Courage - A Sermon for March 8, 2026

This Lent we focus on Jesus’ final night

before his crucifixion.

John describes this night in detail,

and as I said last week,

it’s going to be challenging for us,

Today’s lesson is part of Jesus’ trial.

Peter is on trial too,

and you and I with Peter.

Peter’s verdict hangs in the balance.

Peter’s denial is interposed with Jesus’ interrogation.

There are themes of being in and out.

Those who are known,

and gatekeepers.

This passage is a bible nerd’s dream!

Last week we heard the story

of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet:

a notable shift in John’s gospel

as Jesus knew that the hour had come.

Signalled by something simple,

some Greeks asking to see Jesus,

the one who will gather all people to himself.

Jesus’ ministry has been leading to this hour.

After Jesus washes their feet,

there is a rather lengthy discourse

between Jesus and the disciples.

Jesus foretells his betrayal by Judas,

and Jesus gives them a new commandment

that they love one another

as I have loved you.

Then Jesus foretells Peter’s denial:

Simon Peter said to (Jesus),

“Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus answered,

“Where I am going, you cannot follow me now;

but you will follow afterward.”

Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now?

I will lay down my life for you.”

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows,

you will have denied me three times. (John 13)

In this lengthy discourse that follows,

on the night that Jesus is to be betrayed,

immediately after foretelling Peter’s denial

Jesus comforts the disciples,

Jesus seeks more to console as to be consoled:

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Believe in God. Believe also in me.

I go to prepare a place for you.

I am in my Father and my Father is in me.

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit,

the Advocate.

I am the true vine - you are the branches.

I abide in you and you abide in me.

I have called you friends.

You did not choose me,

I chose you.

Jesus promises peace,

sorrow will turn to Joy.

I am returning to my Father.

Take courage, I have conquered the world.

Finally, Jesus prays for the disciples,

for protection,

that they may be holy,

that they may be one.

As we turn to the scriptures today,

Jesus and the disciples had entered the garden.

This is where Judas brought soldiers

with police from the chief priests and Pharisees.

This is a familiar place

where Jesus had met with the disciples previously.

Jesus asks the them: “Whom are you looking for?”

Jesus of Nazareth.

I AM.

Then the Soldiers step back and fall down.

Again, whom are you looking for?

Jesus of Nazareth.

I told you I AM.

Peter took out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave,

cutting off his ear.

Jesus said to Peter,

“Put your sword back into its sheath.

Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

The scene is set.

Invite scripture reader forward,

welcome the Gospel with Gospel acclamation

GOSPEL: John 18:12-27

So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. 15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. 17 The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18 Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. 19 Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20 Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." 22 When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" 23 Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

Jesus has a powerful response to violence. Peace.

Jesus has a powerful response to accusation. Truth.

Jesus has a powerful response to denial. Love.

That’s who Jesus is. Peace. Truth. Love.

That’s not who Peter is.

Not yet anyway.

I can understand Peter’s fear.

The rubber has hit the road.

I’m not ready to die.

I’m not ready for jail.

I’m not ready for …

whatever terrible thing is about to happen.

I couldn’t protect Jesus in the garden:

I tried,

but Jesus stopped me.

I was ready to fight for him.

Now I have no idea what’s going to happen…

nothing good anyways.

It’s a haunting shift of character for Peter.

Hours earlier,

maybe minutes earlier,

Peter had declared to Jesus

“I will lay down my life for you”

Call it not understanding Jesus.

Call it cowardice.

Call it being a chicken.

Call it hypocritical.

Call it self-preservation.

Call it whatever you’d like,

it could happen to any of us.

It has happened to many of us.

Rather than Peace, Truth, or Love,

Peter chose denial.

Peter chose to lie.

Peter chose self preservation.

This kind of behaviour starts young.

Some say a child’s ability to tell lies

is a sign of intelligence.

I say it’s evidence of sin,

but what do I know?

You can imagine a child

with hands and arms covered in sharpie marker

with sharpie in hand:

“did you colour on the walls?”

No, it wasn’t me.

“Did you colour on yourself?”

No, it wasn’t me.

We don’t want the consequences,

so we lie,

we fib,

we fabricate,

even when caught red handed.

Perhaps you can relate.

“You are not also one of his disciples, are you?"

accused by a relative of the man

who’s ear Peter had just cut off.

"I am not.”

I bet you Peter still had the sword with him.

he was caught red handed!

