Morning Devotionals
by Don Emmitte
 
January 23rd, 2010

 

"The Rooster Crows"
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While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:66-72 NIV).

 

There are so many lessons to be learned from our reading today. However, the one I want to focus your attention on is that of humility. It is a story about humility. It is a story about standing tall for Jesus, being unashamed of the gospel of Christ. It reminds us of our own frailties as we watch Peter, a man full of faith, struggle with fear and doubt. Peter, the ROCK with a faith upon which the church of Christ's foundation is laid, has stumbled and we see fully his humanity.

Of course it is also a story about the suffering death which Christ experienced for you and me. But it centers now on the life of one of His closest disciples, perhaps the only one who dared come this far with Him. In a critical moment he denies Jesus’ very existence. Jesus would die alone. Yes, this story reminds us of restoration and forgiveness. We’ll read later in Scripture how Jesus brings Peter back into full fellowship with Him. But here Peter, obviously broken by the experience, is restored into a loving relationship with His Savior. Don’t miss the full impact of that in your life. Jesus stands ready and eager to forgive us when we fail Him, even when we fail miserably.

There is one other thing I want you to also see. It is the power of God. Imagine for a moment the city that day. I would suppose there was more than just one rooster crowing, wouldn't you? And yet God controlled the mouth of every rooster until Peter had denied Him three times. What difference does that make? It points to the fact that God will command all of His creation to mold us into who He wants us to be. God uses everything He has to make us the kind of people He can bless.

Peter was never the same because God kept a rooster from crowing. Watch for God today to affect the circumstances around you to change your life forever. He wants to transform you. Let Him!