should have come under my roof lord i'm no fit company for the roof lord i'm no fit company for the likes of you likes of you inside his heart was peter saying inside his heart was peter saying he knew about fish when i didn't he knew about fish when i didn't there wasn't if he's there either i knew there wasn't if he's there either i knew that that how did he know how did he know did he bring them there might have been did he bring them there might have been what manner of man is this that even the what manner of man is this that even the fish obey him fish obey him in the thought of that in the thought of that simon peter on his knees depart from me simon peter on his knees depart from me for i am a sinful man for i am a sinful man whatever it was he didn't want the lord whatever it was he didn't want the lord to go and the lord didn't go and this to go and the lord didn't go and this man who said he can see the sea he can man who said he can see the sea he can see the fish he can see what's going on see the fish he can see what's going on inside me inside me had confessed his sinful heart once and had confessed his sinful heart once and would be strengthened against the would be strengthened against the assaults of the sinfulness of that art assaults of the sinfulness of that art yet once and again throughout the long periods of the lord's preaching one of the most lord's preaching one of the most striking and somewhat i think the most striking and somewhat i think the most shameful episodes in peter's career was shameful episodes in peter's career was what happened what happened just after the feeding of the five just after the feeding of the five thousand thousand you will remember that five thousand men you will remember that five thousand men besides women and children had listened besides women and children had listened to the lord preaching and it stayed to the lord preaching and it stayed behind and the lord had fed them behind and the lord had fed them miraculously from the multiplication of miraculously from the multiplication of five barley loaves and two fish five barley loaves and two fish you will remember too perhaps that at you will remember too perhaps that at the end of that the multitude was so the end of that the multitude was so entranced by his power to produce food entranced by his power to produce food at the drop of a hat as it were at the drop of a hat as it were that they were willing to take him by that they were willing to take him by force and make him a king force and make him a king and according to that record of the and according to that record of the feeding of the five thousand given in feeding of the five thousand given in matthew's gospel matthew's gospel jesus sent his disciples away across the jesus sent his disciples away across the sea while he himself dismissed the sea while he himself dismissed the multitude and you might ask why would he multitude and you might ask why would he do a thing like that why couldn't he do a thing like that why couldn't he have kept his twelve around him have kept his twelve around him no sooner asked than answered no sooner asked than answered they wanted a kingdom too they wanted a kingdom too they were still quite young in the they were still quite young in the experience of the lord it would be some experience of the lord it would be some time afterwards before they saw that the time afterwards before they saw that the cross must come before the crown here cross must come before the crown here was a golden opportunity for kingship was a golden opportunity for kingship why not let the multitude do it lord why not let the multitude do it lord which surely had been that inward which surely had been that inward thought for that moment jesus couldn't thought for that moment jesus couldn't rely upon his twelve they would have rely upon his twelve they would have been perhaps been perhaps on the side of the multitude while on the side of the multitude while thinking that they were on his side thinking that they were on his side far better they go away far better they go away far better he sends the multitude away far better he sends the multitude away himself himself so in matthew chapter 14 we are told so in matthew chapter 14 we are told that he did that he did and then sapped him all strength himself and then sapped him all strength himself that he too went up into the that he too went up into the mountainside to seek for a renewal of mountainside to seek for a renewal of strength and resource that whatever strength and resource that whatever tomorrow's temptations might bring they tomorrow's temptations might bring they might not find him yielding before the might not find him yielding before the blandishments of an obedient multitude blandishments of an obedient multitude and that night the disciples were part and that night the disciples were part way across the sea way across the sea when the lord met them walking on the when the lord met them walking on the water water and peter once more spoke out of turn and peter once more spoke out of turn lord he said lord if it be thou lord he said lord if it be thou bid me that i come unto thee on the bid me that i come unto thee on the water water poor silly peter we say what a rash poor silly peter we say what a rash thing to do why couldn't he keep quiet thing to do why couldn't he keep quiet why indeed why indeed i would have kept quiet i would have kept quiet so did the other eleven so did the other eleven so i suppose would most of you so i suppose would most of you and i would have kept quiet because i'd and i would have kept quiet because i'd have been hanging over the other side of have been hanging over the other side of the boat for dear life the boat for dear life or if i hadn't i'd been groveling in the or if i hadn't i'd been groveling in the bottom trying to pretend the sea wasn't bottom trying to pretend the sea wasn't there walk on that water there walk on that water they might walk an army on it but not me they might walk an army on it but not me i'd have been too afraid i'd have been too afraid so are they all so are they all and if peter could rise only so high as and if peter could rise only so high as to say lord if it be thou bid me that i to say lord if it be thou bid me that i come he had spoken a gesture of faith come he had spoken a gesture of faith which out topped by a mountain's height which out topped by a mountain's height the faith of anybody else in that the faith of anybody else in that company even though the lord could later company even though the lord could later say hold our little faith say hold our little faith his faith was little in this matter his faith was little in this matter theirs