Objects of Easter: The Courtyard of Denial and Credit (Part II)

Sermon Title: Objects of Easter – The Courtyard of Credit, Fear, and Denial

Good News Statement: Jesus offers us a meaning of Easter through what we see

Summary: The Easter story is filled with touching moments that have changed the world, but it is also filled with objects that have changed our life; and these objects add depth and meaning to the resurrection, which we count on happening.

Preached: Sunday, March 8^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Mark 14:66-72 Today’s scripture reading comes from the Gospel of Mark, invites us to join Peter in the courtyard just outside the Praetorium, the palace, where Jesus is being questioned. Our reading comes from the Gospel of Mark, Chapter Fourteen, and Verses Sixty-six thru Seventy-two. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding to your life.

Peter Denies Jesus

⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female servants of the high priest came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” ⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. ⁶⁹ And the female servant, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and you talk like one.” ⁷¹ But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” ⁷² At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

Introduction:

Everywhere you look, you see something, an object that has changed the world. According to Nature, an online news source, “nails, wheels, springs, magnets, lenses, string, and pumps are seven everyday objects that have made the modern world.”[1] Just sitting in this room, I bet you can spot a majority of those objects.

Have you ever given any thought to the objects in your life? Have you thought about how at one point in history that object didn’t exist? Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you didn’t have a certain object that you have today? Have you ever taken a step back and said, “My, how things have changed.” We live in a society, in a culture, in a world where life thrives on objects; and the objects we have today, much like in the past, will be replaced by other objects that would confuse us today but will make life easier in the future. Our life has been, is, and will be consumed by the objects in which we seek.

For a moment, listen to this list of objects that have not only changed our life but have also changed the world:[2] the nail, the wheel, string and rope, magnets, the compass, and lenses, the printing press, vaccines and penicillin, concrete, steel, batteries, electricity, the light bulb, airplanes, automobiles, trains, boats, farm machinery, refrigerators, the microwave, and the sewing machine, credit cards, zippers, Velcro, GPS, computers, smartphones, and the internet. These objects created global interconnection, increased personal mobility, and transformed the ability to store, use, and transfer energy and information. This is not an exhaustive list—and it certainly doesn’t account for every object ever made that changed the world—but it is a list of objects in which many of us have access to today that do in fact change our life.

At this point you may be wondering what all this has to do with Easter, since we are in the Easter Season. Well, the Easter Season is filled with objects that have changed the world. There are Easter Eggs, Baskets filled with gifts and treats, bunny cakes, special candies and sweets, and we can’t forget about the Easter Bunny. But there are other objects related to Easter that have also changed the world. And these objects aren’t just any objects but objects found in scripture during the last days and hours of Jesus’ life. But sadly, sometimes we overlook these objects because, as song writer AJR states, we want “to skip to the good part”[3] which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the moment when the stone is rolled away, the cloth is folded, and the tomb is empty. So, for the next few weeks, we are going to explore certain objects of the Easter Story that have not only changed our life but have changed the world.

 

Body:

The remaining days and hours of Jesus’ life on earth are composed of objects: objects that bring forth tears, torture, and trauma, objects that offer renewal, restoration, and rejuvenation, and objects that administer hope, faith, and encouragement. In scripture, specifically in the Gospel accounts—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—there is a plethora of objects that bring to life the remaining hours of Jesus life; and every object mentioned is an object used to change our life and deepen the meaning of the days leading up to Jesus’ last breath from the cross.

As one walks with Jesus during what we call “Holy Week”[4]—a sacred week spanning the final days of Jesus’ life—one will encounter palm branches, cloaks, a donkey, an upper room, a sacred meal, foot washing, a basin of water, the garden of Gethsemane, instruments used for torture, a crown of thorns, a robe, the cross, nails, spears, sponges, a torn veil, anointment used for burial purposes, the folded cloth, the rolled away stone, and a tomb hewed out of stone. The Easter season is filled with objects that add meaning and depth to the story we not only long to hear but count on happening in our life.

For the next couple of weeks leading up to Easter, in no specific order, we are going to look at some of these objects and ask ourselves, “How does this object help me better understand the meaning and significance of Jesus’ remaining days on earth?” Today, we find ourselves travelling with Peter, after the meal, to the courtyard just outside of Pilate’s Praetorium[5] in the region of Judah. It’s in this courtyard in which Peter, the Rock, denies Jesus three times. It’s in this courtyard where Peter broke down and wept. But also in this courtyard, we see a disciple risking his life to be as close as he could to the trial of Jesus. The courtyard is our object of Easter today; and the question we need to ask ourselves is, “Are we willing to stand in the courtyard with Peter?”

 

Movement One: The “Upper Room” (kataluma) Recap…

Last week we began a new sermon series focused on the “objects of Easter” that appear during the week, days, and hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Last Sunday, we spent time in the “upper room” as mentioned in Mark 14:12-16. Based on biblical descriptions and historical context the “upper room”[6] in Jerusalem is where Jesus had one last meal with his disciples, what we call today Holy Communion or the Last Supper; and it’s where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples showing them what it means to serve and not be served (Matthew 20:28). Later on, according to the Book of Acts, the disciples—a total of 120—gathered at Pentecost in the upper room as they “were filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:4).

Also in the Book of Acts, we read that Paul, before departing Ephesus, is found preaching from within an upper room, in which someone falls asleep and tumbles out of the window (Acts 20:7-12). Later on, in Philemon, Paul requests that a guest room—an upper room—be prepared for him: “One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you” (Philemon 1:22). But even before the previously mentioned events in the Book of Acts, we read that it was in the upper room that Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection to greet them and show them his hands and his side (John 20:19-29), removing Thomas’ doubt (John 20:26-27), after saying “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36-49).  Even before all these events, the upper room is where the prophet Elisha stayed: the room was furnished with a bed, table, chair, and a lamp (2 Kings 4:10).

It has been noted that the purpose of any upper room was to provide a space that could be used for social gatherings: sort of like a community building. The upper room was often located on the second floor, used to escape noise, improve ventilation, sometimes where guests stayed, and where women in the household resided. The Gospels describe it as a “large” (Mark 14:15), “furnished” (Luke 22:12), and “ready” (Mark 14:15) space.

Overall, the upper room, that two disciples sought out and required upon Jesus’ request, was more than just a room. It represented a “place set apart,” symbolizing a space for personal communion, spiritual empowerment, and a precursor to the first Christian gathering places. Today, the upper room is an object that changed the world because at one point it rejected Mary and Joseph—there was now room in the upper room (Luke 2:7)—but then it became a place that was available to Jesus, to the disciples, to the 120, and now available to us. At one point in time, the upper room, the kataluma, was a place of rejection but now is a place of acceptance: a place where one is able to accept the presence of Christ in their life.

To this, I invited you to contemplate the following questions: “Where is your upper room? Where do you allow yourself to feel the presence of Christ in your life?” Maybe for some of you church is your upper room. Maybe you find peace and quietness when you are in the car taking a drive through the country, or in the tractor working in the fields, or spending time with friends or family, or tinkering with a project in the barn, garage, or shed, or reading a book, or working on a painting, or doing a puzzle, or working with animals, or sitting in your favorite chair watching basketball, baseball, or football, or going out to eat, or getting coffee, or just being outside. Having an upper room in your life is essential not only for your faith but for your relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s in your upper room, whatever that may be, that you allow yourself to experience the presence of Jesus Christ. So this Easter, find that space and enjoy it.

 

Movement Two: The Praetorium… The Palace of Herod…

After Jesus spends time in the upper room and then prays in the Garden of Gethsemane as three of his disciples fall asleep, Jesus is betrayed by Judas with a kiss (Mark 14:43-50).[7] It’s after this kiss that Jesus is turned over to the Roman authority and transported by night to the Praetorium of King Herod where Roman Governor Pontius Pilate was staying. It’s outside the Praetorium that we find ourselves today. But first, what exactly is the Praetorium?

In the Gospel of Mark, we read these words, “The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers” (Mark 15:16). Doing a brief research, the praetorium in general was the official residence, headquarters, or judgment hall of a Roman governor or military commander. Originally, the praetorium referred to a general’s tent in a camp, but overtime the term evolved to mean a governor’s palace which is how it is understood in Matthew 27:27: “Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, the palace, and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.”

Doing a little more research, and as scripture tells us, Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea at this time, appointed by the emperor in Rome. He lived in Caesarea, the capital of the Roman province of Judea, but when he was in Jerusalem he resided at Herod’s Palace, which served as the praetorium or governor’s palace after Judea came under direct Roman rule in 6AD.[8]

This is all to say that the Praetorium in which Jesus was taken to for trial was an actual place in history, it was located on the western hill of Jerusalem overlooking the Temple, was known as Antonia Fortress or Herod’s Palace, was the place where Herod lived, and was where Pontius Pilate stayed when he came to Jerusalem for a visit. And around the Praetorium soldiers and guards surrounded the area, there was a raised platform designated for the governor’s official acts of judging and sentencing, the prisoner quarters or holding areas could be seen, and there were courtyards where soldiers gathered, where officials discussed, and where Jesus was mocked. The Praetorium was the courthouse of our day: it was the main focus of the town. Everyone knew where the Praetorium was located, who lived there, and what took place within its walls.

This is the place where Jesus was taken. This is the place where Jesus was put on trial. This is the place where Jesus was mocked, tortured, and beaten nearly to death. This is the place where Jesus began his walk to Calvary carrying a section of the cross that weighed 75 to 125lbs. This is the place where only one of the disciples found themselves just hours before Jesus would be turned over to the people who could be heard shouting “Crucify him. Crucify him. Crucify him.”[9] This is the place that we find ourselves today. Specifically, we find ourselves in the courtyard where soldiers and people gathered and where Peter is heard denying Jesus.

 

Movement Three: The Peter in the Courtyard…

Hear these words from Mark 14:66-72: “While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female servants of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘I do not know or understand what you are talking about.’ And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the female servant, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, ‘This man is one of them.’ But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and you talk like one.’ But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know this man you are talking about.’ At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.”

Who is this Peter figure? Simon Peter, also known as Cephas (John 1:42), was one of the first followers of Jesus Christ. He was an outspoken and zealous disciple, one of Jesus’ closest friends, an apostle, and a “pillar” of the church (Galatians 2:9). Peter was enthusiastic, strong-willed, impulsive, and, at times, brash. But for all his strengths, Peter had several failings in his life. Still, the Lord who chose him continued to mold him into exactly who he intended Peter to be.

Moreover,[10] he was married (1 Corinthians 9:5)—as a matter of fact, Jesus heals his sick mother-in-law in Mark 1:29-39—and he and James and John were partners in a profitable fishing business (Luke 5:10). Simon Peter met Jesus through his brother Andrew.[11] Upon meeting Simon, Jesus gave him a new name: Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), which means “rock” (John 1:40-42). Later, Jesus officially called Peter to follow him, and Peter left everything behind to follow the Lord (verse 11).

For the next three years, Peter lived as a disciple of Jesus. Being a natural-born leader, Peter became the spokesman for the Twelve.[12] More significantly, it was Peter who first confessed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” a truth which Jesus said was divinely revealed to Peter (Matthew 16:16-17). Peter was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, along with James and John. Only those three were present when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37) and when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain (Matthew 17:1). Peter and John were given the special task of preparing the final Passover meal (Luke 22:8).

