Speaker 1: Hello again and welcome back to Kid's Bible Stories. Today's
Speaker 1: story is called a Rooster and a Second Chance. This
Speaker 1: comes from Luke chapter twenty two, verses thirty one through
Speaker 1: thirty four, fifty four through sixty two, and John chapter
Speaker 1: twenty one, verses one through seventeen. Today's episode is made
Speaker 1: possible thanks to the generosity from Julianne stage Tony and
Speaker 1: their puppy Bear. She told me her son looks forward
Speaker 1: to every Wednesday for a new Bible story and they
Speaker 1: listen as a family. That really makes my day. Thank
Speaker 1: you for listening and for your support. If you would
Speaker 1: like to join them or enjoy the weekly bonus content,
Speaker 1: go to kbspodcast dot com. All right, listeners. Today's story
Speaker 1: has some big highs and lows and involves a man
Speaker 1: named Peter who was one of Jesus's close friends. We
Speaker 1: just celebrated Easter and Peter was there when it all happened.
Speaker 1: We're going to rewind and walk through Peter's experience from
Speaker 1: before Jesus died to after he rose again. I want
Speaker 1: you to pay attention and listen for how Peter changes
Speaker 1: and remember this no matter what we've done when we
Speaker 1: come back to Jesus. He welcomes us with open arms.
Speaker 1: Let's begin our story here. The room was quiet, lit
Speaker 1: only by the soft glow of oil lamps. Shadows danced
Speaker 1: along the walls as the small group of friends gathered
Speaker 1: around Jesus. Their bellies were full from supper, but their
Speaker 1: hearts felt a little heavy. Something about tonight felt different.
Speaker 1: Maybe it was the way Jesus looked at them, calm
Speaker 1: but serious. Jesus turned to Peter and said, Simon. Simon,
Speaker 1: Jesus said, speaking Peter's other name.
Speaker 2: Behold, Satan has demanded to have you, that he might
Speaker 2: sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you
Speaker 2: that your faith may not fail, and when you have
Speaker 2: turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Speaker 1: Peter said to him.
Speaker 2: Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to
Speaker 2: prison and to death.
Speaker 1: But Jesus said.
Speaker 2: Peter, before the rooster crows, tonight, you will say you
Speaker 2: don't know me. You'll say this three times.
Speaker 1: The fire crackled. The friends looked at each other, unsure
Speaker 1: of what was coming next. But Jesus knew, and still
Speaker 1: he loved them deeply. See Jesus is warning them. He's
Speaker 1: explaining that Satan is seeking to shake them all, test
Speaker 1: them as farmers do to wheat. But what does Jesus
Speaker 1: say he will do to protect them? Answer out loud,
Speaker 1: pray for them. Yes, okay, let's continue and see what
Speaker 1: happens next. Peter had just come from the garden. Listeners,
Speaker 1: that's the garden of gathsemone that we just heard about
Speaker 1: on the Easter episodes. He had been with Jesus among
Speaker 1: the quiet olive trees where everything had started to go wrong,
Speaker 1: or at least that's what they thought. Soldiers came with
Speaker 1: torches and swords. Peter watched as Judas gave the signal
Speaker 1: showing who Jesus was, and suddenly the soldiers arrested Jesus.
Speaker 1: The friends who said they would stay close had scattered
Speaker 1: into the night, their sandals slapping against the dirt path
Speaker 1: as they ran. But Peter didn't run far. Now he
Speaker 1: was following behind at a distance. He didn't want to
Speaker 1: be seen, but he couldn't just leave Jesus either. His
Speaker 1: heart pounded with every step. The guards led Jesus to
Speaker 1: the High Priest's house, where important men would decide what
Speaker 1: to do with him. Outside in the courtyard, people had
Speaker 1: lit a fire. It crackled in the cold night air,
Speaker 1: and a few folks huddled around it, rubbing their hands
Speaker 1: for warmth. Peter quietly sat near them, trying to blend in.
Speaker 1: The flames flickered, lighting up his face jo just enough
Speaker 1: for someone to recognize him. A servant girl tilted her head,
Speaker 1: squint in the firelight.
Speaker 2: Hey, I've seen him before. He was a gase us.
Speaker 1: Peter's eyes grew wide. He looked around. What would happen
Speaker 1: if they knew? Peter shook his head.
Speaker 2: I don't know him.
Speaker 1: Peter looked down at the ground, hoping she would just
Speaker 1: drop it. But a little while later someone else looked
Speaker 1: at him closely. You're word of them all too, No,
Speaker 1: I'm not, Peter firmly replied. Time passed, the fire popped,
Speaker 1: and voices mumbled around him. Peter's hands were still cold,
Speaker 1: but now it wasn't from the air. It was fear
Speaker 1: creeping in. About an hour later, someone else spoke up,
Speaker 1: looking directly at Peter. I know for sure this man
Speaker 1: was with Jesus. Why you can tell he's from Galilee.
Speaker 2: Man, I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1: And immediately while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed
Speaker 1: the sound broke through the night air, loud, clear, awful.
Speaker 1: Peter's heart sank, he froze. He remembered Jesus had said
Speaker 1: it would happen, and across the courtyard, Jesus turned and
Speaker 1: looked at him. Peter met his eyes, not angry, not surprised,
Speaker 1: just knowing. Peter stood up quickly. He couldn't stay there.
Speaker 1: He ran out through the gate, tears streaming down his face.
Speaker 2: He wept.
Speaker 1: He told Jesus he would never leave him. Well, he
Speaker 1: said he would die for him, But now he had
Speaker 1: said three times that he didn't even know him, and
Speaker 1: the rooster had crowed. Well. After this, Jesus went to
Speaker 1: the cross, died and was buried. But on the third day,
Speaker 1: tell me what happened. He was excellent. Let's see what
Speaker 1: happens with Peter after this. As we continued, it had
Speaker 1: been days since Jesus died on the cross. Peter had
Speaker 1: seen it all. The sky had turned dark, the earth
Speaker 1: had shaken, and Peter remembered the rooster, the denial, the tears.
Speaker 1: His heart felt heavy with sadness. But then, oh, something
Speaker 1: amazing happened. Jesus didn't stay in the tomb. He rose
Speaker 1: he really did what he said he would do. He
Speaker 1: had risen from the dead, and Peter saw him alive.
Speaker 1: He touched his hands, he even saw the scars. It
Speaker 1: was all real. Jesus was alive. One morning, Peter and
Speaker 1: some of the other disciples were out fishing on the sea.
Speaker 1: They had fished all night and caught nothing. Then a
Speaker 1: man standing on the shore called out to them.
Speaker 2: Throw your net on the other side of the boat.
Speaker 1: So they did, and suddenly the net was full of fish,
Speaker 1: so many they could barely pull it in. John looked
Speaker 1: at Peter and said, it's the Lord. Peter's heart left
Speaker 1: it was Jesus. Without waiting another second, Peter jumped into
Speaker 1: the water and swam to shore. When Peter got to
Speaker 1: the beach, there was a warm fire waiting and breakfast
Speaker 1: fish and bread. Jesus had made it for them. After
Speaker 1: they ate, Jesus turned to Peter. There were no crowds,
Speaker 1: just the sound of the sea, the fire crackling, and
Speaker 1: the gentle voice of Jesus.
Speaker 2: Peter, do you love me more than these?
Speaker 1: Peter looked down, then back up.
Speaker 2: Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Then feed
Speaker 2: my lambs.
Speaker 1: A moment passed, then Jesus asked again.
Speaker 2: Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord, you know that
Speaker 2: I love you. Then take care of my sheep.
Speaker 1: Then a third time, Peter, do you love me? Peter's
Speaker 1: eyes filled with tears. Jesus had asked him three times,
Speaker 1: just like Peter had said three times that he didn't
Speaker 1: know him. Now Jesus was giving Peter the chance to
Speaker 1: say three times that he loved him. Peter didn't hold back.
Speaker 2: Lord, you know everything.
Speaker 1: You know that I love you, Jesus smiled.
Speaker 2: Then feed my sheep.
Speaker 1: Well, that is it for a story today. But before
Speaker 1: we go, let's think about what we just heard. How
Speaker 1: many times did Peter say he didn't know Jesus three yes,
Speaker 1: And after Jesus had risen, how many times did he
Speaker 1: ask Peter if he loved him? Say yes? Good job.
Speaker 1: Jesus forgave Peter. He didn't say, oh, you messed up,
Speaker 1: go away. No, he said, I still want you, I
Speaker 1: still love you, and will use you to go out
Speaker 1: and spread the good news about me to others. Peter
Speaker 1: had messed up, but Jesus gave him a new start.
Speaker 1: Peter was different after that. Before Jesus died and rose again,
Speaker 1: did Peter run away. Yes he ran away, yes, remember
Speaker 1: he did. He kind of followed at a distance, trying
Speaker 1: to see what was going to happen. But after Peter
Speaker 1: saw Jesus alive, everything changed. Peter became bold and brave,
Speaker 1: so brave that later in his life he even died
Speaker 1: for his faith in Jesus. If you ever think that
Speaker 1: you made too big of a mistake, I hope that
Speaker 1: you remember Peter. No matter how far we've run, Jesus,
Speaker 1: he still loves us. When we ask him to forgive us,
Speaker 1: guess what he does. He forgives us, and just like Peter,
Speaker 1: he welcomes up us back and gives us a fresh start.
Speaker 1: Well that is it for today's story. Thanks to today's
Speaker 1: special voice guest Andrew Carhulis, who played the voice of Peter.
Speaker 1: He's a great dad to three little kids and a
Speaker 1: really talented musician. You can experience the richness of his
Speaker 1: music on Spotify when you search Brother Kay or Hearth Hymns.
Speaker 1: I'll link this in the show notes for you too.
Speaker 1: Thank you again so much for listening today, and as always,
Speaker 1: bye for now.