Before the Cock Crows Twice - Mark 14:30

Mark wrote after Jesus and His disciples, “sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. And Jesus said unto them, All of you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty of his book, Mark shared how Jesus said, “this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, you shall deny me twice”, where we read:

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, That this day, even in this night,

before the cock crow twice, you shall deny me thrice.

The verse reads, “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, That this day, even in this night, ...” Mark began with the words, “And Jesus” which refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “said unto him” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Peter”, “Verily” which means “truly or surely”, “I say unto you” or “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims to Peter”, “that this day” which means “that this very present day”, “even in this night” or “indeed within the very present night”. Mark shared how Jesus certified to Peter that the “very day and night” in which Jesus was speaking to him the following would happen.

The verse goes on to say, “... before the cock crow twice, you shall deny me thrice.” Mark added the words, “before the cock crows twice” which means “in advance and preceding the emitting of the crowing sound of the rooster two times”, “you shall deny my thrice” or “Peter would affirm that he hand no acquaintance or connection with Jesus three times”. Mark shared how Jesus said Peter would assert that he was not acquainted with Jesus three times before two times of the “crowing” of the rooster.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus told Peter that he was not as “strong” in commitment to Him as he thought he was. Peter would “deny” three times that he had any connection with Jesus that very day and night. People often think themselves more committed to Jesus than they really are, and only when they are tested and the moment of truth is revealed do they, like Peter, expose what their real connection to Jesus really is. God wants all people to relate to Him through His Son Jesus, and although Peter was certain to “deny” Jesus and others may as well, we may take comfort in the fact that Jesus will never “deny” those who truly seek Him with all their hearts.

Next time Mark shares how Peter says, “If I should die with you, I will not deny you in any wise”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".