• Close the distance Matthew 26:57-75
• Most people know the story of Peter. Denied Christ 3 times after Jesus told him he would. 
• It was prophesied and it happened. But I’m always looking for clues of the why and how?
• Always been full obedience- Deut 28:15 – “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”
• The Bible is a contrast in obedience. Those who are v those who aren’t and how they end up. 
• The stories of the Bible show many different people from different times that either followed God and his ways, or rejected God and his ways. Ended well for some, not so well for others
• The story of Peter is a story of Good and bad- that’s why so many people identify with him
• Some Bad things about Peter. 
• Impulsiveness: Peter had a tendency to act impulsively without thinking things through.
• He famously cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant during Jesus’ arrest, and was rebuked by Jesus for his violent response (John 18:10-11). Who hasn’t been in a bad predicament because of impulsiveness? Not thinking something all the way through before doing it. 
• Prejudice: Peter initially struggled to accept the idea that Gentiles could be part of God’s kingdom. As a Jew, he thought it best that only Jews were God’s chosen people. 
• He was rebuked by God in a vision for his prejudice, and later went on to preach the gospel to Gentiles and defend their inclusion in the church (Acts 10).
• We’ve all thought the wrong thing about people before knowing all the facts. 
• And then this we’re discussing- Fear: Peter struggled with fear and doubt, particularly when it came to his association with Jesus. He denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of His arrest, out of fear for his own safety (Matthew 26:69-75).
• Good things:
• Bold faith: Peter had a strong faith in Jesus and was willing to take risks to follow Him. He was the only one of the disciples to walk on water when Jesus called him out of the boat (Matthew 14:28-29). I’m sure most of us could recall a moment when our faith was bold
• Leadership: Peter was a key leader in the early Christian church, preaching and teaching the message of Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles. What a privilege to be used by God!
• He was also one of the apostles chosen to represent Jesus at the Jerusalem Council, where important decisions were made about the future of the church (Acts 15:1-21).
• Repentance: Peter made mistakes, but he was quick to repent and turn back to God. later on received forgiveness and restoration from Jesus (Luke 22:54-62; John 21:15-19).
• Most of us repent when we’ve Done things that are wrong and that’s a great thing
• This record this am is a record of obedience v disobedience. 
• Peter’s actions were disobedient to what he knew to be true:
• Followed Jesus to the high priest’s courtyard, but kept his distance (verse 58).
• questioned by a servant girl about whether he was with Jesus, denied it three times (vs 69-75).
• Swore an oath, saying, “I do not know the man” (verse 72).
• Left the courtyard weeping bitterly after realizing what he had done (verse 75).
• In contrast, Jesus’ actions- he was obedient to what he knew to be true:
• Went willingly with the temple guards who came to arrest him (verse 57).
• Remained silent during his trial, even when false witnesses were brought forward (vs 62-63).
• Confirmed that he was the Messiah when asked by the high priest, and predicted his future return (verses 64-65).
• Endured physical abuse and mockery from the guards and soldiers (verses 67-68).
• Differences- Kept his distance v went willingly. Denied 3 times v remained silent. Swore an oath of denial v confirming that he was the messiah, left the courtyard v enduring physical abuse. 
• Peter’s actions demonstrated disobedience fear and weakness,  he denied his association with Jesus and abandoned him in his time of need. Didn’t walk out what he knew to be true
• Jesus remained steadfast in his commitment to his mission, even in the face of persecution and suffering. He was obedient to the Father even in the face of death. 
• But how? How did Peter fail so miserably? How did he end up this way?
• As much as his life is a constant example of what God can do with a broken person, I think another great example could have been what God can do with a life  filled with faithfulness not failure. Peter could have acted differently and not denied Christ. 
• Here’s my issue- sometimes we like the story of Peter too much because some people use it as an out for not having to be faithful. “oh I’m just a peter” and never change. 
• Let me say this- My life has countless failures! It’s a crooked path! But I wish it wasn’t!
• All of our stories don’t have to be redemption, repentance, prodigals and peters
• nothing wrong with having a testimony of faithfulness and closeness with God. Nothing. 
• So how did he end up here? How did he move from obedience to disobedience
• I think I found a hint- Matthew 26:58 But Peter followed Him at a distance 
• This wasn’t always the case for Peter- This is the one of the first disciples called by Jesus, The one who walked on Water, The one who was brought up to the mountain with Moses and Elijah where Jesus was transfigured, The one who Jesus said “On this rock I will build my church”, The one who Jesus washed HIS feet. Peter was CLOSE with Jesus. I’m thinking right at his hip.
• “but Peter followed him at a distance” huh? Why isn’t Peter right there with Jesus now?
• Here’s what I know about people- When they are about to do something to you, or something has changed in their heart against you, their body language changes, their tone, their actions, the way they interact with you. People have a hard time acting contrary to their inner convictions.
• Church-Used to raise hands, come early stay late, full of Joy and a heart of service and then poofola gonzo like a cutco rep after buying set of steak knives. (Friends who used to call)
• I’ve had people that come up and talk to me and hug me every Sunday for YEARS and then every Sunday turns into every other Sunday. The amens become less, they leave after they used to hang out. You call them and say “everything ok?” they be like “yeah man, all good” no call
• Suuure. “but peter followed him at a distance” I think he was already pulling away from Jesus. He may not have known it- sometimes its conscious. Sometimes subconscious. Really hard to hide when your heart has turned. You can try- but most people don’t lie easy
• Its like a job- once you start interviewing other places you work differently. Boss knows it. 
• He should have closed the distance. He should have not followed from a distance. 
• This phrase was popularized in military contexts, where it refers to troops moving closer to the enemy, closing the distance between themselves and their target. 
• used to describe the process of closing in on an enemy position during an attack or advancing towards a target during a mission.
• also used in non-military contexts, such as in sports or interpersonal relationships, to describe the act of moving closer to a goal or objective or to someone emotionally or physically. 
• Overall, the term “close the distance” has become a common expression that refers to the act of decreasing the physical space between two or more entities that need to be closer
• At first notice of an inkling of a heart change peter should have got CLOSER not FARTHER
• He should have found a way to reassess where he was at and then do something Different
• It’s a moment of “ I used to do this, and now I do this” “I used to feel this, and now I don’t” 
• I get it. People are inconsistent. They don’t even realize they are changing. You need to

So how do we close the distance? How do we not follow from a distance

Most importantly- Watch the words coming out of your mouth and speak truth!

