The Rooster and the Reptentant

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Psalm 119:49–56 ESV

49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. 51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. 52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord. 53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. 54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. 55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law. 56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

Introduction

Thomas Cranmer was executed on March 21, 1556, in Oxford, England, during the reign of Queen Mary I, a staunch Catholic who sought to reverse the Protestant reforms Cranmer had championed. Cranmer had been a key figure in the English Reformation, instrumental in the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the establishment of the Church of England. Under Mary’s Catholic restoration, however, he was arrested, tried for heresy, and pressured to recant his Protestant beliefs.In the months leading up to his death, Cranmer faced intense psychological and physical coercion. He signed several recantations, renouncing Protestantism and affirming Catholic doctrine, likely in a bid to save his life. However, Mary, determined to make an example of him, ordered his execution regardless. This decision set the stage for one of the most poignant moments of the Reformation.On the day of his execution, Cranmer was brought to the stake in Broad Street, Oxford, near Balliol College.

A large crowd gathered, expecting to see the broken man who had recanted his beliefs die quietly. Before the fire was lit, Cranmer was given a final chance to publicly reaffirm his recantation. Instead, he shocked onlookers by delivering a defiant speech. He declared that he had been wrong to recant and that his earlier submissions were made against his conscience, out of fear. He renounced those writings and affirmed his Protestant faith, stating that the pope’s authority was contrary to scripture.

Most famously, Cranmer addressed the hand that had signed the recantations. He proclaimed that, since it had offended by writing those false statements, it would be the first part of his body to suffer punishment. As the flames were kindled and began to rise around him, witnesses recorded that Cranmer thrust his right hand into the fire, holding it there steadfastly as it burned, even before the flames consumed the rest of his body. He reportedly cried out, “This hand hath offended—oh, this unworthy hand!” and prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” echoing the martyrdom of St. Stephen. His composure and courage in those final moments left a lasting impression on those who saw it.

John Foxe, in his Book of Martyrs, provides a vivid account of the scene, emphasizing Cranmer’s resolve: “His body did abide the burning with such steadfastness that he seemed to move no more than the stake to which he was bound; his eyes were lifted up to heaven, and he repeated ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ until the breath was gone.” Cranmer’s death was not just an execution but a symbolic act that galvanized Protestant resistance in England.His final moments transformed him from a figure who had wavered under pressure into a martyr whose death reinforced the Reformation’s legacy. Today, the site of his execution is marked by a cross in the road in Oxford, and his story remains a powerful testament to conviction in the face of mortal peril.

Text

Mark 14:66–72 ESV

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Sermon - Big Idea

We are going to learn that God is the giver of all good things, even a repentant heart.

Why record The Repentant

This is an embarrassing record for Peter

(v72) Mark 14:72

Mark 14:72 ESV

72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Their is an irony here I don’t want you to miss.

Roosters, strut about, the crow boldly at every hour, they are cocksure, they are cocky. These are animals that show off and so on.

Peter himself boldly declared earlier in our chapter Mark 14:29-31

Mark 14:29–31 ESV

29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

You can imagine that this very act would haunt Peter the rest of his days.

As an aside this very addition by Mark who is writing Peter’s view of the Gospel shows us that this is a perfect book, it is like the OT sharing even the failures of God’s people. Sin is a constant condition we must deal with, this book being true doesn’t paint over the ugly parts. It shows true failure and true repentance.

By application.

You will fail in your sin. Peter did, this is the man who walked on water, the man who saw the Transfiguration on the mount, the man who took a sword and cut off the ear of one of the Priests soldiers ears and yet he sinned. Peter was one of the most commited followers of our lord, and sin still found him. When you fail and sin and are looking for comfort seek God’s word. It is filled with true stories of God’s people being restored.

Peter would experience restoration

John 21:15–21 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”

Seek the word for comfort. God has given the church to you, seek your church family in your times of hardship. Through the Spirit of God, flowing through the people of God and the word of God you will be comforted.

What is Repentance

Good Definition is

Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology Repentance

repentance as “a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake it and walk in obedience to Christ

Spurgeon Put it like this:

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XLVII Fountains of Repentant Tears (No. 2,735)

TRUE repentance is always the gift of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the soul. Man, left to himself, continues in sin. If he turns from his iniquity, it is because God turns him. By nature, his mind is set on mischief; and if that mind be changed, as it is in genuine repentance, it must be because the Lord himself has changed it. That repentance which a man works in himself, without the Spirit of God, will turn out to be a repentance that needs to be repented of; but that godly sorrow for sin, which the Spirit of God produces in the heart, is a sure indication of spiritual life, and the constant attendant of saving faith. Whosoever un-feignedly repents of sin, and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, is a saved man; he shall be among the blessed ones in that day when Christ comes to judge the quick and the dead; and he shall be among the glorified for ever.

