Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow

John 18:13-27

They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you? He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

John, perhaps in the interests of non-Jewish readers, gives more space to the Roman trial than to the Jewish.Unlike the other Gospels Council. Jesus answered the powerful former high priest, Annas, father-in-law of the then high priest Caliphas. The others have the actual trial before Caiaphas, which is much more likely.

Why?

Jesus doesn't like to answer the high priest, for what Jesus said in public why do they ask him again?

Yes, Jesus spoke openly to the world. Those people who know what Jesus says but their heart is hard, like Pharaoh in Egypt. They don't like to face the truth.

Peter finally knew that Jesus had predicted what he will be. Peter denied recognizing Jesus three times before the rooster began to crow.

All of us, like Peter, are weak and do have not enough faith in Jesus. Thanks to the Holy Spirit with us who may encourage us and guide us, let us know the truth, and keep following Jesus.

耶穌在亞那面前：你要定我的罪，要有證人啊！怎麼沒有做反而問耶穌說了什麼，他們理虧無言以對，所以一個差役來打耶穌，此更代表大祭司的錯誤。不義的人作審判者，審判公義的人，愈審判更顯出自己的不義。自己問不出來，所以解耶穌到該亞法那裏。我們是否也常常向主抱怨，為什麼主這樣做，這好像審判神的同時，就被審判。我們只有順服神才有出路。

彼得三次不認主：

不是只有彼得跟隨耶穌，而是有兩個門徒，另一位應該是約翰。看門的使女在關說中特別看了彼得，就說你不是跟隨耶穌的人……這些詢問顯然不是刁難彼得只是隨便問問，否則他們早就去通報了。彼得卻很緊張。我們常常會定別人的罪，所以會強調彼得三次不認主。彼得當初說的是真的，願意為主捨命，真的事情發生時，人真的軟弱，退縮了。彼得接二連三被認出來，都沒有逃跑，就是要肯定彼得的心。彼得把標準定的高，自己沒有做到而厭棄自己。我們自己也一樣沒有資格來質疑彼得的信心。彼得不是別人，彼得就是我們。人憑著自己的血氣是無法愛主的，沒有辦法做到。我們能愛主是因為神在我們裏面，激動我們，堅固我們，讓我們有能力來愛神。我們常常有雄心壯志為主做什麼大事！神的心意高過我們，神要更新我們，建造我們，使我們可以成為神的合用器皿。

How?

Confess my weakness and unknown, May the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus and the power of the Lord to guide me and help me. For I belong to the Lord.