When The Rooster Crows Again

“And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” —Luke 22:34 KJV

We all know Peter’s story.

Bold.

Brash.

Loyal.

Until he wasn’t.

He had walked with Jesus. Talked with Him. Slept beside Him on dusty roads.

Swore he’d die before he’d deny Him.

And yet—

Before the cock crowed, Peter’s resolve crumbled under the weight of fear.

Not once.

Not twice.

But three times.

(When The Rooster Crows Again)

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

—Luke 22:61-62, KJV

This didn’t happen because Peter didn’t love the Lord

—But because fear spoke louder in that moment than love.

Fear of man.

Fear of death.

Fear of what devotion might cost.

“The fear of man bringeth a snare..”

—Proverbs 29:25 KJV

So, what about you?

What is your cock crowing moment?

• That moment when your mouth closes around truth because the atmosphere is uncomfortable.

• That moment when your spine turns to water in the presence of mockers.

• That moment when you look like the world to avoid being called different.

• Is it when you feel that Holy Spirit nudge to pass out a gospel tract…

…but you freeze, smile, and keep walking?

• Is it when your food sits in front of you at a restaurant…

…and you glance around, too ashamed to bow your head and pray?

• Is it when your critical extended family asks why you don’t let them watch what “everyone else” watches…

…and you dilute your answer instead of saying plainly: “Because we serve a holy God”?

• Is it when coworkers mock righteousness…

…and you nervously laugh along instead of speaking up?

• Is it when you hesitate to correct a friend’s error with Scripture because you don’t want to seem “judgmental”?

• Is it when you know God has asked something of you—modesty, purity, boldness, obedience—

…and you pretend you didn’t hear?

The cock crows in many tones,

and sometimes the loudest sound is the one inside your heart when you know—

I denied Him again.

Not with a curse or a shout like Peter.

But with your silence.

Your compromise.

Your shrug.

Your delay.

Hard words. But true.

And yet—

That’s not where Peter’s story ended.

The same Christ Peter denied is the same Christ who looked at him—not with rage, but with love.

The same Christ who later sat beside a fire and asked not,

“Why did you fail?”

But rather, “Lovest thou me?”

Three denials.

Three chances to say yes.

“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?… Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”

—John 21:17, KJV

There is still mercy in the morning.

Still grace beside the fire.

Still love in His eyes.

Have you heard the cock crow today?

Have you denied Him in your actions, your silence, your choices?

He is not waiting with a lightning bolt.

He is not tallying up your shame.

He’s waiting to forgive you.

Waiting patiently for your repentance.

He is whispering,

“Lovest thou me?”

Let your answer not just be in words, but in the life that follows.

May we be bold.

May we be faithful.

May we learn from Peter’s failure—and more importantly, from Christ’s forgiveness.

Because the rooster will crow.

But, like Peter, your story doesn’t have to end there.

Biblical Womanhood Substack

Image