it seems was zero theirs it seems was zero he walked too for a while he walked too for a while his faith sustained him his faith sustained him till a squall of spray hid the lord from till a squall of spray hid the lord from his view his view or the mighty wind buffeted him a little or the mighty wind buffeted him a little or a wave rose too high and he looked at or a wave rose too high and he looked at his feet at the waves of the spray heard his feet at the waves of the spray heard the roaring of the wind and forgot the the roaring of the wind and forgot the voice of his master and began to sink voice of his master and began to sink lord save me lord save me i perish i perish not a bad cry for many difficulties is not a bad cry for many difficulties is it it if he had to get into difficulties at if he had to get into difficulties at all at least he knew where to ask for all at least he knew where to ask for the answer the answer he was a man of little faith but not a he was a man of little faith but not a man of none man of none he fell but he rose again the lord took he fell but he rose again the lord took him by the hand and they went together him by the hand and they went together to the boat and all the multitude joint to the boat and all the multitude joint together in that small boat and said together in that small boat and said truly this is the son of god truly this is the son of god and next day the multitudes were back and next day the multitudes were back next day according to john chapter 6 next day according to john chapter 6 they were ready to make him a they were ready to make him a king the lord preached to them king the lord preached to them labor not he said for the meat that labor not he said for the meat that perisheth perisheth but for that which endureth unto eternal but for that which endureth unto eternal life life which the son of man shall give unto you which the son of man shall give unto you the most you've rubbed their ears the most you've rubbed their ears rubbed their tightening belts too no rubbed their tightening belts too no doubt wondered when the barley loaves doubt wondered when the barley loaves were coming on the menu were coming on the menu looked around for the two fish looked around for the two fish there were no loaves and no fish there were no loaves and no fish and very soon almost no disciples and very soon almost no disciples there will be some here who have there will be some here who have experienced a tight-packed open-air experienced a tight-packed open-air crowd crowd growing bored growing bored thinning out thinning out people in the outskirts vanishing people in the outskirts vanishing people near us stepping back people near us stepping back this is what happened in that company this is what happened in that company that day and soon so many had gone away that day and soon so many had gone away because all they were being offered was because all they were being offered was the bread of life and they didn't the bread of life and they didn't believe in that believe in that soon so many had gone away that the lord soon so many had gone away that the lord must turn to his twelve and say must turn to his twelve and say will ye also go away i wonder had they shown signs of going had they shown signs of going was their own faith disillusioned a was their own faith disillusioned a little little had one perhaps turned and whispered to had one perhaps turned and whispered to another and said there's nothing for us another and said there's nothing for us here he's not the kind of man we thought here he's not the kind of man we thought he was we better go while the going is he was we better go while the going is good good was there perhaps a stepping backwards was there perhaps a stepping backwards on the part of some on the part of some or one or one of those twelve of those twelve if there was if there was there was somebody who wasn't doing that there was somebody who wasn't doing that will he also go away the lord said and will he also go away the lord said and peter's answer was lord to whom shall we peter's answer was lord to whom shall we go go thou hast the words of eternal life and thou hast the words of eternal life and we believe and are sure that thou art we believe and are sure that thou art the christ the son of the living god that wasn't speaking out of turn if peter had had time to prepare that if peter had had time to prepare that speech and write it down on his cuff he speech and write it down on his cuff he couldn't have made a better one couldn't have made a better one every solitary ingredient in that speech every solitary ingredient in that speech is just right is just right lord lord to whom shall we go to whom shall we go the others weren't going to anybody the others weren't going to anybody they were just going away they were just going away the ripples grew bigger and bigger the the ripples grew bigger and bigger the further and further they got from their further and further they got from their lord but there was no other focus for lord but there was no other focus for them they were just vanishing lord said them they were just vanishing lord said peter we wouldn't go unless it's peter we wouldn't go unless it's somewhere better to go somewhere better to go there isn't anyone better to go as far there isn't anyone better to go as far as we can see lord to whom shall we go as we can see lord to whom shall we go and then and then thus the words of eternal life thus the words of eternal life he must have been listening very he must have been listening very carefully while the multitudes were carefully while the multitudes were melting away because those were almost melting away because those were almost jesus opening words verily i say unto jesus opening words verily i say unto you he said you seek me not because ye you he said you seek me not because ye saw the signs but because he deleted the saw the signs but because he deleted the loaves and were filled labor not for the loaves and were filled labor not for the meat that perisheth but for that which meat that perisheth but for that which endureth unto eternal life endureth unto eternal life which the son of man shall give unto you which the son of man shall give unto you we're not leaving you lord peter says we're not leaving you lord peter says we're waiting for the feast we're waiting for the feast thou hast the words of eternal life thou hast the words of eternal life we know that you can make us sit down by we know that you can make us sit down by 50 and a company and give us the food 50 and a company and give us the food which a man eats our enlist forever and which a man eats our enlist forever and still there will