This is the story of Peter also known as Simon Peter, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus. He got the name "Peter" when Jesus said he'd build his church on this rock. "Peter" comes from the Greek for "rock."
Yay! To be a rock for Jesus is not all fun and games and you will be put to the test. First came the warning... Matthew 26:34 "Truly I tell you," Jesus declared, "this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
Ahhh! The bravado... Luke 22:33 "Lord," said Peter, "I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death."
Ohhh! The reality... Human weakness and fear tends to be our downfall.
And just how many different types of chickens are there? Dozens of dozens! But not as many as excuses for denying Jesus in your life. With all the "I am not ready's" or the "yeah buts" or the reasons for why not, no matter the intensity or scale in our own minds, all excuses boil down to two categories. Weakness and fear. And no one knew it better than two of Jesus' own personal friends. Peter and Judas.
Peter's story of a threefold denial of Christ is found in all four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. His weakness was his own human frailty. He was tired and fell asleep on the job. He had ONE JOB! To watch over Jesus as He prayed in the garden. And yet sleep took him over and Jesus was arrested. But to his credit, he did not abandon our Lord as the others did but then he would not walk with Him either. He held back and watched as a bystander as Jesus was being falsely accused, beaten, and insulted out of fear for his own safety.
"Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. Luke 22. That was once!
Okay I get it. We all have the tendency for self preservation and our human instincts can get the better of us. And given that the world hated Jesus, and Peter was finding out that he was not completely prepared to face the same persecution “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” John 15:18.
But then, "When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it." Mark 14. That was twice!
The third denial was to a number of people in the , is emphatic as he curses according to Matthew 26:73-75 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 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. Three times! The prophecy was fulfilled.
Yes Peter failed his beloved Jesus. Not once. Not twice. But three times and in the same night! I can not only imagine but understand his complete and total devastation at his human failing. But to Jesus, the bravado is not what is important. The intent of the heart is.
How many times will the cock crow before you take the stand and say "Jesus is my friend and He is alright by me".
A few years later the song by the Byrds song "...Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright with me
Jesus is just alright
I don't care what they may say
I don't care what they may do
I don't care what they may say
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright..." still resonates in me.
So whatever happened to Peter, the Rock? after a struggle of guilt and grief, thankfully, and accepting the forgiveness of Jesus, he went on to become one the boldest, most influential and effective leaders in the advancement of early Christianity.
"Peter said to them, 'Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself.' Peter warned them with many other words. He begged them, 'Save yourselves from the evil of today's people!' Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day." Acts 2:38-41
"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matt. 5:11-12
And this painting? A 16x24 oil on canvas depicting 3 roosters. One depicting having caught a silver coin in its mouth. One in an open mouthed protesting squawk. And the third? With its mouth shut. "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." Proverbs 21:23. But even if you cannot, Jesus still loves you and will meet you. Just as in James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body." So ask for forgiveness, accept it and move on down the path with Jesus. And I will see you on the other side.
Oh and about Judas? Another painting. Another story.
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