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We’re in our third week looking at the passion of the Christ, the last days of his life, trying to answer the question of what the purpose of Jesus’ death was.  Over the past two weeks we’ve looked at the lamb – that Jesus Christ was the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world - and the cup, that in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus agreed to drink the cup of God’s wrath on all human sin out of love for us.  I would encourage you to listen to those sermons online if you would like to understand those in greater detail. 

Today I want to look at two of his disciples and what the cross and resurrection of Jesus meant for them.  They are two men who had similar experiences leading up to the cross but vastly different reactions to Jesus’ death and resurrection.  They are Judas and Peter.  I want to begin in Matthew 26:31, after the Last Supper, so that we can hear some of their stories:

Matthew 26:31-35 -  Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'  ³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."  ³³ Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."  ³⁴ "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."  ³⁵ But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.

Peter, originally known as Simon, was very impulsive, always the first to stand up for Jesus or answer his questions.  When Jesus was walking on the water towards the disciples, Peter is the one who climbs out of the boat to walk towards him.  When Jesus asks his disciples who he is, Peter is the one who answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  But he is also the one who tries to tell Jesus that he should not be crucified, earning the harsh rebuke “Get behind me Satan.”  Jesus nicknames Simon “Peter”, which means “The Rock,” telling him that upon this rock he will build his church.  And in this passage, Peter swears that even if everyone else falls away, he will never disown Jesus.