When the Rooster Crows
I Have Seen - Part 3
Sunday, May 1, 2022
John 21:4-19
He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:17
Listen to this week’s sermon here:
____________________
We had seen Jesus several times since that unbelievable morning when we found the tomb empty. There was no question for any of us now that he was alive, but life still wasn’t quite the same.
The roosters still crow every morning, reminding me of all I’ve done wrong. They remind me of how unworthy I am. I thought I was a sinful man when I first met him, but now I knew that I was even more of a sinner than I had once realized. I wonder if he still would have wanted me to join him if he knew how much I would fail him. Would he have still called me a friend if he knew that when he needed me the most, I would turn my back and claim not to know him?
I was the chief of sinners, but Jesus forgave me. Jesus loved me. And I wanted so badly to love him no matter what the circumstances. Every morning I hear the roosters crow and I hear those people in the courtyard saying “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ disciples?”
“Yes, yes I am a follower of Christ,” I answer myself. “Not a very good one at times. And I certainly don’t deserve to be. But I still love him and he told me to fish for people and to feed his sheep. And no matter how many times I fail, that’s exactly what I’m going to keep doing…”
“…I know now that Jesus will forgive me when I fail, but I don’t want him to have too. I can’t stand the thought of disappointing him again. I wonder sometimes, if he still feels the nails every time I fail. Does he hear the crowd cry “Crucify” again. If I’m causing him pain, then I really need to change, because I just can’t bear the thought of hurting him.” [1]
When the rooster crows reminding me of all I’ve done, I know I’m forgiven, but I also know that Jesus has trusted me with so much more. “The world will fasten a belt around you and take you where you don’t want to go,” he told me… but then he said, “Follow me.”
__________
[1] lyrics from “Can You Still Feel the Nails”, Ray Boltz