It is shared in scripture that Peter is the one who left the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:28-29)—and promptly took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink (verse 30). It was Peter who took Jesus aside to rebuke him for speaking of his death (Matthew 16:22)—and was swiftly corrected by the Lord (verse 23). It was Peter who suggested erecting three tabernacles to honor Moses, Elijah, and Jesus (Matthew 17:4)—and fell to the ground in fearful silence at God’s glory (verses 5-6). It was Peter who drew his sword and attacked the servant of the high priest (John 18:10)—and was immediately told to sheath his weapon (verse 11). It was Peter who boasted that he would never forsake the Lord, even if everyone else did (Matthew 26:33)—and later denied three times that he even knew Jesus (Mark 14:66-72).

Through all of Peter’s ups and downs, Jesus remained his loving and faithful guide. Jesus reaffirmed Simon as Peter, the “Rock,” in Matthew 16:18-19, promising that he would be instrumental in establishing Jesus’ Church. After his resurrection, Jesus specifically named Peter as one who needed to hear the good news (Mark 16:7). And, repeating the miracle of the large catch of fish, Jesus made a special point of forgiving and restoring Peter and re-commissioning him as an apostle (John 21:6, 15-17). Furthermore, on the day of Pentecost, Peter was the main speaker to the crowd in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14), and the Church began with an influx of about 3,000 new believers (verse 41). Later, Peter healed a lame beggar (Acts 3) and preached boldly before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4). Even arrest, beatings, and threats could not dampen Peter’s resolve to preach the risen Christ (Acts 5).

Church, this is the Peter that is found in the courtyard just outside the Praetorium where Jesus was being put on trial. Just hearing about who this Peter character is reminds us that Peter just wasn’t some person living during the time of Jesus; Peter was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ even though he wasn’t perfect. He asked questions. He took chances. He made mistakes. He sank but was rescued. He identified who Jesus was. He attempted to protect Jesus by using a sword. He became the rock upon which the church would be built. He took leaps of faith not knowing the outcome. Peter did more for his faith in three years than what many of us have done for our faith throughout our lifetime. But yet, aside from the story of him walking on water, we are drawn to the story in which he denies Jesus three times in the presence of strangers. We focus on a story that makes Peter look like the bad guy.

 

Movement Four: Peter’s Denying turned into a Love that Wept…

When the meal was over and the praying concluded in the garden, Peter follows Jesus to the Praetorium, the palace. In the courtyard, around a fire, he can probably hear the authorities questioning Jesus; he can probably hear the authorities debating; he can probably hear Pontius Pilate discussing with his wife the possible release of Barabbas; he can probably hear echoes of whips hitting Jesus’ back; he can probably hear the cries of Jesus who is in excruciating pain; and he can probably hear the soldiers mocking Jesus and the mob gathering nearby as their chants to “Crucify him” grew louder and louder.

Knowing what Jesus is going through, it’s no wonder Peter denies knowing Jesus because that could have been him if he told the truth. Can you blame him at this point for protecting himself? Three times Peter had to deny Jesus. Three times Peter had to deny the past three years of his life. Three times Peter had to deny who he was. Three times Peter had to do something he never thought he would ever do: protect himself before protecting Jesus, the one who saved him from the deep water. This is what we focus on when we think about Peter. But why? Why do we focus on Peter’s denial so much?

I believe because we all can relate to Peter as he stood in the courtyard, trying to warm up, constantly looking over his shoulder, showing signs of fear and nervousness, and denying Jesus. Every one of us at some point in our life, has denied Jesus. We have walked away from him when things weren’t going our way. We have disagreed with him when he needed us to do something. We have argued with him when we put our own priorities before his own. We have gotten upset with him. We have blamed him. We have repeatedly asked him “why” after losing a loved one, family member, or friend. We have denied Jesus probably more times than we would like to admit. Believe it or not, every single one of us has been in that same courtyard with Peter: listening to Jesus calling out for help but walking away and being silent. I know that what I said is tough to believe, but no one in this room is perfect. No one in this room has had a day when they did not sin in some way. No one in this room has never not talked back to Jesus. Every time we choose not do what Jesus is calling us to do, we are denying him.

