Satan‘s storm blows into Peter’s life.
Text:
Matthew 14:22-36 and Mark 4:35-41
Satan stalks you and me, too.
Patiently, incessantly, invisibly … silently … watching, watching.
Watching us … Satan seeks “an opportune time” to bring some temptation into our hearts and minds that will accelerate the winds of the storm.
And how Satan hopes that you and I will fault God in some way! That will make Satan happy.
Think of Peter.
Remember the Last Supper? Jesus is trying to explain to his disciples that He is about to be crucified.
Jesus explains to his disciples:
” … All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”
Bold, audacious Peter the disciple says, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.”
Jesus told him, “Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.
Likewise also said all the disciples.”
You see, Jesus knew that Satan was stalking.
Satan sees boisterous Peter … and the devil hopes he can catch him “at an opportune time”and humiliate him. And he does.
Quite a crowd follows those holding Jesus in custody.
The crowd ends up outside the palace of the High Priest, the people observing from a distance what is going on inside.
Peter is with them.
First, Peter denies he is a follower of Jesus to a young woman who points him out.
Next, another young woman spots him and points him out.
Once again, Peter denies Jesus.
Then, shortly afterwards, the men who observed these denials come to Peter and say — for certain, you are one of His.
This time, Peter didn’t just deny being a disciple — he threw a fit, we could say.
Peter starts cursing and swearing … and, all of a sudden … Peter hears the rooster crow — fulfilling Christ’s prophesy that before the cock would crow Peter would deny him 3 times.
The Devil didn’t make Peter do it.
Satan just hung around and manipulated others to put Peter in an awkward spot … creating “an opportune time” to bring on a huge storm in Peter’s heart and mind … and tongue.
Scripture says that Peter was so ashamed that he went out alone and wept bitterly … but while Peter wept … Satan was dancing a victory dance over the outcome of the storm in Peter’s life.