be basketball left over still there will be basketball left over that's not a casual off-top remark of a that's not a casual off-top remark of a superficial man superficial man and then and then we believe and are sure that thou art we believe and are sure that thou art the christ the son of the living god the christ the son of the living god had already been said once by nathanael had already been said once by nathanael you remember you remember it had really been said more or less the it had really been said more or less the previous night when peter and jesus got previous night when peter and jesus got into that boat into that boat they all said truly this is the son of they all said truly this is the son of god. and if we have understood the god. and if we have understood the tenses correctly what peter is really tenses correctly what peter is really saying is lord we have believed saying is lord we have believed and we are still sure and we are still sure that you are the christ the son of the that you are the christ the son of the living god we are not put off by a living god we are not put off by a little thing like that lord we meant little thing like that lord we meant what we said what we said when we called you the son of god when we called you the son of god perhaps they didn't all know they did perhaps they didn't all know they did perhaps the man if there was one who had perhaps the man if there was one who had beckoned with his thumb and said let's beckoned with his thumb and said let's get out there's nothing for us here get out there's nothing for us here didn't feel like that even now didn't feel like that even now perhaps we could give that man a name perhaps we could give that man a name for jesus for jesus no doubt looking with loving no doubt looking with loving satisfaction upon that prime confession satisfaction upon that prime confession of simon peter said have not i chosen of simon peter said have not i chosen you twelve you twelve and one of you and one of you is a devil for jesus knew from the is a devil for jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed beginning who they were that believed not not and who it was that should betray him and who it was that should betray him was it judas who'd been suggesting was it judas who'd been suggesting there's nothing left for us there's nothing left for us jesus had noticed something anyway we go a long way north to what is called in the chapter we read to what is called in the chapter we read together the coast caesarea philippi together the coast caesarea philippi i don't know whether i've ever asked you i don't know whether i've ever asked you to do this before but it's an to do this before but it's an interesting exercise you've got the kind interesting exercise you've got the kind of bible which has maps in the back of bible which has maps in the back which are on the same scale for both old which are on the same scale for both old testament and new testament testament and new testament then one day take the old testament one then one day take the old testament one and pick a pin through damn and pick a pin through damn when you do you'll find you've just when you do you'll find you've just missed caesarea philippi missed caesarea philippi by on my maps scale about a sixteenth or by on my maps scale about a sixteenth or an eighth of an inch a couple of miles an eighth of an inch a couple of miles say say what was jesus doing near dan what was jesus doing near dan only once before as far as we know it only once before as far as we know it had been as far north as that that was had been as far north as that that was the tower on the coast the tower on the coast now he's at dan ornelia down in land now he's at dan ornelia down in land done of done of all israel from dan to beersheba the all israel from dan to beersheba the northern boundary northern boundary jesus had gone a long way north jesus had gone a long way north and was his faith still facing north i and was his faith still facing north i wonder when he said that did it look wonder when he said that did it look like exile like exile there was telling of a hotbed of trouble there was telling of a hotbed of trouble for him for him much difficulty was being aroused spies much difficulty was being aroused spies were on his track disciples were being were on his track disciples were being asked awkward questions i'm sure that asked awkward questions i'm sure that the public prosecutors dossier was being the public prosecutors dossier was being nicely filled up with evidence against nicely filled up with evidence against jesus christ jesus christ it could almost seem that he was leaving it could almost seem that he was leaving the scene of the unequal and the scene of the unequal and unsuccessful conflict and so with one foot out of palestine as it with one foot out of palestine as it were he says to his disciples whom say were he says to his disciples whom say men that i am men that i am or they didn't mind telling him that or they didn't mind telling him that some say john the baptist some say that some say john the baptist some say that prophet some say elias some say and they prophet some say elias some say and they gave him quite a gave him quite a list but they shouldn't escape that way list but they shouldn't escape that way they may have wanted to escape but they they may have wanted to escape but they mustn't be allowed to mustn't be allowed to whom say ye that i am whom say ye that i am peter blundering in again without the peter blundering in again without the christ you think christ you think it doesn't read to me like blundering it doesn't read to me like blundering that some say moses some say elijah some that some say moses some say elijah some say jeremiah some say one of the say jeremiah some say one of the prophets seems to be like prophets seems to be like procrastinating procrastinating chilly shallowing trying to avoid the chilly shallowing trying to avoid the point we don't mind telling you what point we don't mind telling you what they think but just at the moment we're they think but just at the moment we're too much in doubt to tell you what we too much in doubt to tell you what we think after all the lord might have been think after all the lord might have been going into exile they might have thought going into exile they might have thought the disciples could have been mightily the disciples could have been mightily dispirited and if in that disheartened dispirited and if in that disheartened company somebody could stand up and say company somebody could stand up and say dart the christ dart the christ the son of the living god that's a the son of the living god that's a rallying call