This is day 36 on our 40-day tour through the gospel of John.

We're in John 18, verses 15 to 27 today.

And now the spotlight shifts primarily to Simon Peter, at least for a little bit before we get back to Jesus.

We'll still hear from Jesus.

He's being put on trial, kind of a pre-trial part in front of the high priest.

And he is telling the truth.

Meanwhile, in contrast to that, Peter's going to start to tell lies.

Just as Jesus predicted that he would. In John chapter 13, verse 38, Peter says, I would never deny you.

I would die for you, Jesus. The other gospels quote Peter and even add to that so that he says it

even louder and with more pride you've got

the wrong guy Jesus maybe one of these other disciples will deny you maybe one of these other

disciples will betray you but it would never be me you know me I'm your right hand man I'm with

you to the bitter end come on Jesus it's Peter. The Bible says pride comes before the fall,

and so it is. Have you ever had a fall spiritually that was so severe that you wondered if God's grace

was enough to cover it? That you didn't just feel guilt, but you felt guilt at its worst and it's least productive

that becomes shame, that you were really starting to wonder if God's mercy could cover that

particular sin or that thing that you did or that attitude that you had or that person that

you hurt or whatever it might have been or that thing that you said or didn't say or did or didn't do.

Man, guilt can be overwhelming. Shame can be spiritually paralyzing.

Peter is going to be filled with guilt and shame. Peter was biting off more than he could chew. He was so filled

with spiritual arrogance. Religious people, we can get that way. It's almost like we start to think

that I can stand right before a holy God on the day of judgment based on my spiritual performance,

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