Encouragement Page
13 February 2005

Once again the ‘year of the cock’ has come. Last year, the monkey seemed to have done well at the beginning of the year. At least it managed to keep the bird flu at bay but towards the end of the year, before it stepped down, it certainly did its worst — the Tsunami. Now that the cock has come, superstitious people are even more worried that it might bring along with it the bird flu, which experts say, might be worse than the tsunami disaster, if not controlled. However, we have a God who is supreme over the whole universe and is in control of everything. It remains for us to be sober and vigilant and put all our trust in Him. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6, 7).

"Watch therefore for ye know not when". In ancient days, the cock was the alarm-clock of the people. It woke the people up from their sleep. Our Lord Jesus warned us to watch for His coming for we do not know when He will come. He said: "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning" (Mk 13:35). Recent events of the sars in 2003, the tsunami in 2004 and the threat of the coming of the bird flu must awaken us to the fact that our Lord is coming soon.

Before the cock crew. "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I" (Mk 14:29) said the proud and self-confident Peter. Before our Lord’s betrayal, He forewarned the disciples that He would be betrayed and they would be scattered. Instead of praying for strength, Peter boasted that "If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all" (Mk 14:31). This led to the downfall of all of them. The Lord had earlier told Peter "that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice" (Mk 14:30) but Peter did not take heed of the warning. Believers should never be over confident like Peter. Let us take our Lord’s warning humbly and seriously and do what He tells us: "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak" (Mk 14:38). All signs are pointing to His soon coming. Let us therefore watch and pray without ceasing, recognizing our human weakness.

At the cock’s crowing. The brave disciple Peter backed up his promise by following Jesus right into the high priest’s palace where the real test began. Confronted by the high priest’s maid, he began to deny that he was a disciple. There and then the cock crew (Mk 14:68). Not taking the cue, Peter continued to deny Christ the second and the third time. It was at this time that the cock crew again and Peter remembered what the Lord had said to him. How easy it is for us to forget our Lord’s warning in the presence of threats and temptations. Believers need to heed our Lord’s warning to watch and pray all the time lest we too fall into temptation and betray Him. It is always easy to say than to do, especially when the situation is threatening or the temptation is great.

After the cock crew. It was after the second cock’s crow that Peter called to mind the words that Jesus said to him: "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice". He henceforth repented and went out and wept. The Lord later forgave and restored him to full discipleship. This is in contrast to Judas who probably also heard the cock crew but did not repent; instead he went out and hanged himself. He perished into eternal death. The cock has no power to determine our future but the Lord can use it to call Peter to repentance. It was not the cock but the Word of God that calls all sinners to repentance. Let all sinners heed this call and repent and all believers wake up before it is too late.

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