Did you hear the rooster?
by Stanley Samuel, Associate
India International Church
“Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know this Man of whom you speak!’ A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ And when he thought about it, he wept. Mark 14:71-72
These few verses are the epitome of one of history’s famous stories of betrayal and reconciliation. After Jesus was arrested and taken to the chief priests we see that Peter, his chief disciple, has denied knowing his Lord three times, with whom he had spent the last 3 years of his life. His denial was the fulfillment of Jesus’ words mentioned earlier, “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times”.
As I read these verses, I was wondering why Peter did not acknowledge knowing Jesus the first time, the second time, and then a third time, and even when the rooster crowed the first time. Peter wanted to protect his life, and so betrayed his own Master. He did not realize his own selfish & sinful nature until the rooster crowed a second time. So many times, like Peter we too get dragged away by our own selfish desires and our own sinful nature. We all do things that come so naturally to us. It may be the lust of the eyes, where you tell a casual lie or steal for a monetary gain. It may be the pride of life, where you always want to make sure that you are one step ahead of your neighbors, friends or family. It may be the lust of the flesh where you are entangled in extra-marital relationships or watch pornographic material through TV or magazines. But thank God for the roosters that cry out, and Peter’s who listen and weep!
I believe that just as in the story of Peter we all need a rooster to cry out, to make us realize our own sinful nature. Your rooster may be this email, or a pastor’s preaching. It may be a friend’s gentle advice, or your parents guidance, your spouse’s gentle words, an evangelist’s gospel message on TV or radio. I believe that Jesus has kept these roosters around our lives to remind us that we can come back to be in right fellowship with God through the process of recognizing our sin and then repenting of it.
I remember a time when my older son was about 2 years of age. He wanted to put his tiny finger into the hot cup of tea that I was drinking. Against my advice, he went ahead anyway. As soon as his finger touched the hot tea, he immediately pulled it back and started to weep. Often we do the same. We reject the good counsel of God and do whatever we please. Jesus has given his Word through the Bible, and when we forget his Word and follow the ways of our desires, we too will weep. Even Peter wept bitterly when he realized his sinful nature. However, it is important to note that Peter recognized his sin and then repented. Then the power of God came into his life and changed this simple fisherman to become a mighty apostle for Jesus Christ. So, have heard a rooster crowing in your life today? If yes, what are you doing about it?
Stanley Samuel
India International Church
“Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know this Man of whom you speak!’ A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ And when he thought about it, he wept. Mark 14:71-72
These few verses are the epitome of one of history’s famous stories of betrayal and reconciliation. After Jesus was arrested and taken to the chief priests we see that Peter, his chief disciple, has denied knowing his Lord three times, with whom he had spent the last 3 years of his life. His denial was the fulfillment of Jesus’ words mentioned earlier, “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times”.
As I read these verses, I was wondering why Peter did not acknowledge knowing Jesus the first time, the second time, and then a third time, and even when the rooster crowed the first time. Peter wanted to protect his life, and so betrayed his own Master. He did not realize his own selfish & sinful nature until the rooster crowed a second time. So many times, like Peter we too get dragged away by our own selfish desires and our own sinful nature. We all do things that come so naturally to us. It may be the lust of the eyes, where you tell a casual lie or steal for a monetary gain. It may be the pride of life, where you always want to make sure that you are one step ahead of your neighbors, friends or family. It may be the lust of the flesh where you are entangled in extra-marital relationships or watch pornographic material through TV or magazines. But thank God for the roosters that cry out, and Peter’s who listen and weep!
I believe that just as in the story of Peter we all need a rooster to cry out, to make us realize our own sinful nature. Your rooster may be this email, or a pastor’s preaching. It may be a friend’s gentle advice, or your parents guidance, your spouse’s gentle words, an evangelist’s gospel message on TV or radio. I believe that Jesus has kept these roosters around our lives to remind us that we can come back to be in right fellowship with God through the process of recognizing our sin and then repenting of it.
I remember a time when my older son was about 2 years of age. He wanted to put his tiny finger into the hot cup of tea that I was drinking. Against my advice, he went ahead anyway. As soon as his finger touched the hot tea, he immediately pulled it back and started to weep. Often we do the same. We reject the good counsel of God and do whatever we please. Jesus has given his Word through the Bible, and when we forget his Word and follow the ways of our desires, we too will weep. Even Peter wept bitterly when he realized his sinful nature. However, it is important to note that Peter recognized his sin and then repented. Then the power of God came into his life and changed this simple fisherman to become a mighty apostle for Jesus Christ. So, have heard a rooster crowing in your life today? If yes, what are you doing about it?
Stanley Samuel
posted by Danesh Manik | 9:01 PM
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