Have You Heard The Rooster Crow?

             Sunday (at my church) I was very moved by the words spoken prior to our taking of the bread and the cup. The presenter told the story from the perspective of Peter. He started with the institution of the Lord's Supper and told of the events that led up to Peter denying that he knew Jesus. The man leading us in the prayer for the Lord’s Supper was a good story teller and managed to capture both my imagination and emotions with his words.  The most challenging statement he made was when he asked the congregation if they had “ever heard the rooster crow” -meaning had one ever denied knowing Christ as Peter did in the courtyard (Luke 22:60-62).

           I am convinced that Peter, in his heart of hearts, never meant to deny knowing Jesus, but unfortunately he succumbed to the pressure of the moment. For those who might suggest I am offering excuses for Peter and attempting to dilute the reality of what he did—I am not. Rather—I think I am being honest about human nature—my human nature—your human nature. I would like to think, if I were Peter, I would have followed through on what he said when he told Jesus; “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Matthew 26:35).

This makes me think of several unrelated things:

First I think of all the times in my own life I have said “never” about something and only in turn to do what I said I wouldn’t. (Case in point, I said I would never buy a brick ranch house-well my present house is a brick ranch.) Now days I try to say "never" very rarely because it may mean having to take back what I said.  

 Secondly, I think Peter’s denial came from being pulled and pushed by forces within as well as without. The internal battle is waged in our mind and heart and by what we are tempted (I Corinthians 10:13). The external battle, as Ephesians 6:12 tells us, is against the rulers, powers and authorities of “this dark world” and those in the “heavenly realms”. Along these lines, it is worth remembering that Jesus had warned Peter that Satan had asked to “sift him as wheat” (Luke 22:31). [Maybe this is the origin of the saying “put through the mill”?]

Lastly, I am reminded of the scripture that says “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). This is a worrisome verse to contemplate. The counter verse to that is "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). This is how one keeps the roosters away and never has to worry about hearing them crow.