Hello everyone, it's Aunt Frenita
Today's story is called
"Still part of God's family."
The memory verse is Luke Chapter 22, Verse 32.
It says
"I have prayed for you,
that your faith may not fail,
and when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers."
Today's message
is God wants me, in His family, even when I fail Him.
Have you ever been afraid
or done something that you were sorry for afterward?
A long time ago,
a man was afraid.
As a result, he let his best friend down.
It probably happened like this:
"What's taking John so long?"
Peter thought to himself, shivering.
"It's cold out here!
I wonder what they're doing to Jesus."
John had gone to the high priest's house
He wanted to see where the soldiers had taken Jesus
The people at the gate knew John, so they let him in.
John asked if Peter could come in too.
At last the gate opened.
"Come in, Peter." John whispered.
Then he disappeared.
Peter hurried toward the fire in the yard
He tried not to be noticed.
A servant girl came over to where Peter was standing,
and said,
"You were also with Jesus of Galilee!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Peter said denying it.
Peter moved away.
He went to stand near the gateway
He was trying to stay out of the way.
He was hoping no one would notice him, or ask him anymore questions.
While he stood there,
another servant girl said to the people there,
"This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth!"
Peter denied it again.
and with bad words said, "I DON'T KNOW THE MAN!"
Peter tried to hide in the crowd.
It was hard.
He could see what the soldiers were doing to Jesus.
They hit Him, and spit on Him.
Peter felt very sad.
But he tried to pretend he was like everyone else.
Time passed.
As Peter stood near the fire to warm himself,
someone said.
"Surely you are one of them.
Your accent gives you away!"
Everyone stared at Peter.
Peter shivered.
He wished he was invisible.
He shook his head, and using more bad words,
he again denies knowing Jesus.
"I DON'T KNOW THE MAN!" Peter swears.
Immediately, a rooster crowed.
Peter looked up.
Jesus turned around and looked at Peter with sad eyes.
Peter remembered what Jesus had told him the day before.
"Before the rooster crows, you will say that you don't know Me,
three times.
Peter hadn't believed he would ever say such a thing.
Peter felt terrible.
He ran out of the gate and hurried away.
Peter broke down and wept bitterly,
because he had denied knowing Jesus.
He had failed.
He remembered what he had said earlier
"I'll go to prison for you, Lord!"
He had boasted, "I'll even die for you!"
"How will Jesus ever be able to forgive me?"
"I'm so sorry, Lord."
He cried to heaven
Jesus did forgive Peter
He even gave him a special work to do.
"Help make everyone else strong" Jesus said to Peter.
Jesus still loved Peter.
He wanted Peter to remain a part of the family of God.
And Jesus loves us.
Even when we do wrong.
He is always ready to forgive us.
He wants us to be a part of His family.
He wants us to help others, love Him too.
This podcast is read by Frenita Buddy
for Gracelink.net.
Created and produced by Falvo Fowler
Post produced by Faith Toh at Studio Elpizo
The theme music is by Clayton Kinney
Animation and artwork by Diogo Godoy
The audio engineer was Karel Holness
For more information, please visit gracelink.net
Close captioning and subtitles by Wyman Loke.