Have you heard the Rooster today?

Mark 14:71-72 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

After Jesus was arrested and taken to the Chief priests Peter, Jesus's key disciple, denies knowing his master Jesus three times, with whom he had spent the last 3 years of his life. His denial came as a fulfillment of Jesus’ words mentioned earlier, “before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times”.

As I read these verses, I wonder why Peter did not acknowledge knowing Jesus the first time, then the second time, and finally the third time.  I presume Peter wanted to protect his own life, so betrayed his master. I believe Peter failed to recognize his selfish & sinful nature until the rooster crowed a second time. Isn't that tragic?

So many times, just like Peter we too get dragged away by our own selfish desires and our own sinful nature into doing things that comes naturally for us.   

• Sometimes it is the lust of the eyes, where you tell a casual lie or steal for a monetary gain or do anything to get what we see in front of our eyes; 
• Sometimes it is the pride of life, where you desire to be one step ahead of your neighbors, friends or family. forcing us to do anything to keep up our false view about ourselves and putting everything and everyone lower than ourselves; 
• Sometimes it is the lust of the flesh where you are not able to control your fleshly desires/emotions and are entangled in extra-marital relationships or watch pornographic material through TV or magazines. 

Isn't that similar to the story of Peter? Are we also not denying God in our own ways to protect ourselves? Do we really need a rooster to cry out, to make us realize our own sinful nature?

Today, your rooster may be this blog message, or your pastor’s preaching next Sunday, your brother in Christ’s advise, your parents guidance, your spouse’s gentle words, an evangelist’s gospel message on social or other media.  

I believe Jesus has kept these roosters around our lives to remind us that we can come back to be in right fellowship with God through the process of recognizing our sin, repenting of it and then taking suitable action.

I remember a time when my older son was about 2 years of age.  He wanted to put his tiny finger into the hot cup of tea that I was drinking.  I advised him not to put it, since the contents of the cup were hot, but he did not listen and went ahead and put his finger to see how it felt.  He immediately pulled it back and started to weep.  I immediately comforted him and took care of his tiny little finger which was hurt.  

Many times just like my little son, we too do whatever we want, reject good advice from his servants or God and thereby get hurt.  Jesus has given his Word through the Bible, and when we forget his Word and follow the ways of our desires, we too will weep.  Even Peter wept bitterly when he realized his sinful nature. However, it is important to note that Peter recognized his sin and then repented. Then the power of God came into his life and changed this simple fisherman to become a mighty apostle for Jesus Christ.

So as you enter this year, have you heard a rooster crowing in your life today? If not, maybe this message challenges you to keenly listen. 

If yes, what are you doing about it?