This year I’ve been doing a rotation pattern through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Lamentations for my regular Bible reading. I decided to take a break this month, though, to read through one of the gospels in preparation for Christmas. When I reached chapter 14 of Mark, I was struck by the dramatic image of the rooster crowing. After Peter’s first denial of Jesus, verse 68 narrates, “And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.”
Did Peter hear the first crow? If he had, would it have stirred his memory of his recent conversation with Jesus? Instead, Peter persisted in his ignorance of Jesus, and concluded his defense with a curse and the declaration, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” The narration continues in verse 72 with these haunting words, “And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.”
This poignant account of Peter’s denial brought conviction to my heart and made me wonder how many times I, like Peter, have spoken and acted in a way that denies any acquaintance or friendship with Jesus. From those wonderings came the following poem:
Before the Rooster Crows Again
Before the rooster crows again
listen to your words –
the testimony of your faith
and who you really are.Before the rooster crows again
stop and contemplate –
the beating of your heart that speaks
of loyalty or shame.Before the rooster crows again
think of what He said –
the words that pierce expose the sin
of over-confidence.And when the rooster crows again
look into His eyes –
the mingled sorrow drowned in love
still true though I deny.