The Rooster's Call: The Wake-Up Moment for Every Believer!

We all know the famous story of Peter denying Jesus three times (John 18:15-27).

Here is a simple breakdown:

Peter’s Proud Declaration: Peter confidently declared his loyalty to Jesus, saying:

“Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” (Matthew 26:35; Mark 14:31).

Jesus' Prophecy of Denial: Jesus, aware of Peter’s forthcoming failure, prophesied:

“I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know Me” (Luke 22:34; John 13:38).

First Denial: Later, as Peter was warming himself by the fire, a servant girl recognized him and asked:

“You also were with Jesus of Galilee, weren't you?” In response, Peter denied it, saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about” (Matthew 26:69-70; Mark 14:66-68).

Second Denial: As the night went on, another servant girl pointed him out, saying to those nearby:

“This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter again denied it, saying, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:71-72; Mark 14:69-70).

Third Denial: Finally, some bystanders accused Peter, saying:

“Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” In response, Peter denied once more, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:73-74; Mark 14:70-71).

The Rooster Crowed: As Jesus had prophesied, the rooster crowed after Peter’s third denial. At that moment, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered Jesus' words and, overwhelmed with remorse, went outside and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61). The prophecy had come true, and Peter was left to confront his failure.

He told Peter that the denial would happen (Luke 22:31-34), not to shame him but to prepare him. At that time, the Holy Spirit had not yet been given, as Jesus had not yet died and risen.

Side bar: What changed in the disciples after the resurrection? Before Jesus died, they were often fearful and weak, but after His resurrection, they became determined and steadfast, even in the face of unimaginable persecution and death. The key difference was the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 💞

When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them, they were empowered with a boldness and strength that they had never known before, enabling them to stand firm and boldly proclaim the Gospel. No longer were they swayed by fear or weakness; instead, they were empowered to live out their faith with unwavering conviction.

This shows the power of the Holy Ghost—transforming them from a group of fearful men into fearless leaders of the early church.

The rooster crowing is significant because it acts as a wake-up call—a literal and symbolic reminder of Peter's failure and Jesus' foreknowledge.

Jesus predicted this moment earlier in John 13:38:

"Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times."🐓🐓🐓

The rooster’s crow in the natural signals the end of the night and the beginning of a new day. For Peter, it was a moment of piercing awareness. As the sound echoed, it brought his denial of Jesus into sharp focus, fulfilling the prophecy Jesus had spoken just hours before (Luke 22:61). This realization was painful, yet it marked the beginning of Peter’s transformation; the dawn of a new day!

In Scripture, the rooster’s call parallels God’s call to awaken sinners from spiritual slumber (Romans 13:11-12). Just as the rooster heralds the dawn, God’s call invites us to step out of darkness and into His light. 🐓

Romans 13:11-12 (NIV):  "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. 🐓 So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

Scripture emphasizes Peter’s denial to teach lessons about human frailty and the dangers of overconfidence. Earlier, Peter confidently declared, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" (Matthew 26:35). Yet, when faced with fear and pressure, Peter faltered, revealing the gap between human intentions and the reality of our weaknesses.

Jesus knew Peter’s denial was coming, yet He didn’t condemn Peter; instead, He prepared him for restoration, demonstrating that failure doesn’t define us when surrendered to God.

Denying Jesus is unquestionably serious! “Whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33) “If we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12).

Out of the twelve disciples, two of them, Peter and Judas, ultimately turned away from Jesus in significant ways: Peter, denied Him three times, and Judas, betrayed Him for greed of silver coins. While both made profound mistakes, the key difference lies in the response to their failure. 🔑

Peter, despite his grave denial, experienced guilt and deep remorse, which led him to repentance. His failure was rooted in fear and weakness, but his heart still sought reconciliation with Jesus. Peter's restoration was profound, with Jesus reversing the three denials through a threefold declaration of love, commissioning Peter to lead the early church.

Judas’s story ended much darker. While he felt guilt for betraying Jesus, he chose to die by suicide over repentance which was the evidence of a hardened heart. 🖤 His heart was overtaken by Satan,🖤 leading him to end his life instead of seeking forgiveness and redemption by simply repenting.

This contrast highlights a sobering truth: you cannot be filled with both Jesus and Satan. Jesus and Satan do not coexist in the same heart. You have one or the other.  There is NO MIXTURE.

John 13:27 (CSB): "After he (Judas) ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him, 'What you’re doing, do quickly.'

Luke 22:3 (CSB): "Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve."

When you are aligned with God, even in a phase of rebellion (if its a phase, correction quickly follows), failure, repentance and restoration are possible. But if you allow bitterness, unforgiveness, sin, or pride to take root, you risk falling into despair, as Judas did.

Your response to your SIN reveals where your heart is—toward repentance, correction and redemption like Peter, or further into darkness like Judas. Its Jesus OR Satan.

The choice is yours. Will you turn back to God in correction and humility, ready for restoration, or will you reject His grace and choose to serve Satans Kingdom? Either way- God will use you for his purposes.

You may have the free will to choose which side you will stand on, but you do not have the free will to be left to yourself. Satan wants you to believe you’re on your own, but the truth is that God is always at work—either drawing you back to Him or allowing your choices to play out, with consequences.

Like Judas, is there a price you can be bought for? If so, you can believe that Satan knows what it is and shall offer it to you. If you dont deny Satan you will deny Jesus. This earth journey is the closest to hell a real Believer (one who DOES what the Word of God says) will ever see, but if you are non-believer, this earth journey is as close to Heaven you will ever see.

HERE ME HERE:

Peter’s response to his failure was marked by deep remorse. JUDAS would rather DIE than repent and follow Jesus, therefore, he killed himself by hanging in a tree. IF you feel you would rather DIE than CHANGE you already KNOW which camp you are standing in! No one needs to tell you!

