Bible Matters 399: Cock Crowed Twice!

You all have heard the story of Peter denying Jesus more times than you can remember.  Peter was the first disciple picked by Jesus.  He participated in all the retreats with Jesus, including the transfiguration of Jesus talking to Elias and Moses.(Matthew 17:1-3)  Peter walked on water to Jesus.  Peter cut off the ear of the soldier that came to arrest Jesus.  Peter witnessed miracle after miracle performed by Jesus.  Jesus knew that Peter was weak in the flesh.  All this first-hand testimony of witnessing the Son of God healing God’s people and yet, Jesus knew that Peter would deny him.  Peter cursed and swore that he would not deny Jesus.

You have never heard that Peter would deny Jesus before the cock crowed twice!

Let’s look at the preponderance of evidence from the testimonies of the eight New Testament witnesses.  In Mark, Jesus tells the apostles exactly how they will deny him.  Jesus states, “Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.”  While Peter is sleeping, Jesus tells him that the spirit is ready but the flesh is weak.  The second time the cock crowed, Peter had denied Jesus of Nazareth three times!

Mark 14:27-30,37-38,47,67-72 – And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.  But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.  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.  And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.   And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.  But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.  And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.  And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.  But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.  And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

It is clear in Mark’s testimony that Jesus said the cock would crow twice.  During the time of Peter’s denials of knowing or being with Jesus, the cock crowed and then after the third denial, the cock crowed twice.  As we look at the other three witnesses, that provided testimony as to the handing over of Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees, you see the common report of the cock crowing once, after Peter denied Jesus three times!  Matthew, Luke and John all provide similar testimonies.

Matthew 26:34,74-75 – Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Luke 22:34,60-62 – And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.  And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

John 13:37-38, John 18:7-8,10,15-17,24-27 – Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.  Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.   Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he : if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.  And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: 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.  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.  Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.  And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, 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, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?  Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

The gospel you heard every Easter for as long as you can remember were based on the gospels of Matthew, Luke and John.  It is clear in this case that bible scholars have applied the preponderance of evidence testimonies of the four witnesses and have used the version that matches the version three of the witnesses with Peter denying Jesus three times before the cock crowed once. 

In this ministry I have applied the preponderance of evidence testimony of all eight New Testament witnesses to obtain the truth in God’s doctrine from the mouth of two or three witnesses.  Just as God has told you to do, four times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament.  As in the above simple case of the cock crowing, God is looking for your service out of knowing the truth in his word.  When presented with a witness in this ministry, I do not deny God, nor do I deny Jesus.  Every witness has a purpose.  During the 4/8/24 eclipse that led to the formation of the Church of Nineveh, I was presented with 3 witnesses that day which had studied at a college denomination that requires compliance with Old and New Testament doctrine.  All three witnesses had left this denomination.  A fourth witness had left this denomination, as it is impossible to have salvation with God in trying to comply will all of the man’s laws and rituals from the Old and New Testament.  This fourth witness was one of the three witnesses that denied the New Testament truth in God’s word out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, as presented in “ A Bride of Christ.”  (See Bible Matters 385: Works in Three)

When God sends you a witness, you listen.  The cock is not going to crow on our watch.  Today, this lesson may be your witness.  God is asking you not to deny him.  Share the truth in God’s word in all manner of service to our Lord.  Believe that when God tells you seven times in the New Testament that out of the mouth of two or more witnesses, you shall know the truth.  Do not be deceived.  God’s word is not open to private interpretation. 

Matthew 18:16 – But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

2 Peter 1:20 – Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Today, decide to share the truth in God’s word.  Open someone’s eye to this ministry.  Watch and pray! Today you’ll be strong in the flesh and the spirit!

Mark 14:38 – Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.