Pesky Rooster …

I wish that you could meet my friend Joe. He’s a colourful character whom I love! He attends our small fellowship and is eager to learn more of the way of Jesus. But that does not stand in the way of him being actively engaged in sharing his faith and intersecting with those whose lives need a touch from the Father. You probably would see Joe wearing a Mexican sombrero, playing his guitar and singing songs of faith, outside a local grocery store, not for the purpose of panhandling for small change, but eager to sense when the Spirit brings someone through those doors who needs a touch of divine energy from the Father - prayer for a obvious illness, encouragement for a wonderful day, … Recently, a man, dependent on oxygen came through the exit and Joe asked if he could pray for him.

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Have you noticed how governments, at all levels, are eager to regulate more and more aspects of your life? If you want to do some research I think you will find that the source of this comes out of Agenda 2021, now morphed into 2030, both having their origins in the UN and WEF, with the well publicized moniker, “You will own nothing, and be happy!” Hidden within all of the government documentation to support these ends is the usual verbiage which sounds so attractive while at the same time making understanding next to impossible.

Ask any small business person if this encroachment is a factor in their trying to earn a living while keeping their business afloat.

Increasing government planning to control every aspect of our lives seems to conflict with the dominion God gave us in Genesis 1, over the Land, the Air, and the Water. How are these to be reconciled?

Is this a case of God’s will being usurped by those seeking power, control and enslavement?

Not too many years ago urbanites wanted to have a chicken coop in the backyard for fresh organic eggs - well sort of.  If one wanted truly natural eggs, the company of a rooster would be recommended by some.  What a quick way to find out how tolerant your neighbours are at 5 am!

In Kitchener, ON we read this about having your backyard coop: “You can keep up to four chickens in backyard coops. To keep chickens, you need to apply for a permit and pay a $50 fee.”

Those eggs are getting to be expensive!

In Toronto, ON, they take egg production on your property very seriously! Under the requirements for merely the chicken coop, here is one of ten stipulations: 

“The Owner shall ensure the coop is weather-proofed, and the enclosure is insulated with air temperature suitable for the health of the hens. In addition, the Owner shall ensure the coop has adequate ventilation and adequate sun and shade and is impermeable to rodents, birds, and predators, including dogs and cats, to the satisfaction of the Executive Director. The Owner agrees to undertake any repairs directed by the Executive Director at the Owner’s sole cost and expense in order to comply with this section.”

Does this make you laugh a little? It did me! Someone sitting in a government office who probably doesn’t know a Leghorn from a buff Orpington, is trying to write rules for how you build your gilded chicken coop - insulated, temperature controlled, ventilated, sun and shade protection … I would conjecture that many humans would like such accommodation!

Notice that Executive Director (not sure of what) will be visiting your coop placement and may require certain repairs. What a way to earn that Executive Director salary! Will he make a return visit to find his orders followed?

And our homeless in that same city try to eke out existence!

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Continuing with the shared encouragement of Jesus with His eleven disciples in John 13, Peter decides that he needs a quick answer, so interrupts the discourse with his question, “Lord, where are you going?” (v.36) We might classify him as lacking in global thinking and being very self-oriented in perspective - you said you were going away, …where are you going … might have been his thought process.

“Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”  

An answer Peter found less than satisfactory, responding, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” John 13:37.

The familiar dialogue continues wth the pincers getting tighter, “Will you (Peter) lay down your life for me (Jesus)?”

What an affront to such a confident Peter!  

Are you questioning my sincerity and my motivation?  

How could you?  

Yes, I am willing!

A seemingly incongruous comment follows and is buried in the fast moving discourse, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” 

And what does that have to do with me laying down my life for you, Jesus, Peter thinks?

How easy it is for us to sit here 2000+ years down the corridors of history and be critical of Peter!  

If we pause to reflect, I dare say that each of us have had our “Peter moments” when without fully knowing or comprehending what we are actually engaging in, we have uttered commitments which we have later, under due consideration, regretted making – a crowing rooster, perhaps!

Matthew tells us of the resolution of this inquiry, “And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, … And he went out and wept bitterly.” (26:74, 75)

Crushed by his impetuousness, Peter had more to rationalize than the unfolding events of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection – his personal sense of failure.

Demonstrating godly mercy, Jesus frustrates Peter by asking him three times, “Do you love me?”  “Feed my lambs … tend my sheep … feed my sheep!” (John 21:15-17) Gracious re-instatement in divine mission!

Notice the simplicity of the instruction to Peter. Was he able to comprehend what was expected or do you think he needed a government explanation of how to carry out what Jesus was instructing?

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Our minds can go wild thinking of how a bureaucrat would carry out this regulation

First a section dealing with the definitions:

Love means …

A Sheep is …

A Lamb is …

Feed means …

Tend means …

This would then be followed by specific instructions as to what were acceptable ways to go about the tending or feeding of the lambs and sheep. Of course included would the required tagging of the animals, along with a veterinarian’s certificate signing off that the animals were healthy and free from disease.

And, to make sure that the whole procedure of feeding was done acceptably, there would be requirements on how the feed has to be certified by the appropriate Canadian Agricultural Department, how the place of feeding had been inspected, and the requirements in order to even consider being the one who could carry out this instruction - police check, health check, educational background, character references, animal husbandry certification, …

Isn’t it wonderful that Scripture does not try to micro-manage how we live and carry out our ministries?

Are we asked the same question: “Do you love me?”  

If so, then, “Feed my lambs … tend my sheep … feed my sheep!” any way the Spirit guides you!

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As the man began to breath more deeply and easily, he tried to thank Joe who stