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Peter Denied Jesus Three Times

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[Matthew 26:74-75]

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

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The night before Jesus would suffer the cross, Jesus had the last supper with his disciples. Jesus took bread and wine, blessed it and told about his death to the disciples. Then, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives with his disciples.

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On the mountain, Jesus said to his disciples.

"Tonight, all of you will betray me. After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. "

Upon hearing the words of Jesus, Peter said to Jesus.

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"Jesus, even if all other disciples betray you, I will never betray you." Peter greatly promised to Jesus that he would never betray Jesus no matter what happened.

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However, Jesus said like this to Peter,

"Peter, I tell you the truth. This very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." After hearing that, Peter was so shocked.

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But Peter replied even stronger than before.

"Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you."

All of the other disciples said the same thing like Peter that they would be with Jesus until the end.

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That night, like the prophecy, by the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, Jesus was arrested by the Roman soldiers in Gethsemane even though Jesus did not do anything wrong. Then, the disciples who had promised to stay with Jesus ran away like what Jesus had said.

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The Roman soldiers arrested Jesus and brought him to Caiaphas, the high priest. In that place, all the teachers of the law and the elders were already gathered. They were trying to make false evidence to make Jesus look guilty.

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Peter, who promised to die with Jesus rather than deny him, went into the courtyard of the high priest secretly to see what was happening to him. Peter sat with the guards.

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They interpreted the words of Jesus ridiculously and made Jesus look like a great sinner. They made up a case about blaspheming to God and tried to kill Jesus.

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The high priest torn his clothes saying that Jesus had blasphemed God. Then, people spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him. No one came forward to defend Jesus.

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At that time Peter was looking at the happening secretly in the courtyard of the high priest. Then, a servant girl noticed Peter and said, "You also were together with that Jesus of Galilee." Peter in a surprised tone replied, "I do not know what you are talking about."

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After saying that Peter left the place and headed to the gateway.

At that moment, another girl saw Peter and said, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."

Peter denied again with an oath saying, "I swear I do not know that man."

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A little while later, some others said to Peter,

"Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."

Hearing the third saying, Peter began to curse himself and swore to them, "I surely do not know him at all."

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After Peter had denied Jesus for the third time, immediately a rooster crowed. Peter truly had denied Jesus three times like how Jesus had prophesied. Then Peter ran outside and deeply wept about denying Jesus for three times.

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We should examine ourselves whether we do the same thing like Peter. Jesus carried all of our sins and died on the cross to save us. Everyday, we should remember that grace and be proud of becoming children of God. I hope all of you could have the courage of faith.

(You can change the conclusion of this sermon best suiting to your listeners of this sermon. We want to make it clear that the provided conclusion is only a sample conclusion provided by CTM.)