DO YOU HEAR THE ROOSTER?

Mark 14:65-72

⁶⁵ And some began to spit on him and to blindfold him and to beat him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows. ⁶⁶ And while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by, ⁶⁷ and when she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus.” ⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I have no idea what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. ⁶⁹ When the servant girl noticed him again, she began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it again. And after a little while the bystanders again asked Peter, “You are certainly one of them, because you are a Galilean.” ⁷¹ But he began to call a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about.” ⁷² And just then the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered when Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and cried.

courtyard

Peter’s trial was going on while Jesus’ trial was getting organised. He was being tested to see if he would be faithful to his profession of faith in Christ – and he was failing the test. Each time he denied his involvement with Christ it became easier. Each time it became harder for him to stand for the truth he knew. Even his memory of Jesus’ prediction seemed to have failed him. All he could think of was self-preservation. He wanted to get away from something that he had been put in the middle of. Court was in session in the courtyard.

You and I will have times like this. They will take place when we are the most vulnerable, and we will find all our past professions and experiences will seem like nothing. Life will seem grey, and the contrast all gone, so that we cannot tell right from wrong, black from white. We may pass these tests, or fail them. What matters is that the Christ who died for us knows what we are experiencing – and he is committed to us.

LORD, thank you for dying for us, even though we sometimes strugglke to faithfully live for you.