The Rooster Calls

by Richard St.James

The Rooster Calls

John 18:15 “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.”
Skip down to verse 25
25 “And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”

1. Following Afar Off
2. Denying You Know The LORD
3. Standing With God’s Enemies
4. Denying You Are With The LORD
5. The Rooster Will Crow

1. Following Afar Off

Verse fifteen: “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.”

Now, after the RELIGIOUS POLICE had done their dastardly deed [by taking Jesus Christ into custody] [as if HE was a criminal], Peter is said here, to have followed Jesus to “the palace of the high priest.” At first look, this is a good testimony for a Christian. Peter is following HIS LORD! Oh, may we all have this same testimony. May it be said by all around us, that we are following the LORD. After all, that is what DESCIPLES ought to do. [By definition, a disciple of Jesus Christ is a follower of Jesus Christ.] Amen!

Yet, when we all are put under the great microscope and are viewed real close up, the real truth will be made known of us. Amen! The microscope is on Peter. The Holy Ghost in the book of Matthew chapter twenty-six, verse fifty-eight, fine-tunes the narrative of how closely Peter has followed the LORD Jesus Christ that day. “But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.” [Matthew 26:58]

Do you see it? Peter “followed him afar off.” Isn’t this something that we are all guilty of all too many times to our own shame? Would it not be better for us to follow real close to Jesus? Amen! I wish with all my heart for this to be true with me. What about you?

Now, with Peter it is about to get worse. Following afar off can only portend to more trouble for the Christian on the horizon.

2. Denying You Know The LORD

Verse seventeen: “Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.”

Often [quite often] when we elect to follow the LORD “afar off” we end up getting too comfortable with the wrong people. We end up giving comfort to the enemy … to the enemies of God. Did you know that?

The first thing we usually do when we follow the LORD “afar off”, [by hanging around with the wrong crowd, and when put on the spot by the world’s crowd], is to SELL the LORD out. How do we do that? We do it by denying that we know the LORD.

Now, we DENY KNOWING HIM because of the very, weakened condition that we are in … which condition comes from following HIM afar off. In other words, we deny knowing HIM because the very distance we maintain between us and our Savior weakens our trust in the LORD. When pressed by the world, we lose our testimony : we instead exude, “we are not of HIS disciples!” How so? Look at what happened to Peter’s testimony. Peter’s testimony CHANGED when pressed by the damsel who kept the door: “I am not” one of HIS disciples! Do you see the downward slide Peter is on? Peter’s testimony changed [or was lost] because Peter was following the LORD “afar off”!

Before this night, Peter’s testimony was different, when he was following the LORD closely! Go back to John chapter thirteen, in verse thirty-seven, and we will hear a DIFFERENT testimony from Peter. Let me read it to you. It was a good testimony! “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.” [John 13:37] Let me sum it here. When a disciple of Jesus Christ is following closely to HIS LORD he is willing to lay down his life for his LORD. Amen. Peter is degree by degree losing his testimony. But wait, it gets worse than this.

3. Standing With God’s Enemies

Verse twenty-five: “And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.”

Yes, when we elect to go down the wrong road, and to follow the LORD “afar off”, we end up [in the process] getting real comfortable with the wrong people and getting real comfortable with doing the wrong things. This, my friend, brings real comfort to the enemy … to the enemies of God.

Here is what happens to us. The fire within our heart has grown cold for our LORD Jesus Christ. So then, what do we do? We choose to warm ourselves by standing by the enemy’s fire. [Oh, how this grieves the Spirit of God when a Christian does this.] Yes, Peter has clearly denied [thus far] two times being Jesus’ disciple.

Now, we need to ask ourselves some real tough questions, here. Are we guilty of these very same things ourselves? Are we following the LORD “afar off”, and are we standing with God’s enemies … so that we can be warmed by their fire? Well are we? Are we any different many times than Peter?

4. Denying You Are With The LORD

Verse twenty-six: “One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?”

it is here that the kinsman of the high priest occasions the entrapment of the Devil upon a particular man. The man [Peter] cannot see it coming. Why? It is because there is a black cloud over spreading him [it is unbelief]. Why is this happening? It is because when a disciple of Jesus Christ “follows afar off” from his Savior the “fear of man” becomes the all controlling factor in all his behavior. Do you get that? I will show this to you in THE BOOK!

This principle is shown to us in Proverbs twenty-nine. Read with me there in verse twenty-five: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” [Proverbs 29:25] If Peter would have followed the LORD Jesus Christ CLOSELY [this would be Peter putting his TRUST in the LORD], then Peter would have been kept SAFE from falling so far down! Peter’s testimony instead would be:

I fear God!

I am one of Jesus Christ’s disciples!

I am with the Lord Jesus Christ!

5. The Rooster Will Crow

Verse twenty-seven: “Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”

The LORD knew Peter would fail HIM three times, and the LORD had it set up so that the rooster would crow immediately after Peter’s third DENIAL. This event is chronicled by Holy Spirit. Look with me in Matthew twenty-six, verse thirty-four: “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” [Matthew 26:34]

When Peter came to very bottom of his trial, he began to curse and swear [like a sailor] in a vehement DENIAL that he ever KNEW Jesus Christ. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.”

Now, do you see how bad it can get for the Christian? Oh, my! It was for Peter, here, as if a spike had been driven deep down in his heart, for all the pain, and remorse, he felt inside himself for his three time denial of the SON of GOD! “And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” [Matthew 26:74-75]

The antidote, or remedy, to avoid denial of our LORD and SAVIOR Jesus Christ in our lives is to FOLLOW CLOSE to Jesus Christ. You do this by DENYING yourself! Chapter, verse for this? Turn with me to Luke chapter nine, verse twenty-three: “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” [Luke 9:23]

By denying yourself, you will not see yourself. You will not fear man because you will not see man. You will fear God. You will instead, be safe! As a result, this will be your testimony:

I fear God!

I am one of Jesus Christ’s disciples!

I am with the Lord Jesus Christ!

I belong to the SON of GOD!

Amen!

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The Gospel According To John

John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

John 18:2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

John 18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

John 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

John 18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

John 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

John 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

John 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

John 18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

John 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

John 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

John 18:16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

John 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

John 18:18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

John 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

John 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

John 18:21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

John 18:22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

John 18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

John 18:24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

John 18:25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.

John 18:26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

John 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they
should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

John 18:29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

John 18:30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

John 18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put
any man to death:

John 18:32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

John 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

John 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault
at all.

John 18:39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

John 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Rooster Calls