Peter's Denial Of Jesus: The Fallacy And Failure Of Free Will
What would be the worst news you could receive? Think about this in spiritual as well as natural terms. Imagine if you will, that you are Peter, one the Lord's most devoted disciples, one with a pretty impressive "spiritual resume" (leading up to the point of his denial of Jesus). Imagine your reaction upon hearing what to you, would without question, be the single most devastating news possible to hear.
"Before the Rooster Crows You Will Deny Me 3 Times"
With these words, Jesus stunned and dismayed Peter. With this pronouncement, Jesus overwhelmed Peter. With this prediction, Jesus offended Peter. With this indictment, Jesus revealed the fundamental inadequacy of human will-power, or "free will". With this example provided for us in scripture, the Holy Spirit wanted to paint and leave with us a graphic picture of why when human nature is at its best - morally, spiritually, it is also at its worst. All of these things are present within this singular account of Peter's denial of Jesus. The question therefore is, Why?
Peter's Spiritual Resume: A Foundation For Self-Righteousness:
Prior to this moment of complete spiritual collapse, Peter was a truly outstanding example of a devoted follower of Jesus. Consider his credentials:
I. He was one of a very small group of people, who literally "left everything behind" to immediately follow Jesus. When Jesus walked by and said "Follow Me", Peter left his only source of income (his fishing boat and nets), and instantly started to follow Jesus. How many others have ever done the same?
II. He was the first disciple to recognize and confess who Jesus really was - "The Son of the living God." This perception was not the result of his own human reason or perception, but only by the revelation given to him from the Father ( Matt 16: 17). Jesus indicated that Peter was "blessed" in having received this revelation from the Father. Jesus did not commend Peter's human perception, intelligence or dilligence in having reasoned or searched it out.
III. He was the only disciple we have record of who actually "walked on water" on one occasion. Just think of the trust and faith it took to do this. Even though he eventually got his eyes off Jesus and then sank, the point is, he had actually walked on water! Have you?
IV. He had been empowered to perform actual miracles and healings on at least two occasions when Jesus sent out the disciples to minister in His name.
V. He was one of the "inner circle" of Jesus' closest companions, along with James and John. He was personally present on the mount when Jesus was "transfigured" before them. He actually heard the audible voice of God from heaven at that time.
VI. He had been a personal eye-witness to all of Jesus' teaching, and every miracle and sign and wonder which Jesus did over the 3 years or so, of His public ministry.
This all amounts to a pretty significant resume of spiritual character and commitment,. How many other people since can honestly, legitmately claim the same things? All of these things though, formed the basis for Peter's greatest weakness - self-righteous pride and or, self-confidence. The ONLY alternative to these two is full conscious, deliberate trust in the grace of God. In the final analysis, it all comes down to this: Either our trust is in the person and finished work of Jesus ALONE, hence in the GRACE of God; Or, it is in ourselves. There is no other middle ground here. As we will see, the source of our greatest accomplishment, can become the very basis of and for our greatest weakness.
Foreknown and Foretold: "You Will Deny Me Three Times"
Up to that point in his life, everything in his own heart and mind told Peter that he truly loved Jesus...look at the track record of the past 3 1/2 years of his life! This all affirmed to Peter, that he truly believed Jesus was the Son of God; That he was genuinely committed to Christ and His teaching; That he would never leave or deny Him. But the moment those words came out of the mouth of the Son of God, Peter's world was turned upside down. He was set on a collision course with destiny which would forever change him. Events had been set into motion, which were entirely beyond Peter's control and which he had no power whatsoever to alter..and which would forever, demonstrate the fallacy and failure of 'free will'. Let's dig deeper.
Peter debated this statement from Jesus. He passionately protested it. It was not possible! Others might deny Jesus, but not Peter! Others might give in to cowardice or fear, but not the man who had walked on water. The other disciples may forsake Jesus, but not Peter. Surely, no one else loved Jesus or was as committed to Jesus as Peter had been. When Peter protested this statement from Jesus, he was not engaging in some "false bravado" in front of the others. He was not trying to act a part outwardly, while inwardly, he knew in himself this was exactly what he was about to do. No! The facts are - Peter did NOT believe he was capable of what Jesus had just spoken!
There was absolutely no reason to believe that in a matter of hours (not months or years in advance, over which time passion and devotion could possibly slowly erode), he either would or even could "utterly deny" and disown Jesus. (The Greek construction is emphatic: Jesus said Peter would UTTERLY DENY Him). Jesus therefore HAD to be mistaken! As far as Peter could tell, to the degree that he was sure of his own heart's motivation and intention and the commitment of his will - his choice - what he believed to be his own 'free will' choice, he was confident he would and could not deny Jesus. (The problem though is what the source of this confidence was, as we will see in Part II). But rather, that if necessary, he was ready at at moment to "go to prison or to die with Him". This is what Peter firmly and honestly believed was true of himself and his commitment to Jesus. There was no evidence anywhere within himself that he was consciously, truly aware of, in terms of his own heart's leanings or intentions, nor anything within his consistent practice the previous three and a half years of being with Jesus which would serve to corrobborate the suggestion that he was about to "utterly deny" Jesus. Thus, Peter rejected the statement outright...even though it was spoken to Him from the person and mouth of Jesus Himself!
"Satan has requested you that he might sift you as wheat"
Consider this statement, and the theological implications behind it.
First: It reveals the sovereignty of God OVER Satan. As was true with the old testament figure Job, Satan was NOT at liberty to do as he wished, at his own convenience, when and however he wanted to do. When it came to one of God's own children, Satan could only do what he was allowed to do. Thus, when it comes to the child of God, and what pressures or temptations they will face, it is ultimately, God and neither man nor the devil who determines what those pressures and tests, temptations and trials will be. That Satan had to request permission from God to "sift" Peter (and possibly the others, if the "you" in the sentence - "Satan has desired to sift you as wheat" - is plural and not singular), proves that much, if not all of the modern ideas which assume Satan has "legal right" to do as he wishes on earth, are fundamentally in error.
