Aspects of Loneliness
TOTAL FAILURE - Luke Chapter 22 Verses 31 - 62
There are very few experiences in life more devastating than letting down a close friend. It is heart-breaking to be the injured party, but I believe it is even worse to be the one who has broken the trust of a well-loved friend. The thought of living with such guilt is often totally overwhelming. We have been looking at some of the times when men and women in the Bible passed through times of deep loneliness and depression. This time we are looking at the Apostle Peter, one of the best-known of all the disciples of our Lord.
The story is found in three of the Gospels, and we are taking Luke chapter 24, verses 31 to 62 as the basis of our study, looking at it under four headings: Forewarning (verses 31-34), Forgetting (verses 39-46), Forsaking (verses 54-60), and Fearing (verses 61-62).
Forewarning ... Our Lord must have had many thoughts upon His mind, and many concerns in His heart as the hour of His death drew near. But He took time to speak to Peter personally, warning him of the concerted attack that Satan was launching against him, and assuring him of His care, concern and prayers. Together with the word of warning Jesus gave Peter a powerful message of reassurance: "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail."
What a word from the Creator of the Universe, the Lord of Life and Glory, the Saviour of the World; "I have prayed for you!" Pause for a moment to remember that this was spoken in the shadow of the cross upon which Jesus would suffer and die a few hours later. What grace! May I also remind you that this was spoken by the very One who has ascended to the right hand of God and is now our Great High Priest, who intercedes for us.
If He was concerned about the attack of Satan against Peter, don't you think He is equally concerned about Satan's attacks against you? If He prayed for Peter then don't you think He prays for you? Hebrews 7.25 tells us that "Jesus lives for ever, with a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." That is a message for you today, and it comes with all the powerful authority of God's Word which cannot be broken!
How did Peter respond to this gracious warning? Did He thank the Lord for His concern and His prayers? Did he realise his weakness and cast himself upon God's mercy and grace? No! We next see Peter guilty of a human frailty to which we all fall prey only too often...
Forgetting ... He reacted in the same way in which many of us react, in pride and self-confidence. He told the Lord, "I am ready to go to prison and death with you." I am sure he really meant it, as we often do when we make our bold promise of commitment to the Saviour and His cause!
First of all it seems that Peter quickly forgot his Lord's warning, but perhaps of even greater importance he also forgot the teaching that Jesus had given him during His three years of ministry. Jesus had told the disciples, "Without Me you can do nothing." He had pleaded with them, "Abide in Me", and had expressed His personal desire, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Yet here was Peter, just a few hours later, thinking that he was well able to resist Satan in his own strength. The other disciples may fail the Lord but not him; he was made of sterner stuff! But only a few minutes later we see this bold, brave fisherman, who claimed to be so strong...
Forsaking ... He denies His Lord with oaths and curses, terrified when an ordinary servant girl in the High Priest's Palace accuses him of being associated with Jesus. Only too often the tests that we fail to pass, and in which we let our Saviour down, are the ones that come in small and insignificant ways. The taunt of ordinary people; the curl of the lip by a neighbour or business colleague; the unkind remark by a so-called friend; these can often cause our downfall.
Peter himself tells us in his first letter that, "The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Paul also reminds us that there are times when Satan masquerades as an angel of light. We need to be on our guard constantly, taking full advantage of the spiritual armour which is listed for us in the sixth chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians. If only Peter had remembered the warning of Jesus, and had followed the wonderful teaching He had given during His earthly ministry, he would have been prepared and armed for the devil's attack. Let us learn the lesson and act upon God's gracious promises, so that, as Peter goes on to tell us, we will "Resist the devil, standing firm in the faith."
Finally we see Peter... Fearing. Verse 61 paints a graphic picture "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him 'Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times'." Imagine the thoughts running through Peter's mind! Would the Lord now disown him? Was this the end of their beautiful friendship? Had he completely blown it? Was there no hope for him now? A deep sense of loneliness gripped Peter's heart as he disappeared outside into the cold night air and, says, the writer "he wept bitterly."
This was no passing emotion; no mere sentiment; he had failed his Lord, and Jesus knew all about it. He was out of touch with his Lord; at odds with his Saviour. And the worst part of the whole experience was the thought that he might never see Jesus again; might never be able to obtain His forgiveness. A dreadful fear filled his heart, and a deep sense of loneliness.
I wonder, is that where you are today? You have failed a close friend, or member of the family, or worse still you have failed your Lord and Saviour, and life just doesn't seem worth living! You are beginning to ask where and when it will all end. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? Do not forget that this story of Peter, failing his Master, has a happy ending!
When we turn to the last chapter of John's Gospel we see the genuine repentance of Peter, and the lovely way in which Jesus not only restored to him the joy of his salvation, but also gave him a most responsible and rewarding work to do! There is a way back from your place of failure and loneliness, but it is the way of repentance and confession. Peter himself could write: "You were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." What a word for us in our day!