Why was Peter so afraid? First, it was a failure to learn. He hadn’t thoroughly listened to the Lord, otherwise he wouldn't have been so afraid. Hadn’t Christ said several times over that he would permit himself to be arrested in apparent weakness, and taken and crucified; that he would suffer and die? Hadn’t he told them he would rise again and ascend into glory, and this was all to accomplish the plan of redemption? Why did it appear to Peter that everything was going wrong, that the plan of God was no longer on course, and that he too was in danger? He didn't fully take it Christ’s teaching. ‘But’, you say, ‘what would you do if you were in his position, facing certain death, arrest and violence?’ Yes, but we know from the Book of Acts what God would have done for him. In Acts 4 the authorities are furious with Peter and John, and yet they walk out of the temple precincts as free men. Then in Acts 5 Peter is actually arrested, and yet he walks free by the power of God. Again in Acts chapter 12 he is thrust into prison under doubled guards, and an angel of the Lord came and awakened him, and led him out and he was free. What would God not of done for him? How true that is of us! We seem to have half an ear sometimes. We believe in the Lord; we believe in the word; we read our Bibles every day, and yet we have half an ear and we don't take it all in. The Lord says, ‘Keep my day’, and some go shopping on the Lord's Day, and some turn on the television to take in entertainment. We have listening with half an ear. All the promises of God are with you, but the commands of God are given to you to safeguard and to obey.
Of course it was a failure of trust, a failure of faith. Why? Hadn't he attempted to walk upon the water, and beginning to sink, Christ had said the word and reached him, and he was safe? Wouldn’t that have strengthened our faith? Probably not, because we have had many prayers answered in a most remarkable way, and we have forgotten them, and they don't come to mind when we are in trouble.
Peter forgot the love of Christ. He forgot that Christ was divine, that he had loved him before the foundation of the world, and set his heart upon him. Are you a young man, a young woman, and you are keen and anxious for somebody to share your life and to share your heart? You begin to panic, and to be concerned about it? You forgotten the love of Christ: that he loved you long before you were born; that he determined exactly what he would do for you: how he would plan for your life, and watch over you, and discipline every sin; how he would bring you surely home.
Peter also failed to reflect on past experiences. He forgot the transfiguration on the mount when he saw the glorified Lord. We have had some wonderful close experiences with the Lord. Remember them; let them strengthen us and bless us. I heard somebody say once that faith is like an old-fashioned steam engine puffing along the track, drawing umpteen carriages behind. It’s dependent upon the fireman stoking up the fire constantly. If he sits back, it all peters out. Stoke up the fire of your love for Christ every day. We put ourselves first, and what we want and what we prefer. The angry word we are tempted to speak. All this must come first, and our being Christ's people suddenly becomes secondary, and we are disloyal. we have been in a place of employment for five years and we've never witnessed.
Then there was a failure in Peter to control the old nature. That old recessive nature in us was overcome by the new nature imparted at conversion, but it's still there. Don't believe the idea that the old nature has gone. I am very fond of Luther's illustration. You are like a ship with two captains. The old captain was evil and cruel. There is a new captain on board. The old captain is shut up in the hold below, but security is poor, and he gets free sometimes, and he starts rampaging about and some people obey them, and he gets his way. That is the old nature within us, the old sins bursting to be expressed once again, and if we are not watchful we let it. Peter let it. He curses and swears like an unconverted man, and he lost his temper. How many times did you and I fail to contain the old nature last week? In anger or unkindness or meanness or selfishness or something? Can that that happen to you or to me? Yes, it can. Did you spend an hour or two at some time last week worrying about yourself? ‘How is this going to affect me? How is that going to affect me? My lot is unfair and unreasonable.’ We focus on ourselves: what I want, what I should have, how I should be treated. Your loyalty will fail.