Denying Jesus
“What if the rooster has crowed on us, too?”
Luke 22:54-62 (NIV)
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
Peter replied, "Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 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.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Reflection
I've always read the story of Peter denying Jesus three times that night and thought, shame on you, Peter – how could you do that? Jesus warned you, and yet you did it anyway. Not only once, not even twice, but you did it three times! And then, sure enough, just as Jesus said it would, the rooster crowed.
To me, it was always just a story of the downfall and shame of Peter – never was it anything for me to apply to my life. But what if this story does apply to me, and I can learn from Peter's mistake?
I've always believed I would never deny Jesus. If a gun was pointed at my head and told if I confessed the name of Jesus, they would pull the trigger; I would still claim Jesus. So, quite honestly, it's been easy to put me on some "holier than thou" pedestal, saying I would never do what Peter did.
But what if we have denied and rejected Jesus? What if the rooster has crowed on us, too?
When we take credit for our talent, a job well done, success, and thinking so well of ourselves – aren't we denying God? I mean, HE is the one who gave us our talent and has made it even possible for us to do what we do. We deny the one truly worthy of the praise. The rooster just crowed.
We also deny and reject Jesus by forgetting who we are in Him. When we cut ourselves down, belittle ourselves, and play small in our lives, we deny who Christ died for and who HE HAS MADE US TO BE. The rooster just crowed again.
What does Jesus think of the rooster crowing?
Jesus is not walking away or worrying about how He will change, fix, or overhaul our lives. He knew every mistake we would ever make, every sin we would ever commit, and every failure in our future, and He still chose us.
Jesus chose Peter as the steady ROCK on which He would build His church. Jesus loved Peter’s boldness and willingness to do what others wouldn't do.
Yet Peter was anything but steady. Jesus was calling him to more, just as He's calling you to more. And on your way to more, the path will be filled with reminders of your shortcomings, failures will follow, the rooster may crow, and yet Jesus will call you on.
Action Steps
Prayer
Lord, thank You for a new beginning. Just as Peter was given a new beginning, I praise You for the one You are giving me today. Thank You for the beautiful future, for the grace that is bigger than any mistake I could ever make, and for the love even when I have denied You. I pray this in Your mighty Name. Amen.
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
Peter replied, "Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 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.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Reflection
I've always read the story of Peter denying Jesus three times that night and thought, shame on you, Peter – how could you do that? Jesus warned you, and yet you did it anyway. Not only once, not even twice, but you did it three times! And then, sure enough, just as Jesus said it would, the rooster crowed.
To me, it was always just a story of the downfall and shame of Peter – never was it anything for me to apply to my life. But what if this story does apply to me, and I can learn from Peter's mistake?
I've always believed I would never deny Jesus. If a gun was pointed at my head and told if I confessed the name of Jesus, they would pull the trigger; I would still claim Jesus. So, quite honestly, it's been easy to put me on some "holier than thou" pedestal, saying I would never do what Peter did.
But what if we have denied and rejected Jesus? What if the rooster has crowed on us, too?
When we take credit for our talent, a job well done, success, and thinking so well of ourselves – aren't we denying God? I mean, HE is the one who gave us our talent and has made it even possible for us to do what we do. We deny the one truly worthy of the praise. The rooster just crowed.
We also deny and reject Jesus by forgetting who we are in Him. When we cut ourselves down, belittle ourselves, and play small in our lives, we deny who Christ died for and who HE HAS MADE US TO BE. The rooster just crowed again.
What does Jesus think of the rooster crowing?
Jesus is not walking away or worrying about how He will change, fix, or overhaul our lives. He knew every mistake we would ever make, every sin we would ever commit, and every failure in our future, and He still chose us.
Jesus chose Peter as the steady ROCK on which He would build His church. Jesus loved Peter’s boldness and willingness to do what others wouldn't do.
Yet Peter was anything but steady. Jesus was calling him to more, just as He's calling you to more. And on your way to more, the path will be filled with reminders of your shortcomings, failures will follow, the rooster may crow, and yet Jesus will call you on.
Action Steps
- What areas of your life are you denying and rejecting the love and power of Jesus?
- Are you ready to move forward with the life God has always planned for you, fulfilling the potential He placed within you?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for a new beginning. Just as Peter was given a new beginning, I praise You for the one You are giving me today. Thank You for the beautiful future, for the grace that is bigger than any mistake I could ever make, and for the love even when I have denied You. I pray this in Your mighty Name. Amen.
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