When we first meet Peter, he is a hardened fisherman. Not the Sunday afternoon relaxing by the lake with a rod and reel fisherman, but a work all night letting down the nets into the sea and struggling to haul in the load fisherman. Then Jesus came on the scene and called Peter to follow Him and He would make him a fisher of men.

So Peter left all behind to follow Jesus and become one of the first twelve disciples. While spending the next three years of his life living with Jesus and learning from Him, Peter developed a very close relationship with Him and became one of His inner circle. He witnessed all the miracles and heard all the parables. He even got out of the boat and walked on the water with Jesus!

Peter was the first to declare by revelation from God that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. He was privileged, along with James and John, to go up a mountain and witness the transfiguration of Jesus, and to see Him speaking to Moses and Elijah.

But then came the night that changed everything. It was Passover, and Jesus and the disciples were in an upper room eating the Passover meal. As Jesus told them what would happen that very night, Peter’s love for Jesus showed up in a great boast. “Even if all fall away, I never will!”

Now Jesus gives Peter a glimpse into his own heart, and tells him that before the rooster crows, Peter will disown Him three times. Again Peter declares he would die with Jesus before disowning Him. But when Jesus’ trial of faith came in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter could not even stay awake to pray with Him.

Finally a great crowd arrived, armed with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus, and Peter sprang into action. He was ready to die with Jesus, just as he said earlier. In an act of bravery, Peter started swinging his sword, and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. And just as Jesus had said, all the disciples fled and deserted Him.

Peter followed from a distance and made his way into the courtyard of the high priest, where Jesus had been taken for questioning. Suddenly his bravery turned to cowardice. As one by one those around him accused Peter of being one of Jesus’ followers, each time he denied that he knew Him. And then it happened.

After Peter’s third denial, suddenly a rooster crowed and he remembered what Jesus had spoken to him earlier. Jesus turned and looked straight at Peter, as if looking into his very heart.

Peter was stabbed to the core when he realized that he had betrayed His Lord, the one he loved with all his heart.

Peter left the courtyard heartbroken, and went out and wept bitterly over the weight of his sin. Now he saw so clearly that he was a sinner in need of forgiveness. He was a broken, humbled man. And although this was a painful time, it was just what he needed.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He reinstated Peter as His disciple. Soon Peter would go on to lead the first church, bringing to thousands the good news of the gospel. He would also write two books in the Bible. We all need a rooster moment. We all must see our need for the Savior.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.