Guilty by Association Part 1

Sunday, February 6, 2022 
Guilty by Association part 1 
Matthew 26:69-75 

Peter was the first to be called by Jesus into the discipleship. 

He was the most outspoken of them all as well. 

Peter had a big personality. 

He was brav, he was courageous, he was bold, he was impetuous, a reactionist at times he could have had an ego, he had a way of pushing Jesus' buttons sometimes, yet he loved the Lord with all he had. 

Peter had great faith, he had great trust, he believed, sometimes he was his Own Worst Enemy. 

I think that his personality and character held many pros and cons. Out of it all, I think it was an Achilles heel that placed him in the predicament he was embroiled in this night of our text. 

It was over self confidence and pride in that self-confidence . 

It's great to have self confidence in oneself, but we also have to understand that our strength and abilities are gifted to us by God. 

When self-confidence becomes a problem in our relationship with the Lord and specially when pride creeps in, the Lord will test us and if necessary break us. Through all of this though there were times when Peter also showed that he was capable of using these and in concern of the best for Jesus and others. 

He showed weakness when he was walking on water, when he took his eyes off Jesus and he began to sink. 

He called out to Jesus to save him in Christ's reach down and lifted him up and Grace and love, but he also reminded Peter that he had little faith at that moment in time. Jesus was expounding on his upcoming passion. 

Peter told the Lord to stop talking about such things, Christ recognized what was happening, looking at Peter yet commanding the devil, said “Get behind me Satan, you are an offense unto me. 

This Time Peter unwittingly was letting the devil's influence his thinking! And Jesus calls him on it. 

On the way to Gethsemane Jesus told his disciples that beginning that night that the disciples would begin to be persecuted and hated because of being associated with him. 

Peter confidentially blurts out oh, I don't care if the whole world turns against me I would never do that. 

Christ’s response to that overconfident statement, “You think you won't ever deny me, before this night ends and I cock crows three times you'll deny me three times Peter.”

Again Peter overconfident and prideful he says “Even if I have to die beside you I'll never disassociate with you.” 

Jesus was telling him that night others will find you "guilty of Association" and you Peter will not stand against it. 

your heart will want to, but your mind through fear and self-preservation won't let you. The mine will be willing but your flesh will be weak. 

You're over self confidence and pride that you have because you of your association with me will evaporate before the accusations of guilt by association with me, by others. 

Those were very short-term prophecies. 

Christ is about to be placed under arrest in an attempt to prove his undying loyalty oh, Peter cuts off the ear of a servant of the high priest. 

“Sheathe your sword Peter, those that live by the sword will die by the sword.” All of the disciples scatter as Christ said they would, including Peter. Christ is taken to Jerusalem and stands before Sanhedrin, as he is being interrogated Peter works his way toward the hall. 

As he sat in the temple Courtyard a young girl said to him” I recognize you, you were with Jesus of Galilee.” 

Denial 1: 

He denied her accusation of him being guilty by association with Christ in front of all within earshot. 

“I don’t know what you're talking about.” 

A little time passes and he leaves the courtyard and enters into the temples long ext. Covered area. 

Another girl points him out and say’s “This man here, he was also a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. 

Denial 2. 

Wilting before this second “guilt by association” accusation, he denied it and said “I was not, I don't even know this man.” 

Again time passes and another accusation of “guilt by association” with the arrested Nazarene. 

“You are one of them, you're a Galilean because your accent betrays you as such.” Peter snapped, he began to curse and swear and said “I do not know that man.” The rooster crowed a third time and Peter came out of his brain fog. And Christ words of Peter's Denial in his refusal of being found “guilty by association” with Christ, began to hit him like a ton of bricks. He lost it and ran off crying with regret. 

Why did Peter deny his association with Jesus, what was it? 

fear of being arrested as well as self-preservation by any means. 

So first he lied.

Then you took an oath to the LIE. 

And then he lost his temper and totally lost his witness. 

That self confidence and pride could not be found. He could not withstand the accusations. 

Peter we know again was reverse crucified in Rome. 

His brother Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross and suffered for two days. James the brother of John is believed to have been beheaded by orders of Herod Agrippa in Judea or run through with a sword. 

James the less Christ half-brother was taken to the Pinnacle of the temple cast-off, survived somehow and would then be stoned and his skull crushed with a club. Bartholomew, skinned alive and well still alive, was crucified inverted like Peter. Jude was beaten with a club and then crucified in modern-day Turkey. Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia by being staked out and speared to the ground. Philip was impaled by his ankles, hung upside down until he died in Egypt. Simon evangelizing in modern-day Britain was crucified, taken down and sawed in two. Thomas was impaled with a spear in India, and he refused to be found “guilty by association.” Also found Redemption and reconciliation with Christ. Each, except for John who lived till he was 95 ended up giving their lives for God's Kingdom and for the Gospel. 

Their greatest fear of being found ‘guilty by association” with our Lord and it's very possible outcome of execution and persecution came full circle, because it became an Act of Valor to be found “guilty by association” with Jesus of Nazareth. Others from the early church: 

Paul beheaded in a Roman prison. 

Mark Drug by horses until dead 

Luke hung on an olive tree 

Matthias who took the place of Judas was stoned and beheaded in Jerusalem 

Part 2: 

Are you willing to be found “guilty by association”? If so and you're arrested would there be enough evidence to convict you as a Christian?