April 1, 2026

Peter fails at the cockcrow

Gospel of Mark 14:72

“Immediately the cock crowed for the second time. And then Peter remembered the word Jesus had told him: ‘Before the cock crows twice you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept.

Dear Readers,

Cockfighting is popular in Cuba. Today’s Cuban stamp features a white fighting cock. To me, cockfighting is a cruel form of animal cruelty. It is a bloody spectacle in which the weaker animal often perishes. I take no pleasure in that!

Good Friday is also about blood and death. The Romans stage a public execution outside the gates of Jerusalem. For the spectators, it is a bloody spectacle. It was something spectators were attracted to and felt they had to witness (Gospel of Luke 23:32 ff.).

When Jesus prepares his disciples for his death on the cross, still, all of them stand by him! Peter, in particular, the one who speaks for the group of disciples, promises his loyalty to him (chap. 15:26 ff). No, never will he abandon Jesus. He stands firm to him! But Jesus warns him. Peter will not be able to keep his promise. He will fail before the rooster crows twice. And that is exactly what happens. What a defeat in this man’s life. What had Jesus called him to do? „And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.“ (Matthew 16:18). That was his call! That was his mission! Jesus had entrusted this immense task on him. And now he no longer wants to acknowledge his Lord and Master. 

Simon Peter and all the other disciples need forgiveness. They have failed. On the cross at Golgotha, Jesus atones for their guilt. Yet he dies the atoning death for all people as well. He dies for all who do not want to know him, the Son of God, or who know him but whose faith repeatedly falters. He dies for all who turn their backs on God. He dies for all who, like fighting cocks, go about to destroy their opponents in a bloody manner.

And what did happen to Simon Peter? He had a wonderful encounter with the risen Messiah, the Lord Jesus. When the risen Jesus met his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Gospel of John, Chapter 21), Jesus asked Simon Peter —who had failed him— three times if he still loved him (verses 15 ff.). That is beyond my comprehension! Jesus Christ asks Simon Peter if he loves him. Shouldn’t it be exactly the other way around? Shouldn’t Peter, the one who failed, be the one to ask the Messiah if HE still loves him after what had happened? 

Perhaps you’ve experienced this in your own life: when trust in a loved one is broken, you want to hear from the other person that everything is okay again. “Do you still love me?” spouses ask each other after an argument. The longed-for answer would be: “Yes, I still love you, even though you …!” Or children want to be hugged and kissed again when they sense they’ve provoked their parents’ anger. They want to be together with their parents in harmony and joy again. They want to feel their parents’ love very close to them.

Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God’s love. The risen and eternally living Son of God loves you and me 24/7—around the clock, all the time. Without interruption. No matter how strong our faith is, or how much we doubt or fail. And Jesus wants us to return His love. That is what He is waiting for. How about simply saying this simple sentence: “Jesus Christ, I thank you for your great love for me. I love you too!” And then living day by day in harmony and joy with the love of God that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Look forward to the Easter season! The Lord has risen! He is truly risen.

Thank you very much for visiting me and listening to me. I wish you a blessed Easter. I look forward to seeing you again at the next short sermon on April 15.