When we think about Peter we often consider his failures. Perhaps it is his failure to keep his eyes on Christ as he stepped out of the boat to meet Jesus. Or we may remember his failure at the arrest and trial of Jesus. As a matter of fact there were a number of failures in Peter's life. Perhaps that is why it is so easy for us to identify with him.
"Failure is a success if we learn from it." - Malcolm Forbes
Tonight I want us to consider one of Peter's failures, not to pick on Peter, but to learn from it. If it is human to say a dumb thing at a crucial time, and it is, then Peter was indeed human. In our text tonight we find Peter on a mountaintop in the presence of the Lord.
Read: Matthew 17:1-13
I. Peter Failed to Hear what Christ was Trying to Tell Him
A. The transfiguration was for the disciples: Christ did not need this, but they did, and that is why they were witnesses.
B. It was designed to show.
1. The truthfulness of some previous statements:
a. Peter's confession of faith (16:16).
(Matthew 16:16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
b. Christ's declaration of impending death.
(Matthew 16:21) From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
2. The glorious nature of Christ.
3. The superiority of Christ to all others - Moses and Elijah were there as representatives of Law and Prophets.
4. They disappeared, and the disciples saw no one save Jesus only.
5. The approval of God on all Christ's words and deeds: Note the voice -
a. Identification - this is my beloved Son.
b. Satisfaction - in Whom I am well pleased.
c. Injunction - Hear ye Him.
C. Peter missed the whole point.
1. Christ was teaching that they must go on to Jerusalem where He would die in the plan of God. Peter was saying, "Let us stay here."
2. God was teaching that Christ was superior to all. Peter tried to make Him one of equals by building three tabernacles.
3. We often fail for the same reason Peter did - we aren't quiet long enough to hear what God is trying to say to us.
II. Peter Failed to Understand the Nature of Spiritual Lessons
A. The whole event was spiritual in nature - an otherworldly radiance, otherworldly visitors and an otherworldly voice.
B. The whole event was designed to reach spiritual truth.
1. The nature of death - Peter, James and John were here. They were with Him three times when He taught about death:
a. House of Jairus - Christ's power over death.
b. Transfiguration - Christ's triumph over death.
c. Garden of Gethsemane - Christ's yieldedness to death.
2. That the path to glory lay through suffering.
C. Peter missed the point again.
1. He was too busy building thatched huts in his mind.
2. We get so busy thinking about earthly things and building tabernacles of our own that we often miss spiritual truths also.
III. Peter Failed by Trying to Step Ahead of God
A. God was making His purposes clear - He was confirming Christ's statement and giving more details.
(Luke 9:30-31) And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
B. Peter sought to intervene.
1. He said, "Let's stay here."
2. Actually saying, "Here, yes; there, no!" and "Glory, yes; suffering, no!"
C. Peter gave a remarkable demonstration of humanity.
1. He set his will over against God's.
2. We tend to do this same thing in the areas that Peter invaded - suffering and where the details are not clear.
IV. Peter Failed by Trying to Contain God in Temporal Quarters
A. They were in the presence of eternity - the glory and the visitors both showed this.
B. Peter sought to confine the whole thing in time.
1. Tabernacles or booths are thatched roofed huts.
2. In wanting to construct such huts, Peter made several mistakes:
a. That Christ could be thus contained.
b. That Christ and His visitors would be thus contained.
c. That Christ and His visitors needed to be thus contained.
C. He thus revealed much of our own problem.
1. We also try to get God into temporal quarters such as a building, our human conceptions or our finite minds.
2. We usually end up with inadequate conceptions of God and a God that is truly too small.
V. Peter Failed by Trying to Hold Today's Blessings for the Future
A. There was much yet to come in the plan of God.
1. More teaching.
2. A sojourn in the valley (14-21).
3. Some lessons to be learned about power, responsibility and Christ.
B. Peter would have settled to hold on there on the mountain.
C. Christ made plain other purposes.
1. Led them down the mountain.
2. Told them to tell no one.
a. Because the next theme was the cross not the glory.
b. Because they needed to wait for the Holy Spirit to help them tell it.
c. Because visions are of little value except to those who see them.
d. Because this would have tended to make them live on it.
D. Clear message here for us.
1. The valley often follows the mountains.
2. We must enjoy today's blessings today.
3. Our experience needs to be new each day - can't live on yesterday's.
Peter failed: to hear what Christ was trying to tell him to understand spiritual lessons by trying by trying to step ahead of God by trying to put God into a box by trying to make today's blessings last until tomorrow.
But Peter's main failure was one of self-will. We fail in the same ways for the same reasons. But we are told that Peter learned. But will we?
(2 Peter 1:15-18) Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.