After Peter denies Jesus for the third and final time, and realizes the prophecy in which Jesus told him—“Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times” (Mark 14:72)—we read “And he broke down and wept” (Mark 14:72). Did you catch what Peter did? Peter wept. The one who walked on water and the one who saw Jesus transfigured, wept. The one who chose to follow Jesus and who decided to give up his fishing nets to fish for people, wept. The one who became the rock—something firm and strong and brave and courageous—wept. The one who identified who Jesus was, wept. Peter wept. He wept because he realized what he had done and Jesus probably heard him.

I wonder if Peter was recalling that moment when Jesus told the crowd and the disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Peter not only denied Jesus but he denied himself, therefore carrying his own cross of grief and great remorse. I bet if Peter was around to hear the story of Paul’s conversion, he would be weeping thinking about what Jesus said to Paul at the time Saul: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? (Acts 9:4).” Why do you deny me? Why do you hurt me through your words and actions? I am under the impression that Peter wept because he realized the truth and impact of his decision. He could have stood up for Jesus, but did the complete opposite, and in turned wept. How often do we find ourselves weeping knowing that we potentially disappointed Jesus?

In thinking about Peter’s denial and tears, I found myself reflecting on the words of Oswald Chambers this past week. Oswald Chambers was an early-twentieth-century Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher who was aligned with the Holiness Movement. He died at the age of 43 in 1917. He is best known for the daily devotional My Utmost for His Highest. On my desk in the parsonage, there is a calendar in which Emily gave me that focuses on reflections and devotions written by Chambers. This is what it said for March 2^nd: “Our Lord never asks questions until the perfect time. Rarely, but probably once in each of our lives, He will back us into a corner where He will hurt us with His piercing questions. Then we will realize that we do love Him far more deeply than our words can ever say.” I like to believe that these words were written with Peter in mind. Peter was backed into a corner, facing questions that tested his faith, but at the end of the day the power of Christ’s love overpowered the denial causing Peter to weep.

The coolest thing about the life of Peter is that although he did wrong his story did not end there. Jesus found him. After Jesus died and rose again he went back to find Peter. He found Peter on the beach.[13] Jesus asked Peter three times. “Do you love me?” This must have hurt Peter’s feelings—he really loved Jesus, his friend. Yet he said “yes” each time. Peter said “you know I love you” as Jesus did know that Peter loved his friend. So why did Jesus ask Peter this same question three times?

Jesus asked Peter so that he could show Peter that he was forgiven. He asked Peter so that Peter could stand strong three times, where he once had stood weakly three times and denied him. Jesus restored Peter. That means that he gave him back his place and reminded him of whom he really was. Peter was Jesus’ disciple and friend and he was going to help build his church and see many come to know Christ.

In the courtyard, Jesus put Peter’s wrongs right and he can also put our wrongs right. He is God and he can forgive everything we have ever thought, said or done wrong. Even when we deny Jesus—get upset with him, don’t agree with him, talk back to him, don’t listen to him—he is still willing to forgive us. In the courtyard with Peter, we learn the power of Jesus’ forgiveness and are reminded of how much he loves us: he loves us even when we aren’t perfect, even when we weep.

No matter how many times we deny Jesus, his love is far greater than our denial. It’s in our denying that we realize that we do love him far more deeply than our words can ever say. Peter felt the love of Christ in that courtyard. And this love is extended to each of you as you find yourself standing in that same courtyard with Peter reflecting on all the times you have denied Jesus.

 

Movement Five: Giving Credit to Peter…

The other thing I would like to mention about the courtyard has to do with something that we often overlook. When Judas arrived with the Temple guard and the guard went to seize Jesus, John tells us it was Peter who drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Peter may not have been a good aim with his sword (or perhaps he was only aiming for the ear), but he appears to have been willing to stand by his words and to die defending Jesus.

After this moment, Adam Hamilton notes in his daily devotional 24 Hours that Changed the World, “After Jesus was seized, the other disciples fled. Peter alone followed the guards, though at a distance so as not to be captured. Finally, when Jesus was taken into the high priest’s house, Peter actually dared to enter the courtyard where many of those who had seized Jesus were standing.”[13] Although Peter denied Jesus three times, we have to give him some credit for his actions.

