John 18:12-27 on March 8th, 2026
Above is audio of the sermon pulled from the video and amplified.
Below is transcript pulled from the video and formatted by artificial intelligence. There may be inconsistencies or errors.
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As we continue the walk toward the cross through this season of lent, we pick up the story having skipped over several chapters since last week's foot washing. Jesus and His disciples have now finished their upper room dinner where Jesus gave some final teachings, said His farewell, and headed out to a favorite hangout spot, the Garden of Gethsemane. It is there that Judas brings a detachment of soldiers to arrest Jesus.
Our story today begins as Jesus is on trial before the high priest, Peter and another disciple followed. Jesus has asked questions and answers openly about His disciples and His teaching, nothing that He said was in secret. In fact, He replies, why are you asking me, ask those who heard what I said, they will tell you. It's almost painful to hear because if there is anyone who should be able to tell about Jesus, it is Peter. He has followed Jesus since the beginning. He's seen the signs, heard the teachings, learned Jesus's side. He's the one who refused to let Jesus wash his feet. That is until Jesus said he would have no part if you were not washed. Then in typical Peter fashion, he is all in. Not my feet only, but my hands in my head.
Yes, Peter is a good disciple, the best disciple. If anyone can answer for Jesus, it's Him. But when he's asked about Jesus, when Peter is put on trial himself, Peter does not answer openly. Peter fails. Peter denies and not just denies being a disciple of Jesus, but denies being in the garden. Peter denies relationship with Jesus. Peter denies all links to the disciples. Peter fails in his little mini trial. The cock crows. And Jesus's words linger in the air. Ask them, they will tell you how heartbreaking the one disciple you think would do it. The one follower who could answer the call, the one apostle who could tell you about Jesus, he is the one who fails dramatically. He was asked and he didn't say a word.
So what do we take away from this scene? What do we learn from it? Well, we get start by listing all the ways that we deny and fail Jesus. The idols that we place ahead of following Him, the ways we prioritize ourself, our hypocritical nature, say one thing, live another, the opportunities that we've squandered away to say, yes, I know Jesus and here is what He said. The cock crows in our lives, too. So maybe the lesson is just be more aware. Know your weakness and you'll do better next time. And there's some truth to self-awareness. But here's the problem. Peter knew Jesus had told him directly before the cock crows tonight, you will have denied me three times. Right after washing his feet, Jesus basically handed Peter a script of exactly what not to do. And Peter still fell apart. Our own awareness, our own knowledge, our own willpower cannot keep us from denying.
And focusing on Peter leaves us with nothing but a pity party and a do better sermon. And do better is not the gospel. And worse, the longer we stare at Peter's failure, the longer we're not looking at Jesus and not paying the longer we're not looking at Jesus and not paying attention to Jesus is yet another form of denial. So let's shift our eyes from Peter's failure to Jesus's faithfulness. Notice how Jesus handles himself. He speaks rightly. He speaks the truth. As the cock crows, Jesus's earlier warning to Peter after the footwashing proves true. And this truth speaking has been the pattern throughout his public ministry. The woman at the well, he told me everything about my life. The official son, your son will live, the raising of Lazarus. I am the resurrection and the life and so much more. All that Jesus says has said is true. And that includes ask those who heard what I said. They will tell you. Even in the face of Peter's denial, even with the cock crowing, those words are still true.
But how? Because Jesus knows there is more to come. Jesus looks to the future, not to failures. Even in the face of all that is going on in this moment, he knows that this is not the end. Jesus knows that God's love and faithfulness will do everything. That love lasts through betrayal, denial, even death itself. It doesn't just survive those things. It works through them. God's love takes the worst moments, the deepest failures, the most devastating denials and refuses to let those be the last word. God's love gives another chance. It changes, transforms, resurrects another opportunity for relationship and life. And because of that love, Jesus knows that even the betraying, denying, deserting disciples will one day share his teachings with the world. Because Jesus's love doesn't stop. It doesn't cut ties, it doesn't betray back. And even as they deny, Jesus remains faithful to them. And because of that faithful love, the disciples are redeemed. They become the very ones who tell the world everything that Jesus said and did.
And Peter most of all, not to spoil the ending, but even though Peter denied Jesus three times on that glorious Easter morning, Peter is huddled around a different charcoal fire. This time on a beach. And three times, a resurrected Jesus asks, Peter, do you love me? Three denials, three moments of grace. And this is what leads Peter and all the disciples to proclaim God's faithfulness love and forgiveness. And Jesus's love doesn't leave us at failure. Instead, it brings a new future. That is what Jesus shows us. And even as we deny, Jesus remains faithful to us too. We trust that we are forgiven even as the cock grows in our own lives. And no amount of ambition or awareness on our part can change that. But Jesus loves. And that love is what makes the difference. That love leads to resurrection. That love brings life. That love keeps the relationship intact through everything despite anything. Jesus turns denial into gospel. Jesus turns failure into life. Jesus turns us into faithful disciples through love, through redemption, through resurrection.
When we focus on Peter, we get the wrong message. A nice message may be a helpful message, but it is not the gospel message. For the gospel, we look to Jesus. And that message is loud and clear. And Jesus is faithful. Jesus loves us. Jesus transforms us. Jesus resurrects us to new life, a life where his teachings are in our hands. Ask them. They'll tell you what I said. Because of that, there's hope. Hope that even we, even we can love and share and bear witness to God's relentless, abundant life-giving love for the world. Amen.