Leadership through Discipleship #2

Peter – The Power of Submission
When the Rooster Crows

Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times" (Matthew 26:33-34).

In the company of believing peers and in the safety of common faith it is easy to stand for convictions and swear allegiance. When faith is in the majority and no one is present to confront your testimony you can be as emphatic as you want to be about your steadfastness and determination to stand in the face of adversity. It is when you stand alone in the den of wolves you may cower in fear. When the majority takes a position that leaves you isolated it is more difficult to remain resolute.

When in the presence of Jesus and in the company of fellow disciples Peter emphatically bragged that he would never stumble. Even if all the rest failed Peter was determined that he alone would remain firm in his loyalty and unswerving in his faith. Jesus cautioned him and predicted that indeed he would deny the Lord that very night. Not just once would he deny, but three times he would declare himself to be a stranger to the man from Galilee. Additionally, Jesus gave him a sign that would take place after this denial, the rooster would crow after Peter denied the Lord the third time.

Little did the disciples realize the fear and trepidation that would fill their hearts this night as soldiers bearing torches and swords would converge on the garden prayer meeting to arrest Jesus and take Him to a late night trial. Before this event they were strong in faith. When Jesus was with them it was easy to pledge their loyalty. But when He was taken and all hope seemed lost the disciples fled in fear.

There’s no cause to brag of our steadfast devotion if we have never faced persecution. We truly do not know how we would respond given the same set of circumstances others faced. But even in our own witness there may have been times when it was easier to remain quiet than to speak up for our convictions and stand up for our faith. When someone is criticizing Christians or making fun of the Pentecostal experience it is easier to remain in the background and ignore them than to confront them and declare your convictions.

As we seek to blend in to the crowd and bend with the wind and wave of opposition, keep one ear tuned in for uncommon sounds. Maybe it won’t be a rooster, but something will call out your failure and reveal your lack of conviction. When our failures are crowed from the rooftops how will we respond? Will we, like Peter, find a place of repentance and restoration? Or will we, like Judas, be defeated by our defeat and fail to learn from our failures?

When the rooster crows just remember; He didn’t call us to leave us. He didn’t tell us we would fail to forsake us in our pain. He didn’t predict our defeat to leave us without hope. He loves us even when we fail and cares for us even if we curse Him. There is restoration and redemption and a new day of promise after the rooster crows!