When you look at the actions of Peter in the last verse you can see this happening

Mark 14:72 ESV

72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

He realized his sin and it had great sorrow over it.

I want you to look at this last verse in two different translations to give you the full picture of repentance for Peter

Mark 14:72 ESV

72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

And

Mark 14:72 NKJV

72 A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

The problem we have here is on our side in the English.

The idea that these translations are trying to convey is that the reality of what he had done dawned on him and when he thought about it and he broke down.

The Holy Spirit of God came over him and he wept! God convinced him of his sin and he saw it in his mind and broke down in tears.

Ask the Holy Spirit and he will do likewise

What happens when you don’t repent? (Spiritual Warfare)

To the non-Christian

you put yourself in great danger. You are over your father the devil, he has control of you and he may himself no be living inside you, but your are susceptible to one of his ilk possessing you.

The Bible teaches that an idolter will suffer the fate of his idols. Psalm 135:15-18

Psalm 135:15–18 ESV

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; 17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.

Rev 21:8

Revelation 21:8 ESV

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Idols are often powered by false gods, who some work for the devil, some in the past and today might be him.

The fate of the devil is to be thrown into the pit of fire, you will share his fate beign tossed into the fire forever!

Revelation 20:10 ESV

10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

To The Christian

This is like shooting up a flare gun and showing your position to the enemy of your soul.

Remember the devil is like a lion looking to devour

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

You who are not repentant are not being sober minded up watchful. You are risking being devoured

In the Parallel account of our passage Jesus warns Peter that satan is trying to sift him

Luke 22:31–33 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”

Satan made a hard play for Peter, to the point that he drove Peter to lie, cursed a small girl, and worst forsake his God.

You open yourself up to spiritual attack and what will feel like ineffective faith. You maybe dealing with something, and I mean spiritual that you cannot see who is getting after you. You must repent, and ask God to drive away any demon or entity that is not of him who may be bogging you down. You can’t be possessed, but you can be Oppressed.

By not repenting you open yourself up to demonic attack.

(explain BRIEFLY about what to do with a demon)

Sub-point - Lets bring this home to us, today.

When Applied to Work

Luke 19:1–10 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

For your work and your business, this is a model you can use for yourself. Tax collectors were traitors and extorters. You should seek to operate your business your personal finances clearly and justly. If you have sinned in your actions repent, and don’t look back longingly at what you done, who you were.

Repentance and faith

These things go hand in hand, they are two names for the same condition of your heart.

So when you hear Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15 ESV

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

You see they come together.

Husbands/Men

Maybe it’s just me but men, especially young men are more prone to carry a chip on their shoulders, to hang on to anger and bitterness.

Remember what Jesus said.

Matthew 6:12 ESV

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

That chip, that anger, that bitterness will consume you

Proverbs 15:18 ESV

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Forgive, repent.

Repent quickly

Wives/Ladies

when it comes to you must repent your sin. Women Sin differently then men. God has wired you differently. Yes gender is down to the DNA it is part of the created order. So When you here this know your God knows what you deal with as well.

The bible tells us.

Proverbs 21:9 ESV

9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

your attitude can impact the heart of the home, it can drive your family away. You must check to make sure you are not being quarrelsome.

The Bible describes this quarlsomeness like this

Proverbs 27:15 ESV

15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

If you’ve ever had a leak in your house, a piper burst, a flood, a continual non-stop fight with water this is the pain.

You must repent if this is your heart

Kids

Forgive quickly

Matthew 5:23–24 ESV

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

You will have your brother and sisters with you longer then any of your relationships. Don’t let sin ruin that.

Note to Parents and grandparents

teach quick and true forgiveness. Little eyes, and not so little eyes are watching you.

Conclusion

So for all in this room, if you have sin against one another, in your relationship Repent. Listen to these loving words from Jesus to you.

Revelation 3:19 ESV

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Benediction

Say: As we close our service of worship dear brother and sister please stand for our benediction and receive by faith this blessing from God

Psalm 41:10–13 (NKJV)

10 But You, O Lord, be merciful to me (US), and raise me(US) up, That I(WE) may repay them. 11 By this I(WE) know that You are well pleased with me(US), Because my(OUR) enemy does not triumph over me(US). 12 As for me(US), You uphold me(US) in my(OUR) integrity, And set me(US) before Your face forever. 13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

Note* I modified the text to make it corporate.