God's Morning Gift

Have you ever been woken by a rooster?

I've been rousted from sleep by a cock crow many times while traveling through parts of less industrialized countries. Even in the middle of a city, if it's the right city, you can hear a rooster in the morning. They almost always begin their cry before my alarm clock does. In much of the world, the cock crow still serves as the community alarm clock, as much a part of the morning as the sunrise itself.

It was the same in ancient Israel. For the twelve disciples and the other followers of Jesus, the sound of the rooster heralded another day of watching and wondering at the miraculous ministry of Jesus.

On the night of the Passover, Jesus told His disciples of His impending suffering and death. He told them that they would fall away and be scattered. Jesus said to Peter specifically, "Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." Peter's response was immediate. "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not. I will lay down my life for You." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times."

Within the next few hours, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and taken into custody by the ruling Jews and Roman authorities. Just as Jesus proclaimed, the disciples scattered - all of them except Peter and one other, who was able to enter the court where Jesus was being question because of his relationship to the high priest. Peter, too, entered the courtyard, warmed himself by the fire and certainly worried about the wisdom of remaining so close to those who were attacking His Lord. Maybe he was plotting a jailbreak for Jesus. He had swung the sword once already that night. But then a slave girl asked a question, and Peter lied.

I do not know Him.
I do not know the man!
He began to curse and swear, I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!

And immediately a cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

Some days later, Peter decided to return to fishing. Several of the disciples joined him. After their long and fruitless night of fishing, when the day was just breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, unrecognizable in the weak light. He instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They complied and were immediately rewarded wit a catch almost too big to handle. A disciple said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he dove off the boat and swam ashore.

Jesus had prepared a breakfast. When they were gathered together Jesus and Peter had a conversation. Three times Jesus asked,"Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Three times Peter replied, "Yes Lord, You know that I love you." And Jesus commanded Peter, "Tend My lambs, Shepherd My sheep, Tend My sheep." In the earliest hours of the day Peter denied his Lord, and in the earliest hours of the day his Lord gave Peter both restoration and a life-long mission.

In the earliest hours of the day, Jesus spent time with His father. Throughout the ages, great men and women of the faith have always affirmed the morning hours as the unique and indispensable time for effective meditation and prayer. And one of God's great gifts to Peter was that his mornings would forever be marked by powerful memories and the meditations they invoked.

During their last supper, Jesus declared to Peter, "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." But Jesus did more than pray. He also orchestrated the circumstances of Peter's betrayal and restoration in such a way that they would play a daily role in strengthening his faith for a lifetime. Jesus knew that the powerful and impetuous Peter needed a consistent reminder of both his ever present weakness and his high and holy calling. Every morning that began with the cock crow was a morning in which Peter was reminded of the choice before him - to affirm, or deny, his relationship to Christ. Every breakfast was a reminder of the breakfast on the beach and his God-given mission for today - Shepherd My Sheep.

I do not share the same morning experiences as Peter, but I do follow the same Lord and the same calling. In the same way that He prayed for Peter, Christ is at the right hand of the Father interceding on my behalf - praying that my faith would not fail. Just as Peter was given a task, I have been called to do my part in fulfilling the great commission. And I have the promise that just as He did in the life of Peter, God works all things together for good in my life.

I have found that my walk of faith cannot be sustained by emotional zeal. It demands a continual renewal of commitment to the person and purposes of Christ. Every day ought to begin with these questions: Will I follow in obedience, or will I seek my own way? Will I apply myself to fulfilling the role God has given me, or will I selfishly seek my own security and gain? I must address these questions and answer them in the morning, choosing my course before the events of the day choose it for me.