1603 Repping Jesus Here

We have one last stop in our study of the final week of Jesus’ life here on earth, before arriving to the cross tomorrow. One more important lesson to teach this week. I so wanted to tell you all about the foot washing. I wanted to tell you about the last meal with Jesus. I wanted to tell you about the man who carried Jesus’ cross when Jesus was too weak from the beating to continue his destined journey. But I can’t. I can’t because these roosters will NOT stop crowing, y’all.

I’m in a darling little cottage high atop a mountain on the island of Oahu where it is very much like a jungle. It’s just us and the wild chickens up here. And this morning during my study time, more than ever, the roosters are crowing. Every time I begin to write about foot washing, the last supper, or the journey with the cross, another rooster crows and stops me.

Lord, I hear you. Today, we will talk about the part of the story I don’t want to talk about. The part of the story that gets really personal. How I too can deny Jesus. How I can fail to represent myself as a girl who hangs out with Jesus. How the rooster crows reminding me of my continual need for forgiveness and redirection.

Jesus had gathered his best friends for one final dinner together. He gave them the bread that represented his body. He gave them the wine that represented his spilled blood. He knelt down and washed their feet in humble service. He prayed over them and asked God to protect each of them from the evil one. He promised them the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a day they had shared! Then we come to Luke 22 where Jesus tells Peter that Satan has asked to sift him like wheat. But Jesus says in verse 32, “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your bothers.”

Jesus prayed for Peter! He prayed that his faith would not fail. He prayed that after he failed, that he would return and then lead others. Jesus knew Peter would fail, but he had already talked to God about his return!

And Jesus already knew you would fail too. He knew you would get a little lost along the way. He knew you would get all fleshy and mess things up for a bit. But, my sister, he’s already prayed for your return. He’s already planned for you to come back! And when you do, you will be a strength and guide to others. That’s just the way Jesus does things! We see that in Peter.

Peter boldly says to Jesus, “Lord I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Then Jesus says in verse 34, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me.”

Peter just couldn’t accept that he would fail his Jesus. He loved him. He had walked on the water with him. He knew he was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. No way would he deny him. It just couldn’t be.

I feel the same way. There’s no way anyone could make me deny Jesus. I know who he is and I know what he’s done in my life. Maybe you feel the same way. But let me tell you, Satan works hard on God’s girls to trip us up.

What caused Peter to deny Jesus? Yes fear. Yes weakness. But there were steps that brought him there, and they are the same steps God wants us to be aware of so we don’t get tripped up too.

Luke 22: 54-62:

“They arrested Jesus and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at hi...