• Peter was questioned three times and three times he didn’t speak up
• A servant girl, a servant Girl and then some bystanders- 1-2-3 times he missed the mark!
• He could have spoken up! He could have spoken up! This was an open door to close the dist. 
• Do I know him? You bet I know him- Where should I start. This one time I was walking on water with him, one time I went up on a mountain with him and moses and Elijah were there, one time He washed my feet. We are CLOSE. You messing with him you’re messing with me. 
• Our bodies follow where our words lead us. We confess our faith, take vows, 
• Start speaking differently about something and watch (hate job, spouse, workouts- LOVE AUB)
• When the danger comes walk towards it, not away from it. Close the distance. 
• THAT’S THE MOMENT- Right at the moment the question is asked- move closer to the truth not farther away from it- close the distance- Get closer. So close there’s not way to distinguish from the two- so close they are one. SPEAK UP WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE TRUE
• Tighten up your shot group, raise the bar, bring your A Game, Give it all you got. Whatever. 
• But he didn’t. He missed the opportunity and failed miserably. 
• We identify with this! Those times we were given to share the truth about Jesus and we failed miserably. (Something changes, $, weight, work, laziness, know what should do but DON’T)
• Here’s the great news tho- Peter eventually figured it out!
• In the 4^th chapter of acts- Peter and John are out doing ministry after Jesus has been resurrected. They are before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin are upset because Peter and John are causing a ruckus. They are losing power. They want them to shut up. 
• Acts 4:20 – “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
• They couldn’t help but speak up about what they had seen and heard about Jesus! 
• Here’s peter- the one who denied Jesus three times speaking up! Closing the distance! 
• This is the opportunity that you have in your own spiritual life- Speak up when you are given the opportunity! Don’t miss out on the opportunity! Learn from your past and close the dist. 
• Failure in sharing my faith- very common- Friday On the plane- Working on Sermon- Was able to share with the guy next to me- stopped working on this for him- Whats more important?
• You look back at this story- and you see Peter wept bitterly when he realized that he had denied Jesus 3 times- I don’t know for sure- but if it were me- That would be something that would be in my mind for the rest of my life, and I would want my future to be different. 
• I’m not here this morning talking to you about a missed opportunity. I took it! 
• I look at Peter and how he lived after the resurrection and he was changed- something must have clicked in his brain to get him to get on the straight and narrow. To close the distance. 
• I have sins I have committed that I reflect back on to keep me from doing it again
• I think about how I felt and the remorse, the guilt the shame. Not because God makes me feel that way, but because I FELT that way. I don’t feel that way anymore- I have moved past it. 
• But I REMIND myself of it because I DON’T want to go back to it! I don’t want to feel that way again. I know what being away from the Lord feels like and I HATE IT. I close the distance! 
• I wonder if that’s what was going on in Peter’s mind when he wrote-
• 1 Peter 3:15 – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
• Maybe he figured out after his denial that he wasn’t going to do that again. He wasn’t going to be the guy that denied Jesus again. He was NEVER going to be silent again he was NEVER going to deny him again!> 
• This what we love about Peter. He figured it out. 
• Peter became a leader in the early Christian church in Jerusalem – Acts 1:13, Acts 2:14-40, Acts 15:7 Peter performed many miracles, such as healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate – Acts 3:1-10 Peter was imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa I, but was miraculously freed by an angel – Acts 12:1-19 Peter traveled to other cities to preach the gospel, including Samaria and Caesarea – Acts 8:14-25, Acts 10:1-48 Peter played a key role in the Council of Jerusalem, where he argued for allowing Gentile converts to Christianity to be exempt from Jewish laws and customs – Acts 15:1-21 According to tradition, Peter eventually traveled to Rome and became the first bishop of Rome, or pope – Early Christian writings, such as the First Epistle of Clement (c. 96) and the writings of Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 180)
• Peter was instrumental in the initial expansion of the Christian church and to this day is revered as such. 
• He even has two of his letters in the New Testament! These were addressed to Christians to help them overcome suffering and fight false teachers. 
• According to tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero, and was buried on Vatican Hill. 
• Perhaps Peter would have been crucified with Jesus had he not denied Christ. Maybe he would have been on Golgotha with the criminals. Maybe
• But what his life shows after the fact- is that was willing to Die. He was willing to step up, spread the Gospel and suffer what ever repercussions came with it. 
• TODAY- 
• Where you at. If you’re close, stay close. If you’re slipping, following at a distance, close it. 
• Run up on Jesus. Be right there. Don’t be anywhere else. 
• You can decide that you are never going to again deny that Jesus is your Lord
• You can decide that you’re never going to miss the opportunity to share your faith
• You’re going to speak up when given the opportunity
• Watch the words coming out of your mouth and make sure you’re not creating distance. 
• My testimony wasn’t an amazing one- It was quite a simple one- but it changed me
• I knew the truth- I knew who Jesus was from a very early age, and it was when I finally decided I was either going to be crucified with Christ or crucify Christians that my life was changed. 

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