Prepare the Way: A 21-Day Reading Plan Through John by Justeina BrownleeSample

Day 18: When the Rooster Crows

Read John 18

Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, vowed he would never abandon Jesus, even promising to die for Him. But just hours later, fear took over, and Peter denied knowing Jesus—not once, but three times. When the rooster crowed, Peter realized the weight of his failure. He had fallen short of the promises he made to his Lord.

Peter’s story hits close to home because we’ve all been there. We make sincere promises to God—whether to pray more, to love better, or to stand firm in our faith. But when real-life challenges or temptations hit, we find ourselves falling short. Like Peter, we can be overwhelmed by guilt when we realize how far we’ve strayed from our commitments.

But Peter’s failure wasn’t the end of his story, and neither is ours. After His Resurrection, Jesus restored Peter, giving him the chance to reaffirm his love and commitment. Peter went on to boldly proclaim the Gospel, his failure now a part of his testimony.

The rooster crowing in our lives is a reminder of those moments when we fall short, but it doesn’t signal defeat. It’s a call to repentance and restoration. Jesus doesn’t abandon us when we stumble; instead, He offers Grace and the chance to get back on track. When we acknowledge our weaknesses and rely on His Strength, He leads us forward, just as He did with Peter.

Reflection Questions:

1. Can you think of a time when you struggled to keep a promise to God? How can you rely more on His Strength moving forward?
2. How does Peter’s restoration by Jesus encourage you in your own walk, especially in moments of failure or weakness?