Rooster Still Crows

The Gospel writers, Matthews, Mark, Luke and John devoted many pages leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. Many scriptures were written so that we could have a history Jesus’ ministry.

Let us look for a moment at the events of Jesus’ last week on earth leading up to His crucifixion. After coming into the city on Sunday, He spent most of the week teaching in the temple area during the day. His evenings were spent in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany.

On Monday Jesus cleansed the temple and chased out the moneychangers and those who was buying and selling in the temple as He explained to them “ My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it into a den of thieves”.

On Tuesday the Sanhedrin challenged His authority and Judas one of his own disciples was bargaining with the Jewish rulers ways to betray Him.

On Wednesday at Sunset began the Passover, and the people began to remember how God had saved and delivered them out of Egypt by allowing the death angel to “Passover” all their houses that was sprinkled with the blood of a lamb.

Now the scriptures tells us by Thursday as Jesus was eating the Passover meal with His disciples He instituted what we celebrate here at Old Field every 2nd Sunday, that Memorial Supper, which we call the Lord’s Supper or some may say the Holy Communion.

Now it was after this supper that Jesus and His disciples went into the Garden of Gethsemane and here Jesus prayed for them even though they could not stay a wake for one hour to pray with Him. Church I am so glad Jesus is not likes us. I am glad He never slumber nor sleep, that even while we are asleep He has His eyes on us, watching over us, keeping troubles away.

Then we come to that last day, Friday, we now call Good Friday. However it was on this day that Jesus was betrayed, arrested, lied on, mocked condemned and sentenced to death, but before He was crucified, Peter also denied him.

Jesus had predicted that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. For Jesus had told His disciples that they would all fall away He said “It is written I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. “ but Peter declared “Even if all the other fall away, I will not.” Luke writes that Peter said “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death”, however Jesus told Him, I tell you Peter, the rooster will not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.

Funny church how the Lord knows us some much better than we know ourselves. For at the time Peter earnestly thought he was strong enough to endure the hardship that the Lord was facing. But the Lord knew he could not. Sometimes, we too think we are stronger than we are, for we say I have decided to follow Jesus no turning back. Or we say this little light of mine I am going to let it shine every where I go I am going to let it shine all alone the way I am going to let it shine, but then we meet Satan face to face, we do like Peter.

For they tell me on the night that Jesus was arrested Peter followed Jesus like he said he would, but at a distance. Church when Jesus was healing the sick, raising the dead and giving sight to the blind and walking on water and helping Peter to walk on water, Peter was right at this side, jumping into the sea talking about who needs a boat when you got Jesus- but now Jesus was under arrest, going to jail, being beat, in other words from Peter point of view it look like Jesus was down and out, and there fore Peter followed but at a distance. Church we all have had friends like that, we had money, position and status, we had friends on every corner, but we were unpopular our friends might have looked on but at a distance. Oh keep my mind clear this morning Holy Ghost

Now that Jesus was had become unpopular-Peter stays far enough away so as not to be identified with Him. My brothers and my sisters, if we do not want to be identified with Jesus then we will find ourselves mingling with those of the world and enjoying their comforts. For verse 55 says when hey had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Ashamed and afraid to be seen with Jesus Peter sought comfort at the fire with high priest’s servants. But you need to know this morning church you cannot be comforted by the fire of the world and not be burned. I stopped by to tell you this morning Old Field, close contact with that which can harm has its effects.