Matthew 26:33-35 New International Version (NIV)

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

Hey everybody. Hoping you are well. In this weird time, be safe, wash your hands, and protect the vulnerable.

The quote in the bulletin for today comes from Woody Guthrie, “ all my words, if not well put or well taken, are well meant.”

What I need you to do as we talk about this event in the saga of Peter and Jesus is to forget that you know the rest of the story. I need you to hear the story in the present, you can’t look ahead to the hours that will follow and the events of those hours. You need to hear the story as it unfolds in the present moment. The present moment is this:

Jesus and his followers have just finished a pre-Passover meal. They move out from where they were eating and are entering the garden of Gethsemane. The meal, In the minds of the friends of Jesus, is a celebration meal. They have just experienced the most extraordinary week, well couple of weeks.

We go back just a few days as Jesus stands outside the tomb of dead Lazarus and cries out, “Lazarus get out of there.”

And sure enough, Now alive Lazarus walks out of the tomb. This event happens in Bethany, just a couple miles from Jerusalem.

Word of the miracle of Lazarus spreads quickly, and Jesus recruits a slew of new followers just as he is about to begin his ministry in the holy city. Along with new followers, Jesus also attracts a new set of critics, enemies and haters.

Soon after the Lazarus event, Jesus and his band of followers parade into Jerusalem amidst cheering and palm waving and singing. Jesus has been teaching every day in Jerusalem since that parade. With each sermon preached, and parable told, and aphorism pronounced, Jesus’ followers are more amazed with him, while his enemies’ hatred grows more and more intense.

Jesus would teach his followers, argue with his dissenters, and prove himself to be head and shoulders above the detractors in intellect, spirit, and passion.

And so, at the celebration dinner on Thursday night, Jesus’ friends were excited and celebrating what was happening.

But now, in this moment, Jesus changes the subject and the sense of the evening. He gets very serious as he says to his assembled friends, “Before the night’s over, you are going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me.”

And Peter responds, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Jesus says. “Tonight, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times.”

Peter protests, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.”

According to the scripture, all the others join in and say the same thing.

Here is where it’s really important that you forget the rest of the story for a few minutes.

Let’s think about Peter’s response to Jesus.

Some say he’s being braggy, or boastful, or cocky.

Some claim he is naive.

Others describe him as impulsive.

I think he is being amazing.

Peter has been the leader among the disciples since the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Peter was among the first, perhaps was the first, person to say yes to Jesus when Jesus was just starting, and gathering together his band of willing followers.

It appears that Peter’s home, or at least his wife’s families home, was Jesus’ headquarters when he stayed in Capernaum.

It was Peter, when seeing Jesus walking on the water, and hoping to calm the fears of the other disciples, asks Jesus if he can walk on the water as well.

It was Peter who responded to Jesus when asked “who am I?” with the answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

It was Peter who declared, as Jesus’ followers were leaving him left and right, “We are with you, where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life!”

It was Peter who volunteered to erect tents for Moses and Elijah on the mountain when they met with Jesus.

It was Peter who had the courage to challenge Jesus when Jesus said things that he didn’t understand.

It was Peter, just moments before this moment, who tried to prevent Jesus from dirtying his hands by washing Peter’s feet.

Peter was the leader of this crew, and so it is Peter, when Jesus starts talking about the disciples falling away, who declares, “Not me. I’m not going anywhere. Even if the rest, everybody else, fails you, I’m here with you.”

Even when Jesus’ points out that Peter will indeed let him down, Peter pushes back, “No! No! No! I am with you to the end.”

Now be sure to note what happens next. The rest of the disciples don’t dismiss Peter, but rather, take up his rallying cry, “we are with you to the end.”

Peter’s courage, Peter’s pluck, is simply amazing. In this moment when the leader of the band seems to dismiss his followers, Peter stands tall. And then as Peter stands, the other disciples gain courage as well.

Now, for those of you who have not forgotten the rest of the story, you know what’s going to happen in the next few hours. You know that courage is going to melt away. You know that fear is going to take over. You know the disciples will flee and Peter will deny Jesus.

But in this moment, there is courage. And actually, as Jesus is being arrested in just a bit, there is an initial surge of courage and protectiveness that comes from Peter and the rest of Jesus’ friends. It may be short-lived, but it is there. And I think it comes because Peter has shown the way, the way of courage.

I think courage counts for something, even if courage is followed up with failure and weakness.

To be faithful to Christ in our lives is often an act of courage.

It is courageous to walk alongside the bullied.

It is courageous to turn the other cheek.

It is courageous to love one another.

It is courageous us to pray for your enemy.

It is courageous to be kind.

It is courageous to stand up, to speak out, to hold strong.

And it is courageous to recognize that amazing courage can be fleeting in a moment. After Peter’s spectacular failure of courage, it is Peter who is back once again leading the disciples behind those closed doors on Saturday after crucifixion. It is Peter running to the tomb after Mary’s announcement that Jesus is alive. It is Peter who stands up on the day of Pentecost and declares the love and grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Courage isn’t a straight line. There is an ebb and flow to it. And the important thing, it seems to me, is that when we fall short, that we are always welcomed back through the love of the Savior, and invited to stand courageously again.

Thank you Peter for teaching us courage.

Amen.

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.