Peter and the Rooster: Nothing to Crow About!

When talking about self-reliance, Simon Peter is probably the best example in the Bible. He was a vigorous, impetuous and courageous leader, a man ready to fight and die for the cause. But, was he really ready to die for Jesus? Unfortunately for him, self-reliance was not compatible with God's standard for leadership, as Zechariah spoke to Zerubbabel: Zechariah 4:6. Peter was an amazing character, he was always "on top of the game", always there when Jesus needed him. Sometimes acting prideful, other times humbling himself, sometimes influenced by the Holy Spirit, other times by satan. All in all, Peter was the right candidate for the job, a leader among the leaders. One thing we can see in the Bible that is true for everyone who God called to be a leader: They were all called to "be led" by the Holy Spirit, some allowed the Holy Spirit to lead them, others didn't. In Peter's case, even if he resisted as much as he could the work of the Holy Spirit in his life, Jesus didn't give up on him and interceded for his life: Luke 22:31-32. The pivotal moment in Peter's life came when he heard the rooster crowing, after denying Jesus three times, he recognized that he wasn't the valiant leader he thought he was, he probably realized that he wasn't invincible, that he was no better than anyone of Jesus' followers. What probably broke him in peaces was the fact that up to that moment, he was the one who stood firm, like a rock (Cefas means rock), even in the garden when they came to arrest Jesus, Peter reacted by using his sword. Up to that moment, denying Jesus was out of question, even if Jesus told him that he would do that, his pride didn't allow him to see the reality in Jesus’ words, that Jesus had to die so he (Peter) could live. God will always provide a way for us to repent, unfortunately some will reject God's way. I believe that Peter loved Jesus Christ, but he had to learn one hard lesson: Jesus way (narrow) or the highway! By that i mean: The only way to gain eternal life is losing our own: Matthew 16:25. This is the proof that Peter loved Jesus: John 21:17. By the way, "nothing to crow about" is an expression that means "nothing to brag about". With this declaration of love, Peter recognized that by his own strength he could not do the work God was calling him to do. By submitting himself to God and being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter is one of the best examples that with God, nothing is impossible: Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible. Peter is a good example of how God establishes His Kingdom: God restores the worker's life, enables (teaches) him to do the work and sends the worker to the workplace (the world). Matthew 28:19. The only way to make disciples for Jesus Christ is being a disciple of Jesus Christ (to be called, prepared and sent), otherwise we would be turning the "great commission" into a "great omission", lacking the power of God to do His work, therefore establishing our own kingdom: 1 Corinthians 4:20; Romans 10:14-15.