Dear Christian friends:

In the Lenten story the sins of men which nailed Christ to the cross are clearly shown. Not only the sins of Christ's enemies, but also those of His friends are clearly explained. Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial and the cowardice of all the disciples are here told in detail.

God wanted these sins of men to be listed in our Bibles so that we may not doubt about ourselves, that we also share in the blame for Christ's death. Even His friends fail Him and sin terribly against Him as we see in our text tonight from Peter.

Not only does God want us to see our own sins in Peter and Judas, but also to see the beautiful comfort in the tears of Peter and the others who after they sinned were called to repentance and faith and received comfort and strength from the Savior.

With this in our minds let us go to the fourth place in the Passion, the courtyard in the palace of the High Priest. There we see:


While Jesus was inside the Palace of the High Priest in the court room Peter was outside in the courtyard. Inside Jesus made a beautiful confession before the Church Council although it meant His getting condemnation and death.

When the High Priest asked Him, "Are you the promised Savior, the Son of God?" (Matthew 26:63) Jesus did not deny. He confessed and said, "I am." He was not afraid or ashamed to be God's Son. Then they slapped Him and spit on Him; called Him a liar and condemned Him to die.

During that same time outside in the courtyard Peter failed to confess His friendship and faith in Jesus and God. Three times before the maid servants he denied His Lord, said He was not Jesus' disciple, not His friend.

Jesus confesses while Peter denies. Jesus tells the truth while Peter lies. Jesus serves God while Peter serves the devil. Jesus is brave while Peter is afraid. Wonderful Jesus, wonderful Savior! Terrible Peter! Terrible friends!

I hope that you see yourself in Peter. I feel sorry for you if you here do not see your own sins in Peter's sins in Peter's sin. Because we all often fail Jesus as Peter here did. We do not watch and pray enough. We trust in our own strength and not in God's Word and promises. We do not listen to Jesus' warnings! We often associate with unbelievers and can't say, "No!" when they tempt us to sin. In many ways we also deny that we are really His friends and servants of God.

But thank Jesus, He does not forsake us in our weakness and sin. Although we deserve that He forsake us. He shows mercy in our need and calls us to sorrow and faith again as He did here with Peter.

After the Church Council had condemned Jesus to die they sent Him with the soldiers to Pontius Pilate. As Jesus went out of the court He walked with the soldiers through the courtyard. Jesus knew that Peter had failed Him and denied Him. Peter was still standing by the fire. And we read the "Jesus looked at Peter." Then also the rooster crowed and Peter remembered the warning of the Lord, "Before the rooster crows twice you will deny Me three times."

That is how the Lord called Peter to sorrow and faith. He also today still calls us to repent when we sin. Jesus still has "roosters" to warn us and remind us if we are denying Him or serving Him. Perhaps you have seen a weather vane (rooster and arrow) on a church steeple. I'm sure there are some her in our cities. Why?

The Christians of the past have that custom. In the small villages they often put the rooster on the Church steeple. It was the tallest building in town, so people could see it from any place in town. During the week as they went around attending to their business they should look up and see the Rooster and be admonished not to deny Jesus in their work and play and conversation, but to confess Him and serve Him. Some farmers also put the rooster on their barn roof.

Also in other ways Jesus with love and mercy warns us to wake up and be sorry and believe if we become careless and fail Him. Sickness, accidents, death in our family, interruption of our plans are ways Jesus uses to call us back to faith. Not accidents. Jesus lets that happen to us on purpose. (Tell the story of Aunt Christine.)

When I was a child, I remember my mother talking and pleading with my aunt to send her children to Sunday School and confirmation instructions and for the family to attend the church services. However, my aunt kept on putting it off. One Summer my aunt with her four children and husband were driving from Santa Ana, to Huntsville, Texas to visit relatives. They were pulling a trailer loaded with camping gear and baggage. As they entered El Paso, Texas one of the tires blew out causing my uncle to lose control of the car and trailer. The car fell on its right side where my aunt was sitting in the front seat with the window open. Her right arm was injured so severely that it had to be amputated just below the elbow. Shortly after the family returned home, I noticed that they were attending church regularly. The children were enrolled in the Sunday School and the older ones were also in confirmation instructions. My aunt also became a teacher in the Sunday School, sometimes teasing us children with the stump of her forearm. So God may let you lose something dear to lead you to serve Him Better. Many waste their time and strength on things that give no praise to God!

Also through the Bible He calls us to repent. When we read it or watch our pastor or someone else read it. Through the eyes of our pastor Jesus also looks at us with mercy and love to call us to sorrow and faith. Parents or other Christian friends, too.

When Peter heard the rooster and when Jesus looked at him we read he went out and wept bitterly. Peter again realized how good and wonderful Jesus was and how terribly he failed His Lord and true Friend. But he trusted that Jesus would forgive Him and accept Him again. After Easter Jesus did. Later Peter became very strong and boldly confessed Jesus before the Church Council and suffered whipping and finally died rather than deny Jesus again.

May God help all of us to cry and be sorrowful when we fail Jesus. May He help us to believe that nevertheless Jesus still loves us and forgives us. That is why He confessed and suffered and died, and then rose on the third day.

May He help us to see Jesus' wonderful love for us, so that we will love Him so much that we will not fail Him anymore, but serve Him in all things, even if it means trouble from unbelievers.

Amen.