BIBLE STORIES

  After Jesus and the disciples had finished at the Last Supper, they walked to a small hill called the Mount of Olives. It was getting dark.

 

  Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him. Time was running out. He told the disciples that when he was gone, they would probably find it quite hard to keep on following and obeying his rules.

 

  Peter spoke to Jesus, and said that he would never turn away from him. Jesus replied “Tonight, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” This shocked Peter.

 

  Jesus then took the disciples to a garden called Gethsemane and asked them to wait for him while he went off to pray. He was quite scared so he asked Peter, James and John to stay near by.

 

  When Jesus came back from praying, he found his three friends had fallen asleep. “Peter, couldn’t you stay awake for just one hour!” he said. He went off to pray again, and when he came back, his three disciples were still asleep. Jesus went off to pray for a third time. They were still asleep when he came back again. “Come on, get up. It’s time to go” he said to them.

 

  All of a sudden, Judas appeared. Behind him was a big crowd of people. They were waving swords and truncheons in the air. They were watching very carefully to see which of the men Judas would kiss, because this was a secret sign.

 

  “Greetings, Master” Judas said, grabbing Jesus and kissing him. Suddenly the crowd yelled “Seize him” and they ran forward. There was a struggle. One of the men with Jesus brought his sword out and cut off the ear of a high Priest’s slave. Jesus turned to him. “Put your sword away. With one word to God I could put a stop to all this, but it is meant to happen. God wants it.” When the disciples heard what Jesus had to say, they turned and ran away.

 

  But Peter stayed and followed Jesus as he was let to Caiaphas, the high Priest. While Jesus was being questioned, Peter sat outside in the courtyard. A maid who was walking by, stopped and talked to Peter. “You were with Jesus, weren’t you?” she said to him. “No, not me. You are wrong.” Peter replied.

 

  More people came past and said the same thing to Peter. He became angry and replied “No, not me. You are wrong.” Then some more people came past and spoke to Peter. “You were with Jesus, weren’t you?” They said. “No, not me. I do not know this man” he shouted back, angrily.

 

  And then it happened. The cock crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said. “Before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.” He knew that he had betrayed his best friend. He began to cry.

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PETER AND THE COCK’S CROW