Scary Bible II – Denying Jesus
A message by Rev. Dr. Mark S. Jordan

Last Week – Moses and the Rock
- We want God to obey us
- We trust what we can sense
- We lean too much on personal experience
Matthew 10:32-39 (NLT) | 32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. 34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
To Deny:
- Not so much about passing on a vice
- More about getting to the source of temptation that drives our behavior
How Do We Deny Jesus?
- With our words
- Matthew 26:74 (NLT) | Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.
- With our silence (Not saying what needs to be said when it needs to be said)
- Leviticus 5:1 (NLT) | If you are called to testify about something you have seen or that you know about, it is sinful to refuse to testify, and you will be punished for your sin.
- With our actions
- James 1:22 (NLT) | But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
- With our inaction
- James 4:17 (NLT) | Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Family Issues:
- Jesus warned about divisions – we see divisions in families today over things like politics
- Jesus said He came to bring a sword
- Ephesians 6:17 refers to the Word of God as a sword
- Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) | For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
- Jesus wants to reveal our inner desires, our conflict if you will, between following Him and others expectations, real or perceived
Cultural Criminals:
- Jesus said we must take up our cross
- The world uses the values of our faith and tradition against us like tolerance, forgiveness, kindness, grace, compromise etc.
Hope & Help
- Speak up for Jesus and know He will speak up for you
- Don’t worry about earthly divisions as much as a division with God
- Trust Jesus to help you carry your cross
Reflection Questions
- In what way(s) do you tend to deny Jesus?
- Where do you tend to seek comfort and acceptance from others at the expense of God’s Word?
- Are you denying someone God’s grace and mercy?
- What issues are you too anxious to confront with truth?
- In what area do you need to speak up even while running the risk of being a cultural criminal?