By my Hands, For My Sake:
Peter’s Hands
Mark 1:16-20, Mark 14:47, 1 Peter 3:21, Mark 14:22-31

† Jesus, Son and Savior †

May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ bless your hands, as God works through them, to bless the world!

• The Hands

During the midweek lent services, the theme has been hands and the cross

Adam’s hand that held the fruit he ate, the first time the cross was needed to correct actions…

Nicodemus’ hands which couldn’t be raised to ask a question, but would later remove Jesus from the cross.

Judas’ hands, as they toss the bribe money back, Barabbas’s hands that were freed from restraints, and last week, the hand of a son, nailed to a cross next to Jesus, but in heaven just a few hours later….

And tonight, we deal with look at the Apostle Peter’s hands, and how they were a part of the story of the cross.

• The Fisherman’s Mark 1:16-20

The first time they were encountered, Peter’s hands were working oars, and hauling nets. Rough hands, calloused, hard working hands. But hands which were meant for different work, for fishing for men rather than fish, for healing life rather than taking it, for writing scripture rather than keeping logs.

So many of us, like Peter, don’t use our hands for what God intended, until we know Him, until we experience His love. To encounter Jesus means everything, and changes everything in Peter! The Gospel of Mark’s retelling of Peter’s recruitment,

¹⁷  Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ¹⁸  And they left their nets at once and followed him. Mark 1:17-18 (NLT2)

This simple fisherman gives all of his craft up in a moment, and changes! But that same impetuous nature, will get him into trouble over and over!

• The Swordsman – Mark 14:47 (John 18:10)

Such as the time Mark, who was Peter’s assistant, tells us about that Peter, who uses his hands for evil. Mark writes,

⁴⁶  Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁴⁷  But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear. ⁴⁸  Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? ⁴⁹  Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.” ⁵⁰  Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.   Mark 14:46-50 (NLT2)

Though Mark won’t tell us who  “one of the men” was, John does. It’s Peter! He yanks out his sword, swings at a man’s head…and mostly misses !He just barely cuts off the ear!)

Jesus will heal the man, correcting Peter’s action, just as He is being arrested. Peter’s hands, like his mouth, didn’t have a way of filtering out the ideas he had. He just reacted, and so often that reaction was sinful, and didn’t consider the work God was trying to do!

We often sin like that, not thinking about what we are doing, not thinking about the temptation, but just falling into it. Other times, like when Peter is warming his hands by the fire, denying he knew Jesus, we know we are going to sin, and in our weakness, we can’t overcome temptation… and we fail…

But that is what this night, tomorrow and Sunday are all about… the fact that the things our hands have done… caused Jesus to die on the cross… but it was for our sake He did die.

The Baptizer  ( 1 Peter 3:21)

Peter’s hands, along with the other apostles, would be used for something different. On Pentecost, the hands which Peter cried into, having betrayed Jesus, would be wet again, but this time from the water where they baptized 3000 men and their families!

He would write to the rest of the church,

²¹  And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.   1 Peter 3:21 (NLT2)

Those hands, used to oars and ropes, nets and swords would pour water over people, and not because of the water but because of Christ’s promise, they would be united to Christ, and receive promises that were incredible….hear them again…

³⁸  Peter said to them, “Each one of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive God’s gift, the Holy Spirit. ³⁹  For God’s promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away—all whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:38-39 (TEV)

This is what Peter’s hands were repurposed to do, to catch people, to bring them to Christ as he made disciples by baptizing and teaching them… but there’s more…

• The Rememberer (Mark 14:22-31)

Try to imagine the first time, after the ascension, where Peter took bread, repeated the words of Jesus, broke and distributed His body and Blood?

Imagine the emotions running through Peter as he remembered this night, and Jesus’s words—understanding what they meant—and how that would impact him.

It would be overwhelming, especially knowing that it was just after that, that Peter said he would never leave Jesus, that He would die with Him. (see the Mark passage – paraphrase it into your words)

How could that not be on Peter’s mind as he said the words of institution,

Even as he realized. Because of the cross – he was forgiven.

What a moment that would be.. what a moment it is for us..

TO share in Christ’s Body and Blood – even as they did.. even as our hands were once as sin-filled as any…. But now…they are welcome to feast with Jesus….

How much would officiating at commune overwhelm Peter? How much would receiving it??? How would He be able to do so???

Because of His cross…he could. Because of the sacrifice which he knew was for him, he could.

The same is true for us, as we share in His Body and Blood –  we don’t deserve it, we have betrayed Him, and yet…we caused the need for His sacrifice… and yet… it was for our sake… He went there..

Let’s share in that feast!

(the Lord’s supper follows)