rallying call he's not a careless utterance by a man he's not a careless utterance by a man who doesn't think what he says who doesn't think what he says not by any means not by any means and jesus knows it isn't and jesus knows it isn't blessed art thou simon barjona blessed art thou simon barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee this unto thee but my father which is in heaven blessed art thou is a rather heady statement statement it's easily misunderstood it's easily misunderstood if i said to christ i believe you are if i said to christ i believe you are christ the son of god and he said christ the son of god and he said blessed art thou blessed art thou alfred ben alfred alfred ben alfred i say to myself i say to myself he's congratulating me i must have been he's congratulating me i must have been pretty good pretty good that was a clever remark to make that was a clever remark to make it wasn't you know it wasn't you know it was right it was right it was timely it was timely it was faithful it was faithful it wasn't clever it wasn't clever blessed are thou doesn't mean blessed are thou doesn't mean congratulations it means you are happy congratulations it means you are happy or you have been blessed or you have been blessed flesh and blood hath not revealed this flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my father which is in unto thee but my father which is in heaven peter might have been asking for heaven peter might have been asking for the revelation the revelation if he is the kind of man i think he is if he is the kind of man i think he is emerging to be emerging to be i wouldn't be surprised to find that i wouldn't be surprised to find that peter 2 had been praying lord make me peter 2 had been praying lord make me sure sure let me know that this really is my let me know that this really is my christ other people said how long does christ other people said how long does that make us to doubt that make us to doubt that could well have been part of that could well have been part of peter's praying peter's praying and the prayer had been answered and the prayer had been answered flesh and blood hath not revealed this flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee unto thee but my father which is in heaven but my father which is in heaven but as i said it's the same remark as but as i said it's the same remark as nathaniel made nathaniel made a couple of years ago a couple of years ago it's not very different to the one that it's not very different to the one that peter himself had made after the feeding peter himself had made after the feeding of the five thousand and yet he says it of the five thousand and yet he says it now again and the lord said blessed art now again and the lord said blessed art thou simon why had times changed so much thou simon why had times changed so much that the same statement now meant so that the same statement now meant so much more oh because it was fairly easy to confess to christ when everybody was waiting for to christ when everybody was waiting for him him that's what nathanael did that's what nathanael did because it was no more difficult not as because it was no more difficult not as difficult as it was going to be to say difficult as it was going to be to say you are the christ the son of the living you are the christ the son of the living god when he had fed 5 000 people god when he had fed 5 000 people and because now and because now with the lord faced northward going it with the lord faced northward going it seemed into exile with everybody against seemed into exile with everybody against him amongst the rulers it was very hard him amongst the rulers it was very hard to say the same thing now and peter said it still thou art the christ thou art the christ the son of the living god the lord's answer is more wonderful yet than peter's confession than peter's confession there are two men there each with his there are two men there each with his several father several father peter the son of john peter the son of john jesus the son of god jesus the son of god and jesus says i say unto you that you and jesus says i say unto you that you are simon the son of john are simon the son of john just as he said to jesus you are christ just as he said to jesus you are christ the son of god the son of god it was not flesh and blood that revealed it was not flesh and blood that revealed this unto thee this unto thee but my father but my father which is in heaven you don't get that which is in heaven you don't get that kind of thing from men kind of thing from men you only get that from god if only peter had been content to accept that at its face value he might even on that at its face value he might even on this occasion have made any mistake at this occasion have made any mistake at all all the lord might have been able to go the lord might have been able to go straight on from and thou art peter and straight on from and thou art peter and upon this rock i will build my church upon this rock i will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it and explained in pull what he against it and explained in pull what he meant by that but for the moment meant by that but for the moment peter did make a very bad mistake he was peter did make a very bad mistake he was to make more to make more but he made one now the lord turned back as peter had wanted him to him to set his face to jerusalem in the way set his face to jerusalem in the way they all wanted they all wanted and said and said the son of man goes to jerusalem to be the son of man goes to jerusalem to be betrayed into the hands of sinners betrayed into the hands of sinners and to be put to death and to be put to death and the third day rise again and the third day rise again i've often been puzzled why it was that i've often been puzzled why it was that the disciples didn't hear that statement the disciples didn't hear that statement right out and see death and then right out and see death and then rising rising they always seem to be worried about the they always seem to be worried about the dying they never seem to take hope from dying they never seem to take hope from the rising the rising but i wonder would you have done in but i wonder would you have done in those circumstances those circumstances you can believe a man who says let's go you can believe a man who says let's go and be king and takes the necessary and be king and takes the necessary steps steps which jesus didn't which jesus didn't you can believe him and he says i'm you can believe him and he says i'm going to go and be killed and takes going to go and be killed and takes those steps which jesus those steps which jesus look him saying lord this shall not be look him saying lord this shall not be unto thee unto thee after all why not i'm a good counselor after all why not i'm a good counselor i've just told him he's the christ the i've just told him he's the christ the son of the living god i better see to it son of the living god i better see to it he doesn't make a mistake about it you he doesn't make a mistake about it you can see peter saying that and the lord turns upside down all his blessings to him blessings to him instead now of instead now of blessed art thou it's blessed art thou it's get me behind me get me behind me instead of instead of upon this rock upon this rock i will build it i will build it there's a stumbling block unto me there's a stumbling block unto me if you stay there you'll trip me up if you stay there you'll trip me up instead of instead of flesh and blood has not revealed this flesh and blood has not revealed this but my father it's not saying it's not but my father it's not saying it's not the thing to be of god the thing to be of god but those that be of men but those that be of men you know had it been the intention of you know had it been the intention of matthew to sit out and write poetry he matthew to sit out and write poetry he couldn't have put the thesis and couldn't have put the thesis and antithesis of that discussion between antithesis of that discussion between jesus and peter more beautifully and jesus and peter more beautifully and more symmetrical than he has done it's a more symmetrical than he has done it's a marvelous piece of revelation the lord looks with sympathy and pity upon that abject form who's told him is upon that abject form who's told him is christ and now seeing that he won't do christ and now seeing that he won't do anything christ like anything christ like and says and says verily i say unto you verily i say unto you there is some standing here there is some standing here we shall not taste of death we shall not taste of death till they see the son of man coming in till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom his kingdom and though some were peter james and and though some were peter james and john john the exceeding high mountain was the the exceeding high mountain was the place place and the lord with his raiment white and and the lord with his raiment white and glistering and his face shining as the glistering and his face shining as the sun with moses and elias flanking him sun with moses and elias flanking him was the evidence and peter who the record says knew not what he said knew not what he said struck up with struck up with lord it is good for us to be here lord it is good for us to be here let us make three booths let us make three booths one for thee one for moses and one for one for thee one for moses and one for elijah not knowing what he said i suppose means at least not realizing the importance or at least not realizing the importance or the import of what he said but it the import of what he said but it couldn't mean couldn't mean not knowing what he thought he meant not knowing what he thought he meant and i think peter did know what he meant and i think peter did know what he meant it's a silly idea too but very it's a silly idea too but very understandable in those circumstances i understandable in those circumstances i should think it would be lord here we should think it would be lord here we are there's you in glory there's the law are there's you in glory there's the law giver there's the first of the chief of giver there's the first of the chief of the prophets we've got the leading team the prophets we've got the leading team lord don't let them go lord don't let them go we'll put them up for the night we'll put them up for the night we'll make booths for you all we don't we'll make booths for you all we don't mind reffing it in the open air and mind reffing it in the open air and tomorrow tomorrow let's set about tomorrow tomorrow let's set about establishing the kingdom not so much delay you went much delay you went the mountain was empty of all saved the mountain was empty of all saved jesus peter james and john the glory jesus peter james and john the glory disappeared it was the ordinary jesus disappeared it was the ordinary jesus with them now and as they trudged sadly with them now and as they trudged sadly down from that mountaintop all the down from that mountaintop all the consolation they got from that vision consolation they got from that vision was a strange glow that taught them that was a strange glow that taught them that something one day would show what that something one day would show what that meant meant and for the moment the warning you are and for the moment the warning you are not to tell anybody yet not to tell anybody yet not until the son of man is risen they not until the son of man is risen they couldn't have done could they couldn't have done could they they didn't yet know what it signified just one stage further we go to the upper room to the upper room make ready to pass over it jesus said make ready to pass over it jesus said peter and john were sent to do it peter and john were sent to do it they signed a man bearing a picture of they signed a man bearing a picture of water water that place that place an upper room an upper room the man takes his water picture into the the man takes his water picture into the upper room leaves it and goes away and upper room leaves it and goes away and peter and john make ready and the 11 the peter and john make ready and the 11 the 12 perhaps sit down with the lord 12 perhaps sit down with the lord certainly 12 to begin with 12 sit down certainly 12 to begin with 12 sit down with the lord and with the lord and look at each look at each other there's the picture of water other there's the picture of water here all around here all around are 26 road stained feet are 26 road stained feet and nobody to do the washing and nobody to do the washing nobody nobody no slaves no slaves no servants no servants only the son of god jesus knowing that he came from god and went to god went to god having loved his own which were in the having loved his own which were in the world he loved them until the end world he loved them until the end and took a towel and took a towel and girded himself and took water and girded himself and took water and washed his disciples feet and they and washed his disciples feet and they let him let him that's a bad stain that's a bad stain on the record of 12 excessively proud on the record of 12 excessively proud men men so they let their lord do for them what so they let their lord do for them what they wouldn't do for each other they wouldn't do for each other and i know it's peter who spoke