THE ROOSTER CROWED

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PETER DENIES JESUS

Read Mark 14: 66–72

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." Mark 14:70-71 NIV

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Just a short time before this, Peter had declared to Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." (Luke 22:33) Peter had stood up valiantly in the garden by starting a sword fight. But then Jesus healed the soldier's ear, and submitted himself to arrest. Jesus said to them, "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." (John 18:8–9; quoting John 17:12)

Jesus knew all about what Peter would do. He knew that Satan wanted to "sift him like wheat", but Satan could not defeat Peter, because Jesus had said, "I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail." (Luke 22:32 NKJV)

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Lord, The moment the rooster crowed had to be the darkest day of Peter's life, but the story told through the years has brought comfort and encouragement to all of us who, like Peter, have experienced failure.

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…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 14:72 NIV