Peter, a wanted criminal for threatening and injuring a Roman guard, ends up in the courtyard of the Roman authority, in the presence of soldiers. Peter, who probably should have ran and hid like the other disciples, followed Jesus to the palace. Peter, who probably should have prayed, decided to put himself in danger with the possibility of being put to death himself. Yes, Peter denied Jesus, but look at what he did to remain close to Jesus during Jesus’ greatest hour of need. Before you ridicule Peter or feel the need to judge Peter, why not give him some credit: credit for doing what no other disciple chose to do. He followed Jesus while the other disciples returned to the upper room, locked the door, closed the curtains, blew out the candles, and sat in silence. In a way, he obeyed Jesus’ words: Jesus said he would deny him, and he did; and Jesus said “come follow me” and Peter did. Peter never stopped believing in Jesus, not even when his life was in danger.

We spend a lot of time downplaying Peter for his willingness to deny Jesus but maybe we should spend more time giving Peter credit. I mean, at least he got out of the boat to walk on water, could you? At least he took it upon himself on the mountain to want to preserve the moment, could you? At least he, with confidence, identified who Jesus was, could you? At least you was willing to do whatever was needed to grow the church, could you? At least he stood up for Jesus, could you? Peter deserves more credit than we give him because he did things for Jesus that many of us only dream about doing.

I think deep down our ability to give people credit is tough to come by because we thrive on finding what is negative. Behavioral Scientists call this “negative bias” which prioritizes survival over happiness. According to Psychology Today, “Our brains are wired to detect threats and remember bad experiences more vividly to keep us safe. Negative events create a stronger emotional response, making them easier to recall than positive ones.”  At a very young age, I had a “bad crash.” I took a tumble while riding my new back on my birthday. I don’t remember anything else about the day except for the “bad crash.”  At the age of 17 I got my first speeding ticket. I remember the punishment but I don’t remember much of anything else. I remember the passing of grandparents, an uncle, and a cousin, days of great sadness. We tend to remember the negative things in life because of the emotion tied to them. We tend to remember Peter’s denial more than what he was willing to do for Jesus because of the emotion that it instills in us, the reminder of our denial of Jesus and the great pain attached to those moments.

However, today, I invite you to think about the good things Peter did. He obeyed Jesus, he stood up for Jesus, he defended Jesus, he followed Jesus, and he loved Jesus. Truth be told, he showed up for Jesus. In Peter’s credit we have to ask ourselves, “When was the last time we showed up for Jesus? When was the last time we asked, Jesus, ‘What did I miss?’ Jesus, what do you need me to do?” Jesus sees both the good and the bad, and he wants us to do the same, but more importantly, he wants us to see the good in what we do and the people around us. He doesn’t want us to miss those opportunities when the good outweighs the bad.

 

Conclusion:

I want to bring this message to a close. Church, the courtyard, much like the upper room, is needed to understand the days and hours leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. The courtyard is an object of Easter because it helps us to be revived. It’s in the courtyard, outside the Praetorium, with Peter that we are reminded of all the times that we have denied Jesus, all the times we have blamed him, ridiculed him, mocked him, pushed him away, walked away from, all while he listens and sees from a distance but yet never denies us. What do you need to do to make sure that you no longer deny him but fully believe and trust in him?

I also want to remind you that the courtyard is where we learn to give credit where credit is due. We shouldn’t be too quick to judge others, to ridicule others, or even to downplay others. In life we have to learn to give people the benefit of the doubt sometimes because we don’t know what kind of life they have lived before we saw them. Yes, Peter denied Jesus, but he still showed up, followed, and wept for Jesus. The courtyard invites us to consider if we can, just as we are, show up for Jesus; and if we are willing to do what Jesus asks us to do.

