A Morning Cup of Tea: The Cock Crows

Today we are reading chapter 26 of Matthew, beginning with verse 45, up to the end of the chapter. Jesus had just returned from praying for the third time. He knew what was coming up and he loved us all enough to go through it anyway. Each time he prayed that God's will be done, not his own. Once again he found his disciples sleeping. I don't think he was really angry with them, because they surely did not understand the gravity of the situation and what would be happening over the next several hours.
  Jesus woke his disciples and told them the betrayer was at hand. While he spoke, Judas arrived with a multitude from the chief priests and elders, carrying swords and staves.  Judas told them, the one I kiss, he is the one. He went up to Jesus ,  said hello and kissed him. 
  Jesus was immediately seized. One of the disciples drew his own sword and cut off the ear from a servant of the high priest. 
 52. Then said Jesus unto him,  Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
 53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
  Jesus was telling him that this was voluntary. He could have stopped all of this at any time; just said, I can't handle it this way and walked away. But he loved us all enough to continue.   Jesus also mentioned that he was at the temple with them many times, but they chose not to do anything then. He said it had to be done the way it was carried out in order to fulfill the scriptures.
  The disciples all fled, as Jesus knew they would do. Peter followed at a distance as the crowd took Jesus to Caiaphas' palace. The chief priests and elders all wanted to find someone who would witness against Jesus but found no one until finally someone said  This man said he was able to destroy the temple of God  and rebuild it in three days.
  The high priest wondered why Jesus never answered to the accusation. Jesus said nothing. Then he insisted that Jesus state whether he was the Christ, the Son of God.
  64. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
 This made the high priest very angry. This man blasphemes! What further proof do we need? The answer was Jesus was guilty and should be put to death. They spit in his face and hit him continually, saying prophesy to us. Who is hitting you?   
 Meanwhile Peter was out in the courtyard trying to find out what he could. A woman saw him, and said You are one who was with Jesus of Galilee. Peter denied it. I don't know what you're talking about, he said (paraphrased).
 He moved on to the porch and another woman identified him as a follower of Jesus.  Once again, he denied it, saying he did not know the man.   Later on someone else insisted that he knew Jesus and was one of his disciples because of the way he spoke.  Peter began to curse and swear. I do not know the man! And immediately the rooster crowed.
 Peter realized immediately what he'd done. Jesus had told him the truth. Peter left and wept bitterly 

Today we are reading chapter 26 of Matthew, beginning with verse 45, up to the end of the chapter. Jesus had just returned from praying for the third time. He knew what was coming up and he loved us all enough to go through it anyway. Each time he prayed that God's will be done, not his own. Once again he found his disciples sleeping. I don't think he was really angry with them, because they surely did not understand the gravity of the situation and what would be happening over the next several hours.
  Jesus woke his disciples and told them the betrayer was at hand. While he spoke, Judas arrived with a multitude from the chief priests and elders, carrying swords and staves.  Judas told them, the one I kiss, he is the one. He went up to Jesus ,  said hello and kissed him. 
  Jesus was immediately seized. One of the disciples drew his own sword and cut off the ear from a servant of the high priest. 
 52. Then said Jesus unto him,  Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
 53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
  Jesus was telling him that this was voluntary. He could have stopped all of this at any time; just said, I can't handle it this way and walked away. But he loved us all enough to continue.   Jesus also mentioned that he was at the temple with them many times, but they chose not to do anything then. He said it had to be done the way it was carried out in order to fulfill the scriptures.
  The disciples all fled, as Jesus knew they would do. Peter followed at a distance as the crowd took Jesus to Caiaphas' palace. The chief priests and elders all wanted to find someone who would witness against Jesus but found no one until finally someone said  This man said he was able to destroy the temple of God  and rebuild it in three days.
  The high priest wondered why Jesus never answered to the accusation. Jesus said nothing. Then he insisted that Jesus state whether he was the Christ, the Son of God.
  64. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
 This made the high priest very angry. This man blasphemes! What further proof do we need? The answer was Jesus was guilty and should be put to death. They spit in his face and hit him continually, saying prophesy to us. Who is hitting you?   
 Meanwhile Peter was out in the courtyard trying to find out what he could. A woman saw him, and said You are one who was with Jesus of Galilee. Peter denied it. I don't know what you're talking about, he said (paraphrased).
 He moved on to the porch and another woman identified him as a follower of Jesus.  Once again, he denied it, saying he did not know the man.   Later on someone else insisted that he knew Jesus and was one of his disciples because of the way he spoke.  Peter began to curse and swear. I do not know the man! And immediately the rooster crowed.
 Peter realized immediately what he'd done. Jesus had told him the truth. Peter left and wept bitterly