A glance, the rooster- the pain and the promise

Today  I heard  new insights to chapter 18 of  the Gospel of John from our pastor. The first was the following when the faith of Jesus and the faithlessness of Peter was recorded and contrasted in this reading.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

²⁵  Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷ Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. (John 18: 25-27 ESV)

I have often imagined the dark, internal anguish, and condemnation Peter would have possibly felt when the rooster crowed after he denied Jesus three times.  Perhaps he could see Jesus from the area where he denied knowing him. Also , just maybe his eyes met the eyes of The Savior at this time. How despite Peter's fear, and denial and where he may have been expecting a condeming glance, Jesus look reveals love and compassion. "Jesus never forgets his sheep; he is always watching out for us, and never lets us go."

The Cross the great Leveler- a full and effective ransom 

Bloodlines: Race, Cross,and the Christian - John Piper.

“The cross of Christ is the great leveler of human beings, not only because it shows that we are all desperate sinners, and not just because it can only be received by faith, but also because it is such a full and effective ransom for the elect that no child of God dare ever think that we made any contribution to the purchase.” [i]

[i] Piper, John. Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian. Page 139.  Crossway.  2011

^{The next insight --}

The Gospel of Mark 16 :1-7 records:

The Resurrection
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³ And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” ⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back— it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. ⁶ And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee

So Peter is mentioned by name by the angel at the empty tomb. Jesus was so kind to use this in the gospel to show how he loved Peter, how his sins were forgiven, and to recall the hope of the resurrection and justification.

What a beautiful picture of what the Cross has accomplished in our lives. The innocent One takes all the wrath we deserved and we are granted forgiveness , made right and looked upon 'just as if we have never sinned'.  "Perfect justice . perfect mercy side by side .."

Justification is what a judge does in a courtroom. It is a declaration that a defendant is found innocent. And the declaration is made because the judge (or jury) presumes there is real innocence—real righteousness. So for an infallible judge, there are no mistakes. No innocent people are punished. And no guilty go free. In the courtroom of an infallible judge, the only time there is justification is when there is real innocence—real righteousness. The defendant is declared to be just, because he is found to be just.[ii] 
[ii] Piper, John. Bloodlines: Race, Cross, and the Christian. Page 171.  Crossway.  2011

What A Savior (Man of Sorrows) - Sovereign Grace



Man of Sorrows, what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim, hallelujah
Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah, hallelujah

Savior, You showed Your love
Defeated our sin, poured out Your blood
So we praise You, Lamb that was slain
We offer our lives to proclaim
What a Savior

Guilty, vile, and helpless we
Spotless Lamb of God was He
Full atonement, can it be? Hallelujah
Lifted up was He to die
“It is finished” was His cry
Now in heav’n exalted high
Hallelujah, hallelujah

When He comes, our glorious King
All His ransomed home to bring
Then anew this song we’ll sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Verses by Philip Bliss (1875), Music and chorus by Devon Kauflin 

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