Denied - Matthew 26:57-75 - March 8, 2026

So imagine being Peter. You've denied him. All the bravado is gone. You've denied him three times. He's looked at you. You've went out and wept bitterly. But friends, let me tell you, this is not the end. This is the good point of this story. This is not the end. So we're gonna skip forward a little bit this morning because I want you to know this isn't the end and also in other passages in the gospels when when Christ is telling them to to get the disciples after he's resurrected, he distinctly tells them and bring Peter. [01:19:21] (36 seconds)  #ThisIsntTheEnd

And that is the beauty of what it means to follow Christ. Because we talk about Peter, like I said, we talk about Peter, We talk about his denial and how how terrible it is. Without a doubt, it's terrible. So I ask you this question. Have you denied Jesus? Have you in your life denied Jesus? every time we choose sin over obedience, we are denying the lordship of Jesus Christ over our life. [01:23:20] (40 seconds)  #FollowChrist

And he says, if mister, they said, if mister Colson can be forgiven, then there is hope for all of us. And it is still true today because the cross is still true today. What Jesus did on the cross is still as true and still as powerful as it was two thousand years ago or in seventies with Chuck Colson or in the eighties with son of Sam or today as you're sitting in the sanctuary, the blood still has the power to wash away your sin. The cross is enough. [01:28:10] (34 seconds)  #TheCrossIsEnough

We don't know what tomorrow brings. We don't know if we're gonna get to tomorrow. So the question always, is that a promise or a threat? Well, this is both. Because a promise of salvation is available to you, but this might be your last day. And I know we don't like to thought think about that a whole lot, but it's true. And friends, I don't want to see anyone go to hell because those are the options. There is no other option. It's heaven because you've trusted in Jesus Christ. [01:29:20] (34 seconds)  #DecideToday

So we see this beautiful picture. Like, if we stop at the denial, this is this is a terrible end to a story. Right? This would be a terrible end to a life. But when we look at the whole of the picture and we see that the love that Jesus had for him, the love that he had for him, the forgiveness that he had for them, that he restored him. Of course, you see that that that happens in threes again. Denies him three time. He restores him three times. So, Peter got to recant each of those denials to Jesus's face, telling him that he loved him. [01:21:48] (35 seconds)  #RestoredLikePeter

You've accepted what Christ has done. Your sins have been forgiven because what Christ has done, or you reject him, and you are eternally separated from him in a place called hell. My prayer would be that you would come to know Christ. There's so much more to that than just eternity. Like, the things we get into here and now in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Like, we can praise that he is sovereign over us. Like that song, like, he's sovereign over us. He's with us in the fire. He's with us in the flood. [01:29:54] (37 seconds)  #SovereignAndWithUs

So whatever it is, whatever you're going through, whatever has been brought upon you, whatever is weighing on all this, that you are not alone. For one, your savior is with you. For two, look around. This body is one of the most supportive bodies I've ever been a part of. You guys love each other, and you love each other well. Lean in to what the Lord has provided for you in those times of weeping, in those times of rejoicing, because that's what this is all about. That's what this is for. [01:38:27] (42 seconds)  #YouAreNotAlone

Here's the problem with that charge. If anybody else ever in the history of time would have said those words, then Caiaphas would have been 100% correct. But since Jesus said it, it was not blasphemy because he was the Christ. He is the Messiah. He is the son of god. So, there's no blasphemy involved. Again, this is a verdict looking for a charge and that's what they have here. So, Jesus actually quotes the Old Testament here. [01:07:52] (30 seconds)  #HeIsTheMessiah

And the beauty of the fact that the scripture tells us that today is the day of salvation. The salvation is a ready gift for us because Christ has already paid the price. Christ has done everything needed for forgiveness. So today is the day of salvation. The offer is there, but also we don't know if tomorrow comes. We don't know what tomorrow brings. We don't know if we're gonna get to tomorrow. So the question always, is that a promise or a threat? Well, this is both. Because a promise of salvation is available to you, but this might be your last day. And I know we don't like to thought think about that a whole lot, but it's true. And friends, I don't want to see anyone go to hell because those are the options. There is no other option. It's heaven because you've trusted in Jesus Christ. You've accepted what Christ has done. Your sins have been forgiven because what Christ has done, or you reject him, and you are eternally separated from him in a place called hell. My prayer would be that you would come to know Christ. [01:28:57] (74 seconds)