The Rooster and Redemption

(Mat 26:75 NIV) Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”  And he went outside and wept bitterly.

This morning I take a pause from our Proverbs series for a message the Father impressed upon my heart yesterday.  I woke up yesterday wanting to hear from God.  I prayed and then felt led to turn on the TV, so I did.  Pastor Jentzen Franklin was on the channel the TV was set to and he was wrapping up a message entitled, “The Robe, the Rooster, and Redemption.”  I only caught a few minutes of the message and I missed what he had to say about the Robe, but I got the gist of the Rooster and Redemption portions of the message.  My interest was sparked, so I got my Bible and read the passage Pastor Franklin was talking about, which involved Jesus, Peter, and a rooster.  The more I meditated on the passage, the more I wanted to share some of it with you.

Peter is an awesome Biblical character.  I can identify with Peter in many ways.  Peter was outgoing, easily excitable, always willing to try something, and not afraid of making a mistake.  Hey, you can’t hit a homerun if you don’t swing the bat.  You might strike out, but then again, you might hit it out of the park.  Peter was certainly a ‘take-a-swing’ kind of guy.  One time the disciples were on a small boat, with the winds blowing, in the middle of the night (between 3am and 6am) when Jesus appeared to them walking on the water.  One of the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost.  Jesus said, “Be not afraid, it is I.” Peter said, “Lord, if that is you, bid me to come.”  To which Jesus answered, “Come.”  With that one word Peter walked out of the boat and took several steps ON WATER before shifting his focus to the waves, and allowing doubt to lead to a faith-failure.  None of the other disciples fell into the water that night, but then again, none of them had the faith, nor the audacity, to get out of the boat.  That’s the kind of guy Peter was.

In Matthew 26 Jesus knew His time to be crucified was drawing near.  He said, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.”  But Peter, being the kind of guy he was, replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”  That was typical Peter.  But then Jesus dropped a bombshell on him.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”  Wow.  Those are strong words; especially coming from Jesus.  Jesus was never wrong.  But Peter would not let up, he replied, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”   But sure enough, guess what happened?  Jesus was taken away, the disciples scattered, and Peter denied ever knowing Jesus on three separate occasions.  After the third time, while Peter was vehemently claiming that he did not know Jesus, he heard the rooster crow.  When he did, Peter remembered what Jesus said, and he went outside and wept bitterly.  Peter was completely broken.  If Peter’s story had ended there it would truly be sad.  But the rooster incident in Peter’s life was not the end, but rather part of his beginning.  Jesus went on to die, but He was resurrected and the resurrected Jesus restored Peter with His love.  Peter was redeemed from this grave mistake and he went on to preach the first sermon and to evangelize the Jews with the gospel of Jesus the Christ.

So what does this mean to you today? A few things:

1.  You are not perfect and the Father knew that before He destined you for greatness.  We serve a God who makes holy garments from flawed material.

2.  Your mistakes do not disqualify you from your destiny; that’s what the devil wants you to believe.  Don’t allow your past to keep you from your future!

3.  Focusing on the mistakes of the past leads to depression.  Receiving forgiveness and redemption leads to the fulfillment of purpose.

4.  Peter’s life and ministry were still ahead of him and so are yours.

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for redeeming me (failures, flaws, and all) with the blood of Your Son Jesus the Christ.  I am saved by Your grace and I will forever be thankful for my salvation and redemption.  I am also extremely thankful for my life’s purpose/assignment and for the fact that my mistakes don’t disqualify me from them.  I refuse to allow the enemy to cause me to delve into depression, by focusing on the mistakes of my past.  Yesterday’s gone, I’m moving on, and I know that You can make all things new!  Make me new today Father and use me for Your glory!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!

P.S. Today I celebrate 39 years of life.  I thank God for another year and for all the years that are still before me.  Without redemption I would not have anything to look forward to!