Friends, today we will look at three special disciples named Peter, James, and John who went a little farther into the garden with Jesus. Remember, that last week we saw that 8 of the 12 disciples stayed at the edge of the garden by the gate, not willing to go on with Jesus. But, pictured above sleeping, Peter, James, and John were special and even though they fell asleep, they didn't lay down long, but continued to follow Jesus, ignoring the persecutions christians experience from the world for serving Jesus. I pray in Jesus name all those reading this can be like Peter, James, and John and forever go on with Jesus, rejoicing through the persecutions of this world for serving Jesus.
Friend, are you willing to go on with Jesus into the garden, rejoicing to be counted worthy to suffer persecution from this world for serving Jesus.1 Peter 4:13 tells us But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. James 1:2 says My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. 2 Timothy 1:12 tells us For the which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
Neighbor, we should rejoice when the world persecutes us as we follow our Lord Jesus daily. I pray in Jesus name we can all be like the apostles and rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus Christ. I wish I could have seen and rejoiced with the apostles as they ran out of a house, leaping for joy because they were beaten for serving Jesus. Acts 5:40 tells us and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go, and they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Now note that when the people with Judas came to arrest Jesus, all the disciples fled including Peter, James, and John. But, Peter and John did not stay gone long, and began to follow Jesus. Proverbs 24:16 says For a just man falleth seven times; and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Friend if you have failed the Lord in the past, rise up again and continue to follow Jesus, knowing that the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin.
John quit running and turned around and went back and followed Jesus into the courthouse. John went to the palace where they tried Jesus. John went out and got Peter and brought Peter in to the palace because John knew the high priest, and the high priest knew John, and John was allowed to bring Peter in with him. Peter couldn't have gotten into the palace if John didn't go get him. This was about the worst thing that happened to Peter. Peter would have never heard that rooster crow if he never went inside that gate.
The bible speaks about John taking Peter into the palace where Jesus was tried and can be found at John 18:15 that says And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple (this was John who was humble and did not mention his own name in the gospel of John); that disciple was known unto the high priest and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
Jesus wanted Peter to enter the palace to fulfill a prophecy Jesus stated at Mark 14:29 that says But Peter said unto Him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But, he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
OK, the above picture shows us what happened to Peter after John brought him into the palace where Jesus was being tried. This picture has to be one of the most anointed pictures Brother Bob has ever placed in his book for Jesus. Note that the picture accurately shows the damsel in the palace, the maid on the porch, and Malchus (the soldier whose ear Peter cut off that Jesus healed) all accusing Peter of being with Jesus, as Peter denies our Lord Jesus three times, as the rooster beside him crows twice.
John 18:17 says Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter; Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith I am not. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Matthew 26:71 says this included a maid on the porch that said Peter was with Jesus, all saying Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off (Malchus), saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with Him? Peter then denied again (note Matthew 26:74 says Peter began to curse and to swear that he did not know Jesus); and immediately the cock crew.
Take time to read how my good friend Pastor Sonny Mull described how Peter denied Jesus. This is anointed, so read it and rejoice for joy. First, a damsel in the palace accused Peter of being a disciple that followed Jesus, and Peter said I am not, I don't know the man. And then a maid on the porch accused him and he denied it again. And then Malchus, the soldier whose ear Peter cut off in the garden, He said, You are one of them, I saw you in the garden. I'm sure Malchus had a good memory of Peter as the man who attacked him in the garden.
And so in order for Peter to escape these accusations, Peter had to curse and swear that he did not know Jesus. Some of you boys down at your workplace will tell a dirty joke so your coworkers will leave you alone. You don't want to be too religious because your coworkers will pick on you. So you'll curse and swear like the rest of them so they'll think you're just another old joe that wants to be friends. Bless God friend, be a man on your job, willing to be persecuted for Jesus, and stand up for Jesus, stand up for Jesus.
By the time Peter got done cussing and swearing that he did not know Jesus, the rooster crowed Er, Er, Er, Er, Er and old Peter bong fell on his face and started squalling. We got a preachin chicken and a chicken preacher face to face. But the fact is this friend, Peter, James, and John were three special disciples that went a little farther in to the garden with Jesus. They might have fell down but they didn't lay down long. Peter wept bitterly and repented that he denied Jesus three times and became one of the greatest preachers that ever lived.
Now after Jesus was crucified and died, Peter and the disciples again got discouraged and decided to go fishing shown by the two pictures above, as Peter fished naked. Take time to read how my good friend Pastor Sonny Mull described how Peter and the disciples got discouraged and decided to fish instead of preach about Jesus. After Jesus died, Peter said I go a fishing. And the rest of the disciples said Wait a minute, We'll go with you. When Christ died, the disciples thought well it's all over, we might as well go back to fishing; And they were out there in the boat fishing all night and hadn't caught a thing.
And at daylight, Jesus was on the shore walking and the disciples didn't know who it was. And Jesus said, Children have ye caught any fish? And the disciples realized it was the Lord. And I'll tell you what, Peter was fishing stark raving naked. I wonder how come those disciples couldn't keep their clothes on. And John said, It's the Lord and Peter grabbed a garment, wrapped it around him, and jumped in the water and swam to shore, while the rest of the disciples paddled a boatload of fish to shore.
Sonny's little sermon above can be found at John 21 that says After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed He Himself. There were together Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathaniel of Cana in Galiliee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:4 goes on to say But, when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children have ye any meat? They answered Him No, And He said unto them, cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
John 21:7 goes on to say Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved (note this is John who was humble and never stated I am the disciple that Jesus loved or I am the disciple that outran Peter) (Note also that John 21:24 proves that John is the unnamed beloved disciple in the gospel of John and says This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.) saith unto Peter, It is the Lord, Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, for he was naked, and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; for they were not far from land, but as it were 200 cubits, dragging the net with fishes.
Friends, notice that after Peter pictured above realized that Jesus was raised from the dead, Peter never quit or backed up again, and he never got naked again in public, as he became a great man of God. Pictured above, the bible says that once Peter got straightened out, old Peter would walk down streets by the blind, halt, lame, crippled, the lepers, the poor, the deaf, and the dumb, who laid on the sidewalk, and as Peter walked by while the sun was shining, every time Peter's shadow fell on somebody, they jumped up healed. I encourage everyone reading this to be like Peter and continue to daily go on with Jesus realizing that the blood of Jesus removes our past mistakes making us worthy to preach the gospel to the nations.
The story about the picture above of Peter's shadow healing multitudes of people can be found at Acts 5:14 that says And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one.
JOHN 3:16 GOSPEL
OK, to close out today's bible study, Brother Bob wants to share with all my friends a blessed revelation about John 3:16 that I heard J. Harold Smith preach who was one of the greatest preachers that ever lived. Notice that in John 3:16 we can see the word gospel. John 3:16 says For G God so loved the world, that He gave His O only begotten S Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not P perish, but have E everlasting L life. Also note that since the word valentine also appears in John 3:16, you can preach about John 3:16 on Valentine's Day.
And how about this, John 3:16 has 25 words and the the center word is Son or Jesus with 12 words before Son and 12 words after Son. Try writing out John 3:16 and make a cross through John 3:16 and the center of the cross will land on the Son Jesus.
OK, since I'm at it how about another revelation from Philippians 4:4 that says Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice. To Brother Bob this scripture is telling us to keep rejoicing forevermore in the Lord Jesus. Rejoice again and again and after you have rejoiced, do it again and again, rejoicing in the Lord Jesus forevermore.
I have truly enjoyed writing this bible study today and I pray in Jesus name it blesses all my friends everywhere. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.
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