Issue 1471 – The Rooster Crows – June 11, 2024
This is not your typical rooster. It is a serama rooster. Seramas are the world’s smallest chickens, standing 6-10 inches tall as adult birds.
Seramas come in a range of size classes, from the tiniest weighing under 13 ounces to the largest at 19 ounces. This is a stark contrast to the ‘average’ rooster, which typically weighs around 7 pounds. Seramas are about ⅕ the size of a ‘normal’ bird.
These chickens are kept as prized pets. There isn’t much meat on them, and it would take quite a few eggs to make an omelette.
Roosters came to mind when I was reading in the gospels recently. All four gospels speak of Peter denying Jesus.
Jesus prophesied it at the Last Supper.
Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. Matthew 26:33-35
see also Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:33-34, John 13:36-38
The gospels go on to record the denials of Jesus and Peter’s shame when the rooster crowed.
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:6-62
Peter is brought to tears when he realizes what he has done and knows the Lord has seen Him. Peter’s heart breaks as he understands his own weakness in denying the one he loved so much.
By many human standards, that would have been the end for Peter. He denied the Lord to save his own skin. Yet, from the rest of the gospel accounts and other places in the New Testament, we know that Jesus forgave Peter and restored him to his place as an apostle.
What an incredible, loving God we serve. Those who truly come to Him belong to Him and cannot be pulled away. We may stumble and fall badly, and we may enter into terrible sin. Yet, His hand is on us.
When we come to realize the gravity of our betrayal, we can rush back to Him in broken repentance, and He welcomes us. That doesn’t give us a licence to sin but gives us hope when we fall.
Are you broken by the weight of your sin? Are you tired of carrying the weight of that burden? Run to Jesus today and be set free.
He sees all and knows all, but He still loves you. That’s part of the wonder of the gospel.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)