But, did not Satan in his 3rd temptation of Jesus say, "All these (the kingdoms of the world) are mine. And I can give them to whomever I please"? Yes, Satan did say those words to Jesus. And the amount of theological error and incomplete or incorrect understanding that has come from them, within the church, is staggering! It seems more believers are willing to build their understanding of the world on what Satan said/says is true, rather than on what God did and does! This can never be a good thing! The truth is, Satan is a LIAR! He is the "father of lies" and there is "no truth within him". He lied when he said this to Jesus - who thankfully, knew better. Jesus knew that "The earth is the LORD's AND the fullness thereof. The world and those who dwell in it" (Ps 24: 1; 1 Cor 10: 26). Jesus knew that it is God and not Satan, who is "the govenor above the nations" (Ps 22: 28). Jesus knew that "God is in heaven, and He does as He pleases" (Ps 115: 3). Jesus also knew, "God does as He wills, among the hosts of heaven and the inhabitants of earth and none can resist Him or stay His hand" (Dan 4: 35). In NONE of these passages, are we told that Satan either owns or controlls the world and its inhabitants. The truth is, Satan rules over the hearts and blinds the eyes of the unbelieving masses, and rules over the world system...but both of these are only as permitted and allotted by the sovereign will and wisdom of God.
But, does not the Psalmist also say, "The heavens belong to the LORD, but He has given the earth to men" (Ps 115: 16)? Yes, he does. But that does not invalidate the truth stated elsewhere about WHO actually is sovereign over - which means has power over to move, manipulate, determine and or control, the earth and its inhabitants. And if taken at its face value, Psalm 115: 16 says nothing about the issue of control, but speaks rather to the issue of habitation. God being an infinite, non-coporeal Spirit, "dwells" in heaven. Jesus said He is our Father "who dwells in heaven". Mankind, being material dwells on the earth. In the light of the afore-mentioned verses which plainly describe for us WHO rules the heavens and the earth, there is no reason to "read more into" what Psalm 115: 16 says than it actually does. Though Satan be called "the prince of this world", there is a KING above and over him! Though Satan be called the "god of this world", the "LORD is the God of gods" (Duet 10: 17), being the "MOST HIGH GOD" (Gen 14: 18; Ps 92: 1).
Second: It reveals the fallacy and failure of 'free will'. Satan had desired to 'sift' Peter. Satan was about to attack Peter's faith and commitment to Jesus. Satan knew if he could weaken Peter's faith enough, OR misdirect it to being in the WRONG source (his own will-power, rather than entirely in and upon Christ and His grace), that Peter would be easily "sifted" and collapse. But what makes this so significant in the light of "free will" (so called) is that it reveals the impotence of human strength in the face of the devil's ability to sift. The fact is, whenever and whereever Satan attempts to "sift" people (apart from the gracious enabling of God's own grace), they ALWAYS fail. From the garden of Eden, to the present day, "There is NONE righteous, no not one. There is none who does what is good, none who understand, none who seek God." (Ps 53:1 - 2; Rom 3: 10 -12). When the scripture says this, it is meaning that there is NONE who do these things of or by their OWN human will-power or initative. That many - enabled and empowered by God's grace have and do now by faith "seek Him" and "do good" in His sight, is not being denied by these scriptures. The issue is the SOURCE of faith and the resultant actions which flow from it. Thus, the ONLY way by which anyone has or does do these things, is by grace. Since Satan has a 100% track record of successfully deceiving and enticing ALL people into sin, the idea of "free will" is laughable! There has never been one of Adam's descendents - EXCEPTING THE SON OF GOD, who has not fallen into sin and depravity, incurred the consequences of sin, and "gone astray". Not one! The truth is, when God sees us and ALL of our attempts at righteousness, apart from the operation of His own grace in our lives, His verdict is "We are ALL as an unclean thing...and ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS is as filthy rags" (Isa 64: 6). Please notice, it is not merely our "sin" which God sees as being "filthy rags" in His sight, but out (supposed) righteousnes that is! If our attempts at righteousness are so pathetic in His sight, missing the mark so badly that they are considered as nothing more than "filthy rags" by Him, where does that leave our actual "sin"?
One of the greatest deceptions of the evil one, is for people to become self-confident, and or self-righteous (both mean the same thing). As long as people's attention is on themselves, and what power they think they have to be or do righteousness, of their own ability or choice (hence, will-power), Satan knows that even if and when they may appear outwardly to men, to be "good and holy", God sees them very differently! God "opposes the proud" we're told. Something Peter would write in his epistle many years later. But He "gives grace to the humble". Though God is "on high", and "inhabits eternity", the one who gets His attention is the one who is "broken and contrite and who trembles at His word" (Isa 57: 15; 66:1 - 2). God cannot endure nor abide the proud in heart. The ONLY alternative to being proud in heart is to be broken-hearted. The ONLY alternative to being proud in spirit, is to be "poor in spirit". The ONLY alternative to being "self-righteous" is to depend/trust wholly and solely on the righteousness of God, by His grace, through faith in the person and perfect work of Jesus. Our greatest strength can and WILL become our greatest weakness, when our attention is off grace and Christ, and onto our own will-power or ability. Satan wants us to be self-confident and self-righteous and is not fearful at all of us while we are. He knows that is the pathway to failure. God wants us broken and contrite, and so the story unfolds further...
(c) Dec, 2008. John M. Platanitis.