The Easter Season, as portrayed in scripture through the events of Holy Week, is filled with objects that add depth and meaning to the remaining days and hours of Jesus’ life. From the palm branches to the upper room to the garden to Calvary and to the empty tomb, everything we encounter along the way teaches us more about how much we need the meaning of Easter in our life so that we not only wait for it but count on it happening. Today is our time to not be like the other 11 disciples in hiding, but to be in the courtyard near Jesus knowing that in all that we have been through and will be through, he sees us and remembers our willingness to be there for him. Are you willing to find yourself in the courtyard with Peter?

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Let us pray: Dear Jesus, we apologize for all the times that we have denied you, ignored you, left you, blamed you, and challenged you. We are grateful that you still remained by our side in all those moments. Guide our heart to be brave enough to enter the courtyard, to stand up for you, and to seek how we can constantly show up for in our daily life. In your grace we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, the courtyard is waiting! Denying Jesus is no more. Instead, the time has come to find ways to show up for Jesus and do what Jesus is calling you to do. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth counting on the resurrection of Christ to happen. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Anna Novizky, “Seven everyday objects that made the modern world,” Nature online. March 06, 2023: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00643-8#:~:text=Nails%2C%20wheels%2C%20springs%2C%20magnets,By  Accessed: February 24, 2026.

[2] the nail (enabling construction), wheel (transportation), string/rope (securing tools), magnets/compass (navigation), and lenses (optics/microscopy), the printing press (information sharing), vaccines/penicillin (medicine), the steam engine (energy-into-motion), which fueled factories and trains, alongside concrete and batteries, electricity, the light bulb, airplane, automobile, farm machinery, refrigerator, and the sewing machine, credit cards, zippers, Velcro, GPS, computers, smartphones, and the internet. These objects created global interconnection, increased personal mobility, and transformed the ability to store, use, and transfer energy and information.

[3] AJR, “The Good Part”, The Click, 2017. Streamed on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.

[4] Holy Week (or Semana Santa) is the most sacred week in Christianity, spanning the final eight days of Jesus’ life, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. It is a time of intense reflection, prayer, and liturgical services commemorating the Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. Key days and events during Holy Week include: Palm Sunday: Commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; Holy Thursday: Celebrates the Last Supper and the washing of feet; Good Friday: Solemnly marks the crucifixion and death of Jesus; Holy Saturday: The day of the Easter Vigil, leading into the celebration of the Resurrection: Easter Sunday: Celebrates the Resurrection.

[5] The Praetorium in the Bible refers to the official residence, headquarters, or “judgment hall” of the Roman governor (Pontius Pilate in Judea).

[6] In Greek anagaion meaning upper room or cenaculum meaning dining room.

[7] Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane by using a kiss as a prearranged signal for Roman soldiers to identify and arrest him. This act, occurring during Passion Week, is depicted in Matthew 26:48–50, Mark 14:43–50, and Luke 22:47–48, representing the ultimate irony of using a sign of friendship to facilitate murder.

[8] Early Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem believed that Pilate lived in the Praetorium named Antonia Fortress—which had been erected at the northwest corner of the Temple Mount by Herod the Great (and named after the Roman general Mark Antony who had granted him favors). The Antonia Fortress served as the barracks for Jerusalem’s Roman garrison. The fortress was destroyed by Titus with the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD.

[9] Matthew 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; Luke 23:18-25; John 18:40, NIV.

[10] Simon Peter was originally from Bethsaida (John 1:44) and lived in Capernaum (Mark 1:29), both cities on the coast of the Sea of Galilee.

[11]…who had followed Jesus after hearing John the Baptist proclaim that Jesus was the Lamb of God (John 1:35-36). Andrew immediately went to find his brother to bring him to Jesus.

[12] Matthew 15:15, 18:21, 19:27; Mark 11:21; Luke 8:45, 12:41; John 6:68, 13:6-9, 36

[13] Read John 21

[13] Adam Hamilton, 24 Hours that Changed the World: 40 Days of Reflection, Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2009, pg. 82.