HEARING THE ROOSTER CROW
Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, please quiet my mind and heart; prepare me to hear what you would say to me and respond in word and deed today.
Read LUKE 22:54–71
Peter Disowns Jesus
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The Guards Mock Jesus
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Think of a moment you almost gave in to temptation. What stopped you from doing so?
Think Further
The story of Peter’s denial is carefully crafted in Luke’s gospel. This narrative is placed before Jesus’ interrogation by the religious leaders and Pilate (22:63–23:4). It highlights Peter’s cowardly denial of being Jesus’ disciple, in contrast to Jesus’ bold response in affirming his messianic identity. Jesus’ response, set in the context of his trials, demonstrates the cost of courage, while Peter’s denial illustrates the emptiness of his earlier boasting (vv. 33, 34). Jesus confronted his interrogators by denying nothing, but Peter faltered, denying everything.
Peter probably did not realize he had denied his Master three times—at least not until he heard the rooster crow. This was a defining moment for him. He suddenly realized that he had done what he should not have. Peter had followed Jesus, trying to prove his loyalty, but he caved in when questioned about his identity.
How many of us have done something that we knew we should never do, or justified ourselves in doing those things we know are contrary to God’s holy Scriptures, moral values, character, and integrity? Remember, we can also be like Peter as we are drawn step by step into a deeper compromise of our faith until we deny our Lord. We could give in to the weakness of our flesh or surrender to temptation. In times like this, we need to hear the rooster crow. We need those defining moments in our lives to remind us how far we have fallen from our walk with the Lord and how we need to renew ourselves once again in our service for God. We should remember that Peter’s denials and failures were not permanent. He was soon to be restored and recommissioned by the Lord.1 The most important thing is this: do we hear the rooster crow?
Apply
Where does the life of Peter inspire hope in you for greater faithfulness?
Closing prayer
Precious Savior, thank you that when I fail in my walk with you, you lovingly convict me and willingly forgive me when I repent.
1 John 21:15–19
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