Cockadoodledoo!

For Friday, February 27, 2026:

John 13:37-38 NLT: “’But why can’t I come now, Lord?’ Simon Peter asked. ‘I’m ready to die for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.’”

Everything happened just like Jesus predicted. It might have happened like this:

Guards: “We’re looking for Jesus of Nazareth.”

Simon Peter: “Haven’t seen the guy.”

G: “We heard he was around here.”

SP: “To tell the truth, I’m not sure I’ve ever met the guy!”

G: “I thought I saw you with him earlier today.”

SP: “Couldn’t have been me. I just got here.”

Rooster: “Cockadoodledoo!”

Some attribute this to a lack of faith in Peter, but I believe it’s more a matter of self preservation. If Peter had admitted he was a close friend of Jesus, the bad guys would probably have arrested him, and the way things were going, Peter could have died on a cross right next to Jesus. God couldn’t have Peter dying right away. God (and Jesus) had already identified Peter as the point person for The Way, the church resulting from Jesus’ teaching.

It’s Peter’s impulsive willingness to jump right in and get things done that fill out his leadership profile. We need leaders like that nowadays. Some people drag their feet, working out every last detail before they even start God’s project. They may never get it started. Peter would dive in the deep end, and later adjust if need be. He may not be perfect, but at least he’s in motion.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether we’re moving forward to the north-west or the north-east, as long as we’re moving forward!!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Cock-a-doodle-doo!!!

For Thursday, September 18, 2025:

John 13:36 NLT: “Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”

And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”

Jesus gave Peter an answer, but the answer didn’t fit the question. In this exchange, Jesus never said where he was going. Jesus wisely avoided topics that most people wouldn’t understand. Remember that at that time, there was debate over life-after-this-life. Pharisees thought it was possible, but didn’t know much about it. Sadducees didn’t believe in a hereafter, so it was a dead topic with them. Jesus knew exactly what was to happen, but the true scenario would seem impossible to most people. Dying, going to the place of the dead, back to life in 3 days – doesn’t seem logical. Doesn’t seem possible!

Jesus challenges Peter with a prophecy: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Simon Peter – I call him Mr. Impulsive – shouts out, “Not me, Lord! I would never forsake you. I would be willing to die for you!” Dying in support of Jesus would be good, but dying unnecessarily would be bad.

In the courtyard: “Didn’t I see you with Jesus earlier today?”

Peter: “Nah, couldn’t have been me. You got the wrong guy!”

In the courtyard: “I think I recognize you. Aren’t you one of the 12?”

Peter: “You’re thinking of someone else. I’m from out of town!”

In the courtyard: “You were talking to Jesus earlier, over by the fire.”

Peter: “You keep talking about Jesus. I’ve never even met the guy!”

Rooster: Cock-a-doodle-doo!!!

Some folks call Peter a coward or say that he abandoned Jesus. Yes, he saved his own skin, but I prefer to line that up with God’s vast eternal plan. You see, God had already earmarked Peter to lead the disciples following the resurrection. He was the point-person for the first Christian church, The Way. Peter needed to stay alive to do the work God had given him to do! God gave Peter purpose.

If you’re not dead, you’re not done! Peter lived to fulfill God’s purpose for his existence. We all live to fulfill God’s purpose for us. We can love our neighbors, serve others, love our Lord and encourage others to love him too. That’s our mission; that’s our assignment.

Without purpose, it may be our time to leave the planet. (Just my opinion.)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Peter Denying Jesus!

For Saturday, March 02, 2024:

Mark 14:29 NLT: “Peter declared, ‘Even if all others fall away, I will not.’”

Peter will fall away that very night. Scripture predicts that if the shepherd is struck, the sheep will scatter. Timing is important. Jesus says this will occur before the rooster crows, which signals a new sunrise. So in the few hours remaining in that day, Peter will deny the Savior he loves.

In the courtyard, it was dark. Jesus had already been arrested and the guards didn’t want any more trouble. So Peter was asked, “Aren’t you one of the 12?” To save his own skin, Peter denied it. And again, “Didn’t I see you with him the other day?”

Peter answered, “No, that wasn’t me.” He was believed.

And the rooster crowed!

God knows what he’s doing. With Jesus returning to the Father, the disciples would need a strong leader. Peter fit the job description, a little impulsive maybe, but he was the default leader when Jesus wasn’t with the believers. So by denying Jesus, Peter was preserved for future heavenly assignments.

Of course, when Peter denied the Lord, he was lying. It’s a rare exception when God says it’s OK to deceive others, to tell lies. We are not supposed to tell fibs. But leadership for “The Way” was God’s goal, and this made it happen.

God knows what he’s doing, and today we all get to be a part of it! But don’t you lie and don’t you deny Jesus. You’re not Peter!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth!

 For Thursday, March 30, 2023:

1 John 2:22 NLT: “Who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.”

The Holy Spirit has given believers the gift of discernment. We can usually tell when somebody is lying right to our face. I frequently fact-check, comparing what someone says with what the Bible says. If someone denies that Jesus is the Messiah, they’re a liar, a deceiver. If someone denies that there is a God, they don’t know the truth.

There’s a surprising number of deceivers. They masquerade as cults, New Age advocates and other false religions. Sometimes they worship nothing. Be especially suspicious of groups that look like a church or have “Jesus” in their name, but don’t accept the Bible or use a fake Holy Book.

John sums it up like this v23: “Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship