What Happens After the Rooster Crows?

John 18:15-27

March 31, 2019

Failures are all to common in our human experience, and in our spiritual lives. So what happens to my relationship with God when I fail morally, when I cheat, when I lie, when I divorce, when I get a DUI, when I veiw porn, when I gossip…? Where is God? Is it possible to get another chance?

A Man Named Peter

Peter declares his unwavering commitment
“Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Matt 26:33 NLT

“Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” Matt 26:35 NLT

Jesus predicts otherwise
“Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” John 13:38 NIV

Peter’s significant

“Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”
“No,” he said, “I am not.”
Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself…. John 18:15-18 NIV

Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.”
John 18:25-27 NIV

Peter’s Encounter with Jesus

Peter concluded Jesus could never forgive him, so he went back to his life before Jesus.

Earlier encounter with Jesus
“They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” Luke 5:6 NIV
“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
Luke 5:8 NIV

After Peter’s Failure
“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.
He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.” John 21:4-9 NIV

Peter’s Restoration

“Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
… Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-17, 19 NIV

Jesus did not condemn Peter for his failure, but asked him “__do you love me?

”

“First things first. When we sin, it’s our betrayal. It’s our disowning. Jesus didn’t call him “Peter” because the question was whether Simon wanted to be Peter. Did he want to be a rock for Jesus? When we sin, we’re the ones who turn away.” Murray Harris

Do we know what it means to love God?
To love Him, also means that we are willing to admit our failures, to repent and be restored.

God offers complete and total forgiveness to all who want it. He asks: “Do you love me?”

My Response

The Backslider
For some, that question from Jesus means “Are you still wanting to be in relationship with me?” You were in the game, once. But then you fell back, and now your life is in free-fall. God feels far away, but you are the one who moved. Do you really want to go back to fishing? Or do you want to go back to following?
Come to the charcoal fire built at the foot of the cross. Tell him that you do love him. Hear him say, “Follow me.”

The Head-knowledge Believer
For some, the question from Jesus means something else. You have always believed, but it’s just head-knowledge. It’s not something that burns in you. It’s religion, not relationship. It’s principle, not passion.

Can you say what Peter said? Could you stand before him now and say, “Lord, you know that I love you”? Is that what God would see, what God would know, if you stood before him? Would you pass that test? If not, are you willing to come to the fire at the foot of the cross, where Jesus stands, and say, “I haven’t loved you, but I want to”?

The non-Christian
For some, this is a time to look closely at the answer Peter gave:
“Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Not because you gave it once and slipped away. Not because you say you do, but really don’t. But because you’ve never come to Jesus with your life before now.

Your life doesn’t show love for God, and your heart doesn’t know love for God. But you long for it. You wish you were living for something more. You wish you could come to God, and begin a relationship. You can.

You can hear him say, “Follow me.” You can answer, “yes.” That’s just one prayer away:
Dear Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins. I want to turn from the way I’ve been living. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust you as my forgiver, as my leader. I want to follow you. Amen.

Come to the charcoal fire built at the foot of the cross, with that prayer in your heart.