How Many Times Did You Hear the Cock Crow?

And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, this very night,
before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
--- Mark 14:30

The other Gospel writers cite this incident and quote Jesus as saying that “before the cock crows,” while only Mark quotes him as saying it will crow twice.  I relate to Mark’s version of this incident better than the others' because it implies that Peter wasn’t paying attention the first time, and needed to be reminded. 

That is so like me.

After Peter did deny Jesus the three times and heard the cock crow “he broke down and wept.”  But Peter was blessed to hear the cock crow, to be reminded of his denials.  Then he could weep.  We soooo need to weep also, but we hear no cock crow to remind us when we too fail Him --- or do we just not listen?

I reviewed that British book recently, about the British doctor who would not obey the letter of the law, and would not let a young girl die.  How many doctors are there like that, I wonder, versus those who would walk away, with their consciences soothed because what they did was legal?  Did these who valued man’s law over God’s hear the cock crow?  How many nurses assist the abortionist thinking, “Well, I am not doing the killing.”  What do they hear at the dawn?  And what of those citizens who will pay their insurance company for abortion coverage, thinking: “Well, I will never use that money for an abortion,” and accept that through their actions they are making it available for ones who will.  Do they hear any reminders of what Jesus said?

Whether these people hear the question Peter heard: “Aren’t you one of His followers?” or not, by their actions, if not their words, they would deny Him.  I suspect that there ARE some cocks crowing, in one form or another, to remind them of what they are doing, but they do not hear.  And that is a sad thing, because even if we deny Him, that is not the end of us.  Although Jesus knew what Peter was to do, He also knew that Peter would regret his sin, and so he forgave him in advance.  Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren  (Lk 22:31).  And Jesus made Peter the head of His church.  He waits to forgive us too, for our failures, for our denials of Him and His teaching.

But far too often, like Peter first did, we seek the approval of men, not God, in our actions.

I recently read a debate on a Catholic blog site, between a Protestant and a Catholic apologist about how we are saved, by faith alone or by faith and works.  Reading the back and forth, it just made me sad.  Finally, I commented how I had attended a similar, but a “non-debate,” a few years back.  At that one, Protestant church and Catholic Church members presented WHAT they believed and WHY regarding the issue of “being saved”.  And after each one presented their “evidence”, it was the priest who went up to the microphone and interrupted the presentation:  “Did you hear what he just said?  He said this and this and this.  And did you hear what she said?  She said this and this and this.  Don’t you see?  They said the same thing!  We believe the same thing!!”  And there was stunned silence in the filled church, and then spontaneously the entire gathering rose and applauded, and cried and hugged.  I commented on the blog debate that we must speak of what we believe, yes, but I much prefer an end to the discussion where we hug, than one where we debate further. 

We need to stop debating our neighbor and denigrating him and demanding that he recognize how wonderful we are.  Jesus told us loudly and clearly by His death, we are all wonderful in His sight. 

(By the way, that priest was Fr. John Riccardo.  That was the first time I had heard him or heard of him.)

The good men conducting the debate on the Catholic blog were men of good heart, and strong belief.  And yet, in their way they too were denying Jesus, where He said that we should love one another.  Yes, He said He came that father might deny son and husband his wife, but in the end He desired and died so that all may be one.  At a time when the cultures of the world are dividing us ever more, is this not a time to speak lovingly to each other, especially to fellow followers of Christ?  Oh, by the way, the title of that conference I referenced where they had the “non-debate” was “That They May Be One.” It was so named for a reason.

I don’t know how many times the cock crows for me, but I do hear it, it seems, many, many times, crowing all around me.  And do I wish they would stop ---- those who would deny Him by their actions, that is --- including me.

A quiet Easter sunrise would be a wonderful thing.

Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.  It is so hard to remember that statement --- and His witnessing action --- when the only life and opinion we seem to value is ours.