The Roosters Crow
St. John's Lutheran Church / Atonement Lutheran Church
Fourth Wednesday in Lent
Sermon on John 18:25-27
In the Name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
John just came home from a long day at work and just wanted to sit and relax before doing anything else. His kid, little Johnny, was excited to see him and wanted to talk to his father about his very exciting day. John just taken off his shoes and sat down in his favorite reclining chair, when little Johnny ran up to him and, what seemed like 1000 words per minute, began reciting his very exciting day to his father. In a moment of tiredness, wanting to be left alone, or some other selfish feeling, blurted out “Can you just give me five minutes before telling me your stupid story!”. Immediately, John knew what he said was wrong and not true to what he really wanted or what he felt, but the damage was done. Little Johnny was hurt, felt unloved by his father, and spent the rest of his evening in a mood.
I do not know about you, but I have experienced this issue with my parents, and I know I have done something similar to my kids. And this is a common human experience that most, if not all, of us have had. Even the Apostil Peter, who witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, and had enough faith to be able to walk on water (for a short time until he doubted), even stated to Jesus “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). Yet even the Apostle Peter can succumb to fear, pressure and doubt.
The story of Apostle Peter’s denial of Jesus is also our story. We too, like Peter, deny Christ because of our fear, our doubt, and the pressure of others and of this World. It is also a story of hearing the call of Christ and responding to His call to comeback to Jesus Christ.
Apostle Peter was headstrong and seemed to be willing to do anything for Jesus. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, it was Peter who drew a sword and swung it, cutting the ear off one of the soldiers. Peter had great confidence in knowing and doing what he thought was right. And there is the problem. Peter fell into the same trap that you and I often do. We rely on ourselves and do what we want to do because we know better. God tells us not to rely on ourselves but rely on Him. Proverbs 3:5–8 states: “5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
Full of self-righteous confidence, Peter followed, closely, though not that closely, Jesus and the soldiers to the courtyard of the high priest. Here Peter’s self-righteous confidence became fear and doubt. Peter began denying any association with Jesus. Later, while warming himself by the fire in the high priest's courtyard, Peter again denied being one of Jesus' disciples. And for the 3rd time, a man accused Peter of being there with Jesus when He was arrested. Associating Peter as one of Jesus' disciples. According to Matthew and Mark, Peter began cursing and swearing and finally said, “I do not know this man.”
Here we can see how the reliance on ourselves allows sin to creep into our lives, evermore growing with each and every time we rely on ourselves and not on the Love and Mercies of God. Peter’s outright denial of Jesus Christ did not happen all at once but in stages. This is how sin grows in us. First, we might deny Christ in small ways, like saying “it's okay to sin this time, God understands, oh and I will pray about it later”. But gradually sin will grow and consume you, and you will deny the very existence of God.
“27… and at once a rooster crowed.” Have you heard a rooster crow? A rooster’s crow is very distinct and easily recognizable. And for Peter, I doubt it is a sound he would never forget. The sound of the rooster's crow acted like a wake call, forcing Peter to face his sins. Luke tells us that Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter. Peter seeing the face of Jesus, the face of a father who loves his children, knowing they had done wrong but will forgive if only you ask.
God often sends “rooster crows” into our lives, waking us up from our sins. These “rooster crows” in our lives are often time painful and we are filled with regret. But we should be thankful for these moments when God speaks into our lives, to remind us of His love, mercy, and forgiveness. These “rooster crows” into our lives could be a conversation with a friend or family, it could be while you’re reading your Bible, a quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit, or maybe it is this every sermon. Can you recall a time when God sent you a “rooster crow” in your life?
The story of Peter’s denial does not end with the rooster crow. It continues with the bitter tears of regret, sorrow, and repentance. After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter on the shores of Galilee. After finishing breakfast, Jesus says to Peter, “do you love me” three times – echoing the 3 denials made by Peters. After each question, Peter answered yes and then was commanded by Jesus to feed His sheep. Peter was restored, with a new purpose to serve Christ and feed His sheep, to feed His people.
Christ also restores us. Christs take our sin, guilt, and punishment and bare it all on the cross. Christ rose from the grave to declare the forgiveness, of our sins and Gods Love for us all. It is through the cross that Peter was restored, and it is through the cross that you and I are restored.
We no longer rely on ourselves, on our own strength and confidence but on Christ's strength and Christ's confidence. For Christ's grace is sufficient for us, for Christ's power is made perfect in our weakness. Therefore we should boast all the more gladly of our weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon us. (paraphrase of 2 Cor 12: 9)
Dear friends, be attentive to the rooster's crow in your lives. Just as the rooster crow was not the end of Peter’s story. The rooster's crow in our lives is not our end but Christ's call for us to repent.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
