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Easter 3 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 4, 2025
Acts 9:1-22, Revelation 5:1-14, John 21:1-19
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Roosters crow every morning, day after day, and not just in the morning but throughout the day. Every time a rooster crows it picks at the scab on Peter’s heart so he feels fresh shame and guilt for what he has done.
Peter liked to think of himself as the tough guy, the decisive guy, the man of action. He thinks himself brave and loyal and even brags about it. After the Passover meal in the upper room… Matthew 26:31 (ESV) 31 …Jesus [says] to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Peter looks around at the other disciples with a bit of contempt…Matthew 26:33–35 (ESV) 33 … “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus [says] to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter [says] to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” ...
All the other disciples agree. Jesus then takes the disciples to Gethsemane where Peter promptly falls asleep multiple times while Jesus is praying. Indeed the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. When the armed crowd comes to arrest Jesus, Peter jumps into action drawing his sword and attacking. He cuts off the ear of a man named Malchus, but before the fight could continue, Jesus stops it.
The crowd seizes Jesus and binds Him. Peter and John follow the crowd up Mt. Zion to Caiaphas’ house. John knows the High Priest and goes inside to watch while Peter waits in the courtyard to see what will happen. Tough guy Peter finds himself alone amongst enemies. There are soldiers and servants and all sorts of people all waiting to see Jesus killed. Peter nervously tries not to stand out. Matthew 26:69–70 (ESV) 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.”
A little later, Matthew 26:71–72 (ESV) 71 …another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” The fear and uncertainty must be building in Peter. He is alone in a sea of opponents. Matthew 26:73–74 (ESV) 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.”
The rooster crows and the memory of Jesus’ words slap Peter in the face. Matthew 26:34 (ESV) 34 … “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter is crushed by the shame and goes out and weeps bitterly.
Peter failed Jesus and Peter carries the wound of this shame as his constant companion. Every time a rooster crows he is reminded of his frightened weakness and the wound is fresh again. What has he done? Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but then He denies His Lord and Savior. He bragged that unlike all the other disciples he would die before abandoning Jesus but then, just hours later, out of fear, he denies even knowing Jesus.
Jesus is crucified, dies and is buried and it seems like everything is over, but then Jesus rises from the dead. But even after learning Jesus rose from the dead the disciples are still hiding out in a locked room for fear of the Jews. Jesus appears to them at least twice in Jerusalem, once without Thomas and then a week later with Thomas. Then the disciples go to Galilee to wait for Jesus. Peter still struggles with the guilt and shame. Can Jesus ever forgive him? Can he forgive himself? Has Jesus abandoned him? Will he ever see Jesus again? The once confident Peter is wracked with guilt. Everything has changed.
In Galilee, on the Sea of Tiberius, the disciples wait for Jesus. One evening, while Peter waits with six other disciples, he declares, “I am going fishing,” and the disciples agree, “We will go with you.”
There is a lot of theological speculation about why they went fishing. Was Peter thinking that his days of ministry were over and he needed to return to his previous vocation? Was this a significant decision by Peter, or was he just bored and wanted something to do. Did they just want to do something familiar after all the craziness? Perhaps Peter was tired of hearing roosters crow and thought…maybe…just maybe, I won’t be able to hear them when I am out on the water.
For whatever reason they do go fishing and they catch nothing all night. For Peter, James and John this must bring up memories of the last time they went fishing a few years before. They work hard all night setting and hauling nets with no success.
As morning dawns, the tired, hungry disciples see a man standing alone on the shore. The man calls out, “Do you have any fish?” Perhaps more literally, “do you have anything to eat?” They yell back, “No!”
The man calls out, John 21:6 (ESV) 6 … “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.”
It all comes rushing back. Just like their last failed fishing trip when, after Jesus borrowed a boat to teach the people on the shore, He gave them two boatloads of fish. Peter, James and John all left being fishermen that day to follow Jesus.
John declares, “It is the Lord!” Peter is so excited and relieved that Jesus is here with them that He puts on his outer garment and dives into the water to swim to shore.
They eat breakfast together; fish Jesus provided, fish from the miraculous catch, and bread from Jesus. You wonder if Peter hears any roosters crowing during breakfast. Jesus is right here with Peter and the other disciples, but where does Peter stand with Jesus after his fearful denial?
After breakfast, Jesus addresses Peter by his original name, Simon, John 21:15 (ESV) 15 …“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
Peter must be wondering… what Jesus is doing? What does he mean?
John 21:16 (ESV) 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Peter’s confusion must deepen. What is Jesus doing?
John 21:17 (ESV) 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Peter is suffering at Jesus asking him three times, “Do you love me?” But then it becomes clear. Peter is being restored to his place in Jesus’ ministry. At the first great catch of fish Jesus told the disciples He would make them fishers of men. Now Jesus commissions Peter to be a shepherd. To care for and feed Jesus’ sheep and lambs.
Late that fateful Thursday night Peter was afraid that being associated with Jesus would get him killed. Jesus now tells Peter that it is true. Peter will be killed because of Jesus. John 21:18–19 (ESV) 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” Tradition holds that Peter was crucified in Rome likely under Emperor Nero around AD 64 to 68.
After a three-fold redemption Jesus ends with, “Follow me.” Peter is restored. Peter will follow Jesus all the way to his own cross in Rome. The roosters’ crowing has no more power. Peter is forgiven and restored.
The rooster’s crowing tormented Peter. What is the trigger for you to remind you of your sin? Is it a sound…a song…a smell…a person…a place…an object that reminds you of your past sins? How does the devil torment you with guilt and shame? Is it his accusations? “You say you are a Christian, but remember what you did? God cannot love you…God cannot forgive someone like you.” When the devil reminds you of your sins, remember Peter, tormented by the crowing of roosters. Remember Peter… whose sins were forgiven. Remember Peter… restored and made a shepherd of the Lord’s sheep. Remember… you are baptized. Jesus has promised to forgive you all your sins.
Peter dove into the water and swam to Jesus. You have come here this morning to be with Jesus and you began by remembering your entering Jesus’ Church by passing through the waters of baptism, “In the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.” Jesus is here for you -- to declare to you, “I forgive you all your sins.” Jesus has prepared a meal for you to feed you with His own body and blood. Jesus says to you “Follow me.” Jesus silences the devil’s accusations. Jesus brings you out of your sin and restores you to your place in His Church.
This morning three of our young ladies will confirm that what was spoken for them at their baptism is still their confession today. They will pledge, with Peter, and all the Church, that with the help of God, they will continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it. We join them in confirming our confession of faith.
Peter was made a shepherd of Jesus’ lambs and sheep, and Jesus’ ministry continues today and you are a part of it. Together we bring the Good News of forgiveness in Jesus to the world. We care for and feed Jesus’ lambs and sheep. We love and serve others, until Jesus returns.
The risen Christ silences the devil and his accusations. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.