up and i and i know it's peter who spoke up and i know he didn't talk very good sense that know he didn't talk very good sense that he was the only one who protested he was the only one who protested the others were just going to let it the others were just going to let it happen lord i shall never wash my feet happen lord i shall never wash my feet because he should have said because he should have said give me the cloth lord let me do it give me the cloth lord let me do it but what he did say was better than but what he did say was better than nothing i shall never wash my feet that nothing i shall never wash my feet that isn't what kings do isn't what kings do and though when the lord said if i wash and though when the lord said if i wash thee not that has no part in me peter thee not that has no part in me peter went to extremes and said not my feet went to extremes and said not my feet only but also my hands and my head it's only but also my hands and my head it's part of that readiness to surrender that part of that readiness to surrender that peter always did show when the lord peter always did show when the lord showed him that he knew better showed him that he knew better they weren't a very credible company at they weren't a very credible company at all i suppose all i suppose at that last supper what with their at that last supper what with their quarrellings over chief places and the quarrellings over chief places and the two swords they secreted under their two swords they secreted under their garments and boasting about who would be garments and boasting about who would be most loyal to him and then this foot most loyal to him and then this foot washing business not a very credible washing business not a very credible company company well well only in the eyes of jesus who said only in the eyes of jesus who said ye are they which have continued with me ye are they which have continued with me in all my temptations in all my temptations not no bad commendation is it for a not no bad commendation is it for a monthly crew of 12 rather monthly crew of 12 rather misunderstanding men misunderstanding men they must have been a good deal better they must have been a good deal better than we think than we think i sometimes feel in fact i don't know i sometimes feel in fact i don't know whether you do but i sometimes feel whether you do but i sometimes feel that we rather like finding faults in that we rather like finding faults in the disciples of the lord jesus christ the disciples of the lord jesus christ not for its own sake but because not for its own sake but because if peter was pretty faulty then if peter was pretty faulty then i'm not as bad as i thought i was i'm not as bad as i thought i was if they made all their mistakes then god if they made all their mistakes then god shouldn't think too badly about me so shouldn't think too badly about me so the more mistakes we find in the twelve the more mistakes we find in the twelve the bigger we feel the bigger we feel it's not a very healthy exercise it's not a very healthy exercise it's far better that we should feel the it's far better that we should feel the right size right size and have the lord perhaps and have the lord perhaps smile in indulgence and forgiveness on smile in indulgence and forgiveness on our sins but certainly not have us cover our sins but certainly not have us cover them up and now they're going to the place where the lord will be arrested and they've the lord will be arrested and they've got two swords and one of them i suspect got two swords and one of them i suspect is short of a waistcoat and is shivering is short of a waistcoat and is shivering a bit for the lord has said he that hath a bit for the lord has said he that hath no sword let him sell his cloak and buy no sword let him sell his cloak and buy one i suspect having seen through what one i suspect having seen through what they've been up to they've been up to they were brave men these twelve silly they were brave men these twelve silly though they were and they were going to though they were and they were going to defend their lord even though they only defend their lord even though they only got two swords and they tried to do it got two swords and they tried to do it in the garden after they had their sleep in the garden after they had their sleep out and jesus had wet his great sweats out and jesus had wet his great sweats with drops of blood it was peter who drew the sword and struck the blow struck the blow he was wrong of course he was wrong of course but of thy sword into his sheath all but of thy sword into his sheath all they that take the sword shall perish they that take the sword shall perish with the sword but it was a brave thing with the sword but it was a brave thing to do for all that to do for all that though i should die with thee yet will i though i should die with thee yet will i not deny thee not deny thee he had said he had said and his only prize was one severed ear and his only prize was one severed ear not very good booty for one what could not very good booty for one what could have been fatal blow for him have been fatal blow for him but then perhaps he wasn't a very good but then perhaps he wasn't a very good shot shot maybe he wasn't after marcus's ear maybe he wasn't after marcus's ear perhaps it was his pace and he missed or perhaps it was his pace and he missed or marcus ducked marcus ducked but then again but then again judas was guide to them that took jesus judas was guide to them that took jesus and malcus was the and malcus was the servant of the high priest servant of the high priest judas and marcus could well have been judas and marcus could well have been side by side side by side did this faithful did this faithful but sadly mistaken peter but sadly mistaken peter see judas and see red see judas and see red and aim badly and aim badly and going between the two heads just and going between the two heads just lock off one ear lock off one ear we shall never know we shall never know but it might be held and malcus was healed and the lord was arrested and the disciples officer came arrested and the disciples officer came and fled and fled and within a very short time there was and within a very short time there was no disciple to be found except no disciple to be found except you know who it was you know who it was simon peter of course simon peter of course simon peter who had said i will not deny simon peter who had said i will not deny thee and couldn't keep out of harm's way thee and couldn't keep out of harm's way the other said they wouldn't too and so the other said they wouldn't too and so to it that they didn't they weren't to it that they didn't they