“Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

~John 18:26b – 27 ESV

I delivered four young roosters to a family that wanted them. Having five crowing roosters constantly in verbal competition was getting too noisy for us. One was enough for our small flock.

Often, when I am working outside and hear our rooster crowing, I am reminded of the prophecy Jesus made to Peter the night before Jesus was crucified. He told Peter that by the time he heard the rooster crowing, he would have denied Jesus three times.

Wasn’t this the same Peter who said he was willing to follow Jesus anywhere? How could he so quickly reject knowing Jesus not just once but three times before the rooster announced the start of a new day?

Imagine the crushing guilt and shame when Peter heard the crowing and realized Jesus was right. The disappointment must have weighed heavy on his heart. Little did he know that in a couple of days, Jesus would rise from the grave and forgive him for his failure. Jesus would also challenge Peter three times to feed His sheep.

Have you experienced a time when you let the Lord down? We all have. We probably didn’t hear a crowing rooster reminding us of our failure. But we don’t have to hear a rooster. We have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to convict us of our shortcomings. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

~1 John 1:9 ESV

Be quick to acknowledge your sin and know that God is ready and willing to forgive.

Father God, when I disappoint You and let You down because of sin in my life, give me a crowing rooster reminder that You are quick to forgive and restore my relationship with You. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2024: Crowing Roosters: Ben Cooper: All Rights Reserved