When You Sin On Christmas
It's Christmas time. The fire is on. Perhaps you went to church last night, read the Christmas story today. Maybe you vowed to God that you'd be better today. That you'd honor the birth of Jesus by being pure, not yelling at your wife, or some other sinful action. And yet, here you are. Moments, perhaps, after having done the very deed you wanted to not do.
Where do we go when we aren't where we want to be? When we've failed to honor Christ?
I want to show you something that has been very precious to me. It's the story of Peter. Over the month of December, I've been reading through the Gospel of Luke. It's quite interesting the things you pick up when you read multiple chapters of the bible in one sitting. You start to see patterns. And one that I've noticed lately is Peter is special. Peter was asked to follow Jesus. Peter was asked with James and John to follow Jesus up on the mountain for his transfiguration. Peter is also bold. Walks on water. Confesses who Christ is. I want to show you a few truths you can hold onto if you find yourself a disappointment to God tonight.
Truths for hard nights
Now we find ourselves in Luke 22 verse 31.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers...the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me."
Notice above. Jesus knows that Peter is going to betray Him. Friends, your failure does not surprise Jesus. It doesn't mean we can excuse our sin. It doesn't mean sin is small or light. It doesn't mean there is no fatherly displeasure over our sinful actions and choices. But it does not surprise Jesus. Do you think Peter, at hearing these words, is not frustrated? He responds:
“Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death."
Sort of like the vow you might have made, huh? "I'll be obedient God! I'll honor you!"
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
There is a type of bitter weeping that fills the soul when you realize the depravity of what you've just done. When you talked a big game... when you wanted to be more than you are. When you wanted to stand with Christ! And yet, here you are, weeping bitterly because you've turned away from the very Jesus you've been walking so closely with. I mean, Peter has walked with Jesus for years! Intimately! So close he could smell him. They healed people together! He saw Jesus transfigured and had multiple signs from God that THIS WAS HIS SON! Cmon Peter, how could you do this?
Bitter weeping
Is it any wonder the text says he went away and wept bitterly? Maybe that's you tonight. You feel as if you've let Jesus down? Gone against your word? Dishonored His name? Fallen into a sin that makes you feel so disgusted that you.. weep bitterly? Peter felt that. So what is our hope?
Remember what Jesus told Peter before He failed. "Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers..." Friends, could it be, that Jesus right this moment is praying on your behalf to the father? Take heart. Take comfort. Take peace in this reality. Jesus Christ is aware of your many sins, past, present, and future. And He is praying for you.
Not only that, but with this full knowledge of all that Peter was going to do, Jesus still went to the cross to die for his sins! And so it is with you. On the cross, Jesus had full knowledge of all that you would be. Every lie, every sin, every imperfection. And He still chooses to die for you! **Romans 5:6: "**For at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. " Take heart. This most recent sin has not given God any new knowledge of you that He did not previously have on the cross.
There is a time for bitter weeping. These realities did not comfort Peter on that fateful night. Weep. See sin for what it is. Bitter weeping has its purposes. We often allow it to drive us further into sin and away from God. But oh that it would help us see the gravity and ugliness of sin, and throw us all more into the beauty and kind arms of God! Don't waste your bitter weeping! Use it! Use it! Let it blow all the allure of sin out of your heart! And let it lead you to the one who knows you. And will dry all your tears.
Your story is not over
To finish the Peter story, Jesus comes back and asks Peter in John 21 to have breakfast. Now that is an interesting thing, isn't it? No yelling. No arguing. No punishment for Peter. No, Peter has paid already and will pay with his life, later. Just Breakfast with Jesus. Friends, tomorrow is a new day. When you wake up, could you have your "breakfast on the beach" moment with Jesus? Because on that beach, Jesus restores Peter 3 times. Three times for every denial. And then He commissions Peter to build His church.
Now, it would seem that maybe Jesus' prayers weren't that effective. Wouldn't it? Like yeah, Peter was restored. But He still denied Jesus... and Peter went back on his word to die for Him, didn't he?
I honestly never made this connection until just now. But do you know how Peter dies? Crucifixion. Peter does stay true to his word after being restored. He's not perfect. He still stumbles. But He keeps going. It's like on that beach Jesus told Peter, "Get back up, my son. We have work to do!"
Could that be your story this Christmas? I want more than anything for you to hear my voice and my pleading with you here. There is so much hope in Jesus! So much hope. God can look you in the eyes, like Jesus did with Peter. Seeing the failure you've been. And not give up on you. He won't give up on you! Keep running to Him.
It is not your strong hands that hold Christ, but His strong hands holding you. Jesus said something to Peter on that beach, it's the same thing he offers to you." Follow me.
Blessings,
Josh.