weren't there able to do so they were in an there able to do so they were in an upper room where i would have been i upper room where i would have been i suppose suppose with locked doors but peter found somebody in the high priest court who could let him in priest court who could let him in tradition said it was john but i can't tradition said it was john but i can't think why think why anyway he found somebody who led him anyway he found somebody who led him into the high priest's court and there into the high priest's court and there he stood by the fire he stood by the fire warming himself warming himself according to the dreadful record to see according to the dreadful record to see the end the end it looks as though peter had nearly lost it looks as though peter had nearly lost all hope in christ now but all hope in christ now but marvelous man that he was marvelous man that he was he hadn't lost loyalty he hadn't lost loyalty he was there in the very heart of his he was there in the very heart of his enemies enemies to see the end to see the end warming himself that bitter night warming himself that bitter night by the fire but it was a fire and fires glow and their light as well and fires glow and their light as well as warm as warm and in the flickering flames peter could and in the flickering flames peter could be seen be seen the mate came the mate came surely that was one of his disciples surely that was one of his disciples quick as a flash off the top without quick as a flash off the top without thinking i was not the obvious emergency thinking i was not the obvious emergency measure the safety thing to do nothing measure the safety thing to do nothing to make sure you weren't arrested to make sure you weren't arrested there went one denial there went one denial only two wishes left now and then another said darth galilean darth galilean but speech be wrath thee but speech be wrath thee and poor peter who no doubt had been and poor peter who no doubt had been conversing as little as possible but conversing as little as possible but conversing in the hard rough accents of conversing in the hard rough accents of that neighborhood of his galilean that neighborhood of his galilean neighborhood i mean neighborhood i mean all of a sudden became all of a sudden became educated and refined and sought to educated and refined and sought to disguise where he came from and said oh disguise where he came from and said oh no i am not the disciple of jesus christ no i am not the disciple of jesus christ i don't know him at all i don't know him at all talking in an accident of 100 miles away talking in an accident of 100 miles away to make them think he wasn't from to make them think he wasn't from galilee galilee but worse than that he said but worse than that he said i call god to witness i don't know this i call god to witness i don't know this man man he denied he denied with an oath this is too dreadful too pitiful the man who said i will never deny thee the man who said i will never deny thee first denies in his own words and then first denies in his own words and then calls the god of heaven to witness to a calls the god of heaven to witness to a lie the man who had once heard jesus say lie the man who had once heard jesus say swear not at all swear not at all neither by heaven for it is god's throne neither by heaven for it is god's throne neither by the earth for it is his neither by the earth for it is his footstool neither by jerusalem for it is footstool neither by jerusalem for it is the city of the great king the city of the great king said i call god to witness i don't know said i call god to witness i don't know this man this man still one wish left still one wish left one crow two and now the kinsman of the man whose ear peter had struck up comes upon the scene peter had struck up comes upon the scene did not i see the inner garden with him did not i see the inner garden with him and what was it all worth the lord was and what was it all worth the lord was there being tried for his life nothing there being tried for his life nothing could save him he didn't want to be could save him he didn't want to be saved everybody had gone there was no saved everybody had gone there was no hope left and the man just crumbled to hope left and the man just crumbled to pieces and ranting and raving recalled pieces and ranting and raving recalled all the galilean fishermen's holes he'd all the galilean fishermen's holes he'd ever known and cursing and swearing said ever known and cursing and swearing said i know him not and now the lord turned and looked upon peter the lord turned and looked upon peter jesus must have looked upon peter and jesus must have looked upon peter and peter must have looked back wasn't he peter must have looked back wasn't he jesus turned and looked upon peter jesus turned and looked upon peter peter saw the look and it broke his peter saw the look and it broke his heart heart i don't know what the lord looked you i don't know what the lord looked you can't write down the look can't write down the look it wasn't i'm sure you've let me down it wasn't i'm sure you've let me down peter peter i think it was i think it was remember peter remember peter satan hath desired to have you all that satan hath desired to have you all that he may sift you as wheat but i have he may sift you as wheat but i have prayed for thee that thy faith pale not prayed for thee that thy faith pale not and when thou art converted strengthened and when thou art converted strengthened thy brethren thy brethren and he went out and he went out and sobbed and helped his sins away went out and wept bitterly went into hiding i suppose thought of himself as an outcast thought of himself as an outcast could hardly bring himself to think of could hardly bring himself to think of himself as one of the company himself as one of the company was restored by the lord's own words who was restored by the lord's own words who said go tell his disciples and peter said go tell his disciples and peter was in fact the first to see him amongst was in fact the first to see him amongst the men poke the men poke he appeared first on the key fast he appeared first on the key fast then unto the twelve then had to face the inevitable reckoning reckoning by the sea of galilee again by the sea of galilee again where he learnt the oath where he learnt the oath where he learned to know the lord where he learned to know the lord in a boat again in a boat again when he learned to know what the lord when he learned to know what the lord knew knew of what goes on beneath the depths of of what goes on beneath the depths of the sea the sea and inside the heart of man and inside the heart