July 06 2025

Sunday July 06

“The Rooster Crowed”

Luke 22:60-62

60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly

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The question I have today is, what will it take for the Lord to bring you to repentance, to call you back to Himself, for you to recognize your failure just as Peter did? Well, God used a rooster to get Peter's attention after he had denied the Lord three times. You might remember in the Old Testament, God used a donkey to talk to Balaam to get his attention and remind him he was going in the wrong direction. What will the Lord use to get your attention to say, "Hey, you're headed in the wrong direction. You need to listen to Me and remember My word." Well, that's what we find here in these last verses 54-62.

At Peter’s third denial he used an oath and said, "I don't know the Man! I don't know what you are talking about!" It was then that the rooster crowed for the second time and the Lord's prediction was fulfilled (Mark 14:30). At that moment, Jesus, being led away to the next trial, turned and looked at Peter; and His look broke Peter's heart. While the bystanders were watching Jesus, Peter slipped out and went off and wept bitterly. It is to Peter's credit that all the Lord had to do was look at him to bring him to the place of repentance.

For one rooster to crow at the right time while the other birds in the city remained silent was certainly a miracle. But the crowing of the rooster was much more than a miracle that fulfilled our Lord's words; it was also a special message to Peter, a message that helped to restore him to fellowship again. What encouragements did the crowing of the rooster give to the Apostle Peter?

First, it was an assurance to him that Jesus Christ was still in control of things even though He was a prisoner, bound and seemingly helpless before His captors. Peter could recall witnessing his Lord's authority over the fish, the winds, and the waves, and even over disease and death. No matter how dark the hour was for Peter, Jesus was still in control! This is good for us to remember too, especially when we have fallen so far away from the Lord back into the world, Jesus is still on His throne and has total control of everything that concerns our life and future.

Second, the crowing of the rooster assured Peter that he could be forgiven. Peter had not been paying close attention to the Word of God. He had argued with it, disobeyed it, and even run ahead of it, but now he "remembered the word of the Lord" (Luke 22:61), and this brought him hope. Why? Because with the word of warning was also a promise of restoration! Peter would be converted and strengthen his brethren. “And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."  (Luke 22:31-32). We should remember that “the Lord ever lives to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). We also should be encouraged with 1 John 2:1: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Finally, the miracle of the rooster told Peter that a new day was dawning, for after all, that is what the rooster's call means each day. It was not a new day for Judas or for the enemies of the Lord, but it was a new day for Peter as he repented and wept bitterly. "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17). On Resurrection morning, the angel sent a special message to encourage Peter (Mark 16:7), and the Lord Himself appeared to Peter that day and restored him to fellowship (Luke 24:34).

Each one of us, at one time or another, will fail the Lord and then hear (in one way or another) "the crowing of the rooster." Satan will tell us that we are finished, that our future has been destroyed, but that is not God's message to us. It was certainly not the end for Peter! His restoration was so complete that on the Day of Pentecost he was able to say to the Jews, "But you denied the Holy One and the Just!" (Acts 3:14) Peter did not have 1 John 1:9 to read, but he did experience it in his own heart.

Today, I believe that the Lord tells us, "Look, forget those things which are behind. Reach forward to those things which are in front of you. I will forgive you."  And, “If we confess our sins, He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins”. So the question, what will it take to get your attention? The rooster crowed and Peter remembered the word of the Lord. Today I trust that whatever it is that the Lord uses to get your attention, that as you will remember the word of the Lord and that you will repent, you will be restored, you will come back to fellowship with Jesus Christ.

God bless!