Matthew 26:36-46 - You Are a Rock - March 8, 2023

If I say “the Rock,” what thought comes to mind? These days many people – at least people of my generation – would probably think of the famous actor and wrestler whose real name is Dwayne Johnson – a man, who, physically at least, does bear a striking resemblance to a large rock. And that’s the first and last time I will mention him in a sermon…we’re not talking about him. Our theme tonight is more closely associated with a boast once made by Lycurgus, the ruler of the Greek city of Sparta around 820 BC. Even though Sparta was famous for its military prowess, the city itself wasn’t protected by brick or stone walls like most cities of the time. When asked about this by a visiting ambassador, Lycurgus reportedly responded: “Come with me tomorrow and I will show you the walls of Sparta.” Early the next day the king led his guest to a plain some distance from the city, where the Spartan army was gathered. Pointing proudly to his soldiers, he said, “that city is well fortified which has a wall of men instead of brick.” [1]

Peter might have agreed with that concept, right? He was – at least in his own mind – a “brick,” solid as a rock. Did he have any right to have such a high estimation of himself? Well, didn’t Jesus nickname him petros, which, in English, we might translate as “Rocky?” (Matthew 16:18) We just heard how Peter boasted of his own “rock-solidness” on Maundy Thursday: even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away (Matthew 26:33). Sadly, the biblical record tells a far different story.

The biblical record tells us that Peter proved himself brave enough to walk toward Jesus on the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee, only to shortly thereafter begin to sink – like a rock (pun intended) – beneath the waves because of his fear and unbelief (Matthew 14:22-33). It tells us that Peter was a bold confessor of Jesus’ identity, calling him the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). But it also says that shortly after that Peter rejected Jesus’ mission, trying to talk him out of going to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world (Matthew 16:22-23). When Jesus was washing his disciples’ feet on Maundy Thursday, Peter at first refused – and then, after Jesus explained what he was doing, demanded to be washed from head to toe (John 13:8-11). Hardly a rock-solid position to take. When the mob led by Judas approached, while he was brave enough to slice off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus, moments later he fled with the rest of the disciples (John 18:10; Matthew 26:56). Peter was bold enough to venture into the courtyard of the high priest to see how Jesus’ trial would turn out – but, when questioned about his identity and relationship to Jesus, he didn’t stand firm like a rock, he crumbled like sand, denying that he knew Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75). On Easter morning, when the women reported what they had seen and heard, Peter sprinted to the tomb – but later that night he was locked in a house with the other disciples out of fear of the Jews (John 20:19). The biblical record is clear: Peter was hardly a man of rock-solid thoughts, words or actions.

How did this happen to Peter – this man whom Jesus had nicknamed “Rocky”? If he was so solid, why did Jesus have to warn him to watch and pray instead of falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane? The answer is simple: the devil was at work with his lies; he was trying to sift Peter like wheat (Luke 22:31). He had convinced Peter to believe the lie that he was stronger, more loyal and more faithful – not only than the other disciples, but than Jesus told him he was. And he’s far from alone in Scripture. Abraham thought that he was man enough to father sons with different women and not have to pay the price (Genesis 16:2-3). (Incidentally, as you hear about the ongoing violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the world is still paying the price for that sin.) Samson figured he was invincible until Delilah buzzed his head – and realized that he was powerless without God (Judges 16:19). Jonah was a pretty tough guy – when God told him to go to Nineveh he boldly boarded a ship in the opposite direction – until he got tossed into the sea and swallowed by a fish (Jonah). So it’s not surprising that, having successfully used this tactic so often in the past, that the father of lies would implement it once again – this time on one of Jesus’ inner circle.

So what’s the lesson? The lesson for us is this: once the devil finds a strategy that works to successfully separate people from their Savior, he doesn’t stop using it. Just note how successful he’s been in using humanity’s inherent pride, arrogance and ego to continue to separate them from Jesus today. The religion of secularism sown by the father of lies has convinced millions today that we are doing pretty well, on the whole. In order to get better all we need to do is believe in something sincerely and be tolerant of everyone else’s beliefs; toss any concept of a holy God, sin, death, damnation and hell to the curb; and reject any idea that there is anything such as absolute right and absolute wrong. We’re all free to do our own thing as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. And if you add a dash of sexual freedom to that postmodernist stew – including ingredients like premarital sex, LGBTQ rights, abortion on demand, euthanasia and suicide – and you’ve got all the ingredients for the disaster that our society is becoming today, don’t you?