of man where where cast the net on the right side cast the net on the right side convince john first and then quickly convince john first and then quickly peter peter it is the lord and this time there was no though how easily that could have been this time easily that could have been this time there was no depart from me there was no depart from me for i am a sinful man for i am a sinful man there was i think the painful pent up there was i think the painful pent up heart sinking waiting for the moment heart sinking waiting for the moment when when the music had to be faced and it came the lord said the lord said simon simon son of jonas love us dummy more than these more than what it could mean do you love me more than it could mean do you love me more than you love these fish you love these fish or it could mean do you love me more or it could mean do you love me more than these disciples do than these disciples do or it could mean do you love me more or it could mean do you love me more than you love these disciples than you love these disciples you can't tell from the text you can't tell from the text i think you can tell from the obvious i think you can tell from the obvious necessities of the case necessities of the case i think jesus said simon are you i think jesus said simon are you prepared to say now that you love me prepared to say now that you love me more than the other disciples do you more than the other disciples do you have said that before didn't you though have said that before didn't you though all men will deny thee yet will not i all men will deny thee yet will not i are you going to say that now not he he will not compare himself with the he will not compare himself with the other disciples at all other disciples at all and thus for loving the lord has used and thus for loving the lord has used too big a word too big a word peter must use a smaller one peter must use a smaller one lord thou knowest that i am thy friend lord thou knowest that i am thy friend i will not claim to love you i will not claim to love you and the lord accepting that as far as it and the lord accepting that as far as it goes says goes says feed my land feed my land that's only one though that's only one though until the lord comes back simon son of until the lord comes back simon son of jonas love us dharmi jonas love us dharmi stepping down a step nearest peter's stepping down a step nearest peter's level leaving out the other disciples level leaving out the other disciples simon son of john tell me now will you simon son of john tell me now will you claim to love me if we leave the others claim to love me if we leave the others out out not peter not peter he will say just where he is that's as he will say just where he is that's as high as he's willing to rise high as he's willing to rise lord lord you know i am your friend there must come a third there had been three denials three denials there must come a third and so after the there must come a third and so after the lord has said tends my sheep lord has said tends my sheep he now comes to the third one and takes he now comes to the third one and takes peter at his own words simon son of peter at his own words simon son of jones are thou my friend jones are thou my friend using the words that peter had used as using the words that peter had used as though to make quite sure though to make quite sure three times three times if you say that if you say that i will believe you i will believe you and peter saw the inward import of this and peter saw the inward import of this and was grieved that the lord said unto and was grieved that the lord said unto him the third time simon son of jonas him the third time simon son of jonas are thou my friend and said lord thou are thou my friend and said lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that i knowest all things thou knowest that i love thee look inside lord and see do love thee look inside lord and see do you not find their friendship to you you not find their friendship to you the lord the lord did feed my sheep did feed my sheep his third commission his third commission peter being prepared for greatness peter being prepared for greatness being made ready for the acts of the being made ready for the acts of the apostles there is but one more john in the background peter catching john in the background peter catching sight of him out of his eye corner he sight of him out of his eye corner he seeth the disciple whom jesus loved seeth the disciple whom jesus loved following behind and having been told by following behind and having been told by the lord that when he is old one will the lord that when he is old one will bear him where he does not want to go bear him where he does not want to go and cause him to die says and what about and cause him to die says and what about john lord john lord that's an old old and the new new story that's an old old and the new new story that is this what about the other fellow that is this what about the other fellow creatures all alike lord they thought creatures all alike lord they thought they should have received more they should have received more equal pay for equal work equal pay for equal work this is the world's philosophy this is the world's philosophy not god's is it not mine to do what i will with mine own mine own follow follow thou thou leave leave that's the call to all of us that's the call to all of us poor looking at rich poor looking at rich plain looking at conley plain looking at conley unmarried looking married unmarried looking married sick looking at healthy sick looking at healthy what about these lord why don't you what about these lord why don't you treat us all alike treat us all alike my grace is sufficient for thee my grace is sufficient for thee is the best answer for now is the best answer for now no no chastening for the present seemed to be chastening for the present seemed to be joyous but rather grievous yet joyous but rather grievous yet afterwards it worketh the peaceable afterwards it worketh the peaceable fruit of righteousness in them that are fruit of righteousness in them that are exercised thereby exercised thereby you have heard of the patience of job you have heard of the patience of job and have seen the latter into the lord and have seen the latter into the lord how that the lord is very peaceful and how that the lord is very peaceful and of a tender mercy that must suffice for of a tender mercy that must suffice for now and for our present conduct wearing blinkers looking neither to wearing blinkers looking neither to right hand nor to left but for the joy right hand nor to left but for the joy that is set before him that is set before him follow thou me