Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

            The chapter breaks and verse designators in your bible were not written in by the original writers. They are very helpful to us today, but it is important at times to keep in mind that they are not part of the inspired, inerrant part of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16; . They were added centuries later (the New Testament numbering as late as the 16^th century) They were added for our benefit, and they do help. Could you imagine being at a Bible study or at church and wanting to follow along in your own Bible? “Please turn in your Bibles to the Gospel of John, about three fourths of the way through it.” We all would be lost in the pages of our Bible. Don’t get me wrong. I am a fan of those numbers in my Bible…most of the time. Since the numbering system in the Bible is not inspired it can impact how it is interpreted. We must be careful Bible students so we do not miss the intended message of any passage.

            About three quarters of the way through the Gospel of John is, in my opinion, the worst chapter break in the entire Bible. Whenever that large “14” was placed in the pages of John’s account of the life of Christ an important message became obscured. If you merely finish reading Chapter 13 of John and close your Bible only to return at a later time to pick up where you left off you have missed one of the greatest demonstrations of grace recorded in the Bible.

            Chapter 13 records some of the conversation Jesus had with his disciples at their last meal together. John recorded more of this event than any of the other gospel writers. In verse 33 Jesus said, “Where I am going you cannot come.” Peter responds with the most obvious question, a question that I am sure every one of the disciples had. It was a question you and I would have asked. Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus followed Peter’s question by explaining that Peter could not follow now but would follow later. It was, in a way, a non-answer. Jesus did not answer Peter’s question. Jesus only explained that Peter would follow later, wherever it was that Jesus was going. Peter then insisted, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

            I like Peter. I think he often gets a bad rap for some of the things he said and did. In my book, Peter was a real man. His devotion to Jesus was not fake or lip service. He is the one who got out of the boat (Matt. 14:22-33). In the garden Peter drew a sword in defense of Jesus and even used it (John 18:10)! I believe that Peter’s profession that he would lay his life down for Jesus was sincere. He meant it. But instead of answering why Peter could not follow Jesus to where he was going Jesus made a frightening prediction about Peter. “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow till you have denied me three times,” (vs. 38). End of chapter.

            If you read your Bible by chapters you may close your Bible after reading that. You may end thinking how sad that must have been for Peter to hear Jesus say that Peter would deny Jesus. You may even think ahead in your mind knowing that Jesus was right. Peter did deny Jesus three times. Cock-a-doodle-doo. But if you fail to read the next three verses into chapter 14 you have missed the grace that Jesus offers with the terrible prediction.

            “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

            That is fast acting grace. There is no big number 14 in the words of Jesus. No subtitles. Might we even wonder if Jesus is still looking intently into the eyes of Peter as he says those words of grace?

            These “red-letter words” from John 14 are spoken to you as well. Men, respond to his grace!

Pastor Drew