The apostle John wrote how Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him, Where I go, you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirty-eight of his book John shared how Jesus asked Peter, “Will you lay down your life for my sake?” where we read:
Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The cock shall not crow, till you have denied me three times.
The verse reads, “Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake?” John began with the words, “Jesus answered him” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation responded to and began to speak to Peter”, “will you lay down your life” or “put aside, set forth my, Peter's, vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing” “for my sake” which means “on behalf of and for my, Jesus, cause”? John shared how Jesus questioned “Peter” about his statement of “giving” his life for His “sake”.
The verse continues, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The cock shall not crow, till you have denied me three times.” John added the words, “Verily, verily” which means “truly, truly or surely, surely”, “I say unto you” or “I, Jesus, utter, declare and proclaim to you, Peter”, “the cock shall not crow” which means “the rooster will not emit a sound, cry out or make a loud noise”, “till you have denied me three times” or “until you, Peter, have affirmed that you have no acquaintance or connection with me, Jesus, three different times”. John shared how Jesus certifiably told “Peter” he would “affirm” three different times that he was unaffiliated with Jesus.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus questioned “Peter” about his boastful statement concerning giving his life for Him. Jesus repeated “Peter's” words, and told him the “rooster” would not “crow” until “Peter” claimed three times that he no affiliation with Jesus at all. We can imagine “Peter's” countenance as he heard these words, and because Jesus always spoke the truth, “Peter” must have been concerned. Many people make great boasts concerning their relationship with God the Father, however, when difficulties and challenges come, they often “deny” they “know” Him. God knows this in advance, and because Jesus loved “Peter” so dearly, even though he would deny Him, Jesus would forgive and restore him as His disciple. Everyone who reads these words should examine themselves to be certain they are relying upon Jesus to keep them in a relationship with God the Father and put away all boastful statements concerning their own abilities
Next time we begin a new chapter and see John share how Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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