The Cock Still Crows

We all know the story of Peter denies Jesus three times and then the cock crows.   This even after Jesus told Peter this would happen. Mark 14:66-72

Then THE LOOK.  Peter is destroyed.  Lost.  Defeated.

That must have been a very long night... and next day and weekend.

How sinking his stomach must have felt.

We in our Biblical rear view mirror say things like, "I could never deny the Lord".  We say it but it is not yet been tested.  Not like Peter was.  He is seeing Jesus beaten to a pulp.  He has been in the garden when the military came to get Jesus to drag him away.  He is trying to stay near.. but not so near that he might also be arrested and beaten.  There are authorities only a shout away.

He is at threat of his very life if he is exposed.  And then people start asking hard questions.  He can say YES, I know him, I am his disciple.  In a second someone will rat him out and he is lost.

So he keeps his head down.  A small fib can't hurt.  It's wisdom... right?

Then a Cock Crows.  Devastation..

We are in the same place, our culture accuses us of being "Christian".  One of THOSE.  We try to fit in, we don't raise too much of a fuss.  We say things like, I'm not religious, I'm spiritual.  We are chameleon in our culture.  All things to all men... and then the Cock Crows.  We see that we did not respond truthfully when confronted.

How bold in the face of persecution will our witness be.  Witness as martyr which is the true interpretation.  I don't know.  I can be bold in theory.. yet in truth, until the gun is at my temple... I can't say for certain.

I really don't want to find out.  I know that for me, for all of us... that unwelcome crow is about to sound.  I hear Jesus say, Matthew 10:32   "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven".

Lord HELP ME TO STAY STEADY...