But arrogance, pride and ego aren’t just manifested outside these walls, either. How many parents have proudly stood at this baptismal font and promised to do everything in their power to help that child remain a child of God until death? How many have kept that promise? How many confirmands have stood before an altar like this and swore to be faithful until the point of death so that they may inherit the crown of life (Revelation 2:10) – and yet the devil has convinced them that they can make their way through life without God? How many couples have vowed to be faithful to each other until death, in sickness and in health – and yet failing to keep their marriage grounded in God and his Word – saw their marriage crumble to pieces? How many of us have ventured into places or websites or books or TV shows or groups of people that we know we shouldn’t because we’ve convinced ourselves that we are strong enough, we won’t give into temptation. This Lent we need to recognize and reject the devil’s lie that we are rocks; that is, that we are strong enough to stand firm by ourselves. We need to repent of our proud and arrogant hard-headedness. We, like Peter, need to heed our Savior’s warning to watch and pray, so that [we] do not enter into temptation, because like him [our] spirit is willing, but [our] flesh is weak. Peter’s example tonight shows us how dangerous it is to believe that we are spiritually stronger than we actually are – or, as Solomon put it in Proverbs pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

I suppose the question, then, is: what are we supposed to watch and pray for? While we certainly need to be watchful and alert for the devil’s lies and temptations, we’re fooling ourselves if we think that our vigilance can defeat them. Peter’s case proves that we are neither as vigilant or as obedient to Jesus’ command to pray as we should be. No, the only way to avoid or escape temptation is to look to Jesus. He’s the only One who actually earned the title of “Rocky.” The question is: is that how you would describe the Jesus we see in the Garden of Gethsemane – as a Rock? He confesses that his soul is sorrowful, even to the point of death. He begs his disciples for help and support. He pleads with his Father to take the cup of suffering from him – not once, not twice, but three times. He needed to be strengthened by angels (Luke 22:43) – his own creation. Is that what it looks like to be a spiritual, mental and physical Rock? Well, yes!

As he was faced with a showdown with the ultimate powers of darkness: sin, death and the devil – Jesus didn’t proudly or arrogantly march into the teeth of battle – instead, he fell on his face before his Father, prayed that the cup of suffering for the sins of the world might be taken from him, and for strength to submit his will to his Father’s will. I know the world doesn’t see it this way; I know that often we don’t see it that way, but this is what true strength looks like! True strength doesn’t come from in here – from our own strength or decision or determination – but from God. But Jesus didn’t just pray and trust to give us an example to follow – he primarily did it as our substitute – to obey God’s command to call on me in the day of distress. I will deliver you, and you will honor me (Psalm 50:15) because we haven’t. And then, strengthened by the angel with his Father’s power, Jesus was a Rock as he withstood the mocking and torture of men, the sinister lies of the devil, his own Father’s wrath, and even death itself – and crushed them all by his death and shattered their power by tossing aside the rock that covered his tomb in his resurrection. Because Jesus crushed the devil’s skull – we don’t have to believe his lies anymore. We’re free to admit, perhaps for the first time, that we are not strong and courageous, but weak and helpless. In other words, if you really want to be strong, admit that you’re not and rely completely on God for strength.

Peter eventually learned that he was not a rock; that he could not stand alone, no matter how strong he thought he was. With the exception of Judas (and John), all of Jesus’ apostles eventually got the message. Trusting that Jesus died and rose for them – these men did willingly die for the Rock, for their Savior. But, without question, the only way these men found the courage to be faithful to the point of death, was through fervent, constant prayer to the Father who granted them strength.

Learning that he wasn’t a Rock was a hard lesson for Peter and the other disciples to learn. It is a hard lesson for us to learn, too – because we often overestimate our own strength – and we often pay the price for it, like Peter did. But we must learn it. We must learn that no matter how strong we think we are – even if we are physically and mentally strong or if we know our bibles and catechisms from cover to cover – we are not rocks; we are not strong enough to deal with the real problems of life alone (2 Corinthians 12:9). We are not powerful enough to overcome the enticements of sin on our own. We will never be able to go one on one with the devil and win. We may long to be home with our Lord – but none of us are brave enough to face down death alone. The good news is – we don’t have to. Jesus has already crushed those enemies once and for all. Peter wasn’t a rock. I’m not a rock. You’re not a rock. And that’s ok. Because Jesus was and Jesus is our immoveable. And when we watch and pray and stand firm on him, then nothing can move us. Amen.

[1] https://www.bartleby.com/344/262.html