Though you might take satans carrots 🥕 of wealth and success, Satan himself will take you out as all he can give you are lies. Jesus gives life.

Peters bitter weeping (Luke 22:62) reflected true repentance, opening the door for God’s grace to restore him. Peter’s story teaches us that even in moments of profound weakness, God’s mercy is available to those who return to Him with a repentant heart. It reminds us that failure is not final when placed in the hands of a redeeming Savior.

Luke 22:62 (CSB): "And he went outside and wept bitterly."

After Jesus resurrection, Jesus restored Peter by asking him three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17). This mirrored Peter’s three denials, offering grace and reaffirming his calling to shepherd God’s people. His failure stripped away self-reliance, revealing the necessity of relying on God’s strength, as Paul later wrote:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Peter’s denial could have marked the end of his story, but it didn’t. Instead, it became a testament to God’s mercy. As Scripture assures us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). No matter how deeply we stumble, God’s forgiveness is always available when we turn to Him in repentance.

Jesus reversed Peter's three denials by commissioning him with the three "Do you love me?" questions in John 21:15-17.

In Peter’s case, his three denials, which stemmed from fear and weakness, were followed by a threefold restoration, where Jesus asked him three times if he loved Him. Each of these questions gave Peter the opportunity to affirm his love and commitment to Jesus, effectively erasing the shame of his past failures. Jesus’ reinstatement of Peter didn't just reaffirm his position; it deepened his understanding of love, responsibility, and faith.

First Question – “Do you love Me more than these?” He began by addressing Peter directly. Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter responded, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15).

Second Question – “Do you love Me?”A second time, Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus responded again, “Take care of my sheep” (John 21:16).

Third Question – “Do you love Me?”For the third time, Jesus asked, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter, grieved by the repetition, replied, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus responded, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17).

The repetition of the question was a direct reversal of Peter’s three denials, showing both restoration and deepening of Peter’s role as a shepherd of God’s people.

This redemption process is not just limited to Peter—it applies to all of us. When we repent and turn back to God, He redeems us in a way that counteracts our previous failures, showing us that restoration is not only possible, but it is transformational. For example:

• Peter’s Fear vs. Peter’s Boldness: The same Peter who feared for his life and denied Jesus in front of a servant girl was the same one who boldly preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), leading thousands to Christ. His fear was replaced with the boldness of the Holy Spirit. The redeemed Peter was now the strong leader of the early church.

• Moses’ Insecurity vs. Moses’ Leadership: Moses initially doubted his own abilities when God called him to lead the Israelites (Exodus 3-4), saying, "Who am I to do this?" Yet, after he turned to God, his initial insecurity was mirrored by his leadership and confidence in God’s provision, and he led millions of people out of Egypt.

• David’s Adultery vs. David’s Worship: King David’s great sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) is countered by his heartfelt repentance in Psalm 51. Despite his failure, God restored him, and David continued to be known as a man after God’s own heart. His redemption mirrored in his worship and trust in God, even in the midst of consequences.

What God is showing us through these examples is that true repentance leads to restoration that is both visible and transformative.

Redemption isn’t just a spiritual act—it manifests in our lives in tangible ways. We may fail in one area, but God has a way of transforming our weakness into strength, our fear into boldness, and our shame into a testimony of His grace.

So, what should we look for as signs of this redemption?

• A Change in Attitude: After repentance, a true change in heart and mind occurs. We see ourselves differently, understanding both our sin and God’s grace more deeply. This inner change will often lead to an outward transformation in behavior.

• New Opportunities for Service: Much like Peter was called to "feed my sheep," God often gives us new assignments that reflect the areas we once failed. When we fail in one area but repent, God often places us in positions where we can use those same areas of weakness for His glory.

• A Deeper Relationship with God: Repentance leads to a stronger intimacy with the Lord. After Peter’s restoration, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed the Gospel. When we truly repent, we experience God’s love and presence in ways that deepen our walk with Him.

  
  

God doesn’t want us to live in shame or guilt. Instead, our failures are often the gateway to a more powerful testimony. God redeems our past mistakes by using them to shape our future.

As we walk through life, let us be aware of the signs of redemption that show up after our repentance. God doesn’t leave us in our failures; He lifts us to a place of restored purpose, making us stronger, wiser, and more equipped for His Kingdom work. And just as Peter's threefold denial was met with a threefold restoration, God will redeem and restore us in ways we can’t yet imagine—because that's the power of His grace and the Holy Spirit!

Heavenly Father,

I come before You in Jesus' name, honoring and exalting Your name and Your Word. I thank You for Your Word, which is designed to save each one of us—from ourselves, from the lies of the enemy, and from the deception of our own hearts.

Your Word reveals that we are all in danger of thinking we know more than You do, and yet, in Your grace, You reveal our pride to protect us and show us the parts of ourselves that we cannot see. This is the love of a Father.

Lord, reveal all the "roosters" in our lives that we don’t see coming. Prepare us for the tough days ahead, so we can stand strong and boldly confess Your kingship over us, no matter the consequences. Strengthen our spirit, Lord, to stand against the spirit of fear and to stand firm, convicted of who You are, so that instead of denying You, we will feel Your presence, Your love, Your approval, Your strength, and Your joy in every moment.

Even if we are faced with the ultimate test, teach us to stand unwavering for You. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices for Your glory, and we must be reminded every day not to hold onto this world too tightly but to always keep Your Kingdom before us. You know each of us intimately, Lord—you know where we stumble. Fill those moments with prayers and intercession from the saints, and for those blessed to pray in the Spirit, let them intercede for Your people. May we always desire to please You, even in death, and may our lives reflect the depth of our commitment to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.