I wonder what would have happened

had Peter simply said

“yes, I am one of Jesus’ disciples.”

But he didn’t.

We might wonder the same

about our own times of denying our Lord.

Jesus might not have been the God,

the Rabbi,

the Saviour that Peter wanted in that moment.

Jesus might not be the God that you want.

Peter may have simply not understood who Jesus really is.

Maybe we don’t understand.

We ought to remember that we have the gift of hindsight.

We have the gift of two thousand years

of Christian theology behind us.

We know what happens after Jesus died.

Peter didn’t.

The disciples didn’t.

Yes, Jesus foretold his death and resurrection

but did the disciples get it?

Not until Christ was raised.

The Jews were expecting the Messiah.

But not a Jesus kind of Messiah.

They were expecting a military political type of leader,

from the line of David,

who will restore Israel to glory.

That’s not who Jesus is.

For Jesus, It’s not about political power.

It’s not about military power.

It’s not about an earthly dynasty

But in Peter’s mind,

That’s what is happening,

political power

military power

earthly dynasty

That’s who Jesus is

that’s what Jesus is going to do,

and if this kingdom of Jesus is to happen

and there’s a threat of violence,

then Peter brings violence;

“I will lay down my life for you.”

So, when Jesus tells Peter not to fight,

not to lay down his life for Jesus with violence,

then Peter could be feeling just about anything.

Apathy.

Self Preservation.

Guilt.

Confusion.

Self-pity.

Rejection.

Then the cock crowed.

Shame.

Remorse.

Failure.

Caught red handed. Guilty.

Perhaps you can resonate.

Like Peter and the disciples,

we have our own images or desires

for who we want God to be.

Some of those images and desires need to die.

Jesus might not have been the God,

Rabbi,

Saviour that Peter had wanted.

Jesus might not be the God that you want.

But Jesus is the God that we need.

We need Jesus’ peace

we need Jesus’ truth

we need Jesus’ love.

That’s the Kingdom of God.

That’s power seen in vulnerability

That’s where life abundant is found.

Do you believe this?

Do belief.

Live truth

Live peace

Live love.

Especially when it is hard

especially when you are thinking self-preservation

especially when you feel self-pity

or remorse

or failure

or apathy.

or Guilt.

or Confusion

or rejection.

In a time where many believe the world is going

to hell in a handbasket,

in a time of polarity,

hard lines between one view and another

in a time of violence and retribution

The world doesn’t need another pre-resurrection Peter,

with outdated views of God

and sword in hand.

The world needs more post-resurrection Peters,

those who feed God’s lambs

those who are redeemed and forgiven;

those who Jesus calls.

The world needs Jesus.

The world needs Truth,

Peace,

and Love.

Truth takes courage.

Peace takes courage.

Love takes courage.

So take courage.

Take on Jesus.

I think about Jesus’ words in this brief story.

It seems to me that Jesus’ accusers are

are fighting truth with doubt.

fighting love with hatred

and fighting peace with violence.

Jesus doesn’t fight back

against doubt

and hatred

and violence.

But Jesus does confront doubt and hatred and violence.

Jesus confronts doubt with truth.

"I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.”

Jesus confronts violence with peace.

Jesus confronts hatred with love.

"If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong.

But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”

Jesus might not have been the God,

Rabbi, and Saviour

that Peter wanted.

Jesus might not be the God that you want.

But Jesus is the God, Rabbi, and Saviour that we need.

Thanks be to God that Jesus is here

Thanks be to God

that our self-preservation

self-pity

remorse

failure

apathy

Guilt

Confusion

and rejection

will not stop Jesus from doing what Jesus does.

When Jesus rose from the dead,

he made breakfast for the disciples on the lakeshore.

he could have confronted Peter’s denial

with violence or hatred or doubt.

“How dare you deny me?”

Instead Jesus confronted Peter’s denial

with truth - Do you love me?

with love - follow me.

with peace - feed my lambs.

Jesus is in our midst,

confronting violence and hatred and doubt

with truth

with peace

with love.

I believe Jesus is inviting us to do the same.

May you believe that this Jesus of Nazareth

is the Son of God

maybe not the God that you want,

but certainly the God that we need.

May you take courage,

take on Jesus,

and live truth,

live love,

live peace.

And may you, through believing in Jesus the Messiah

have life in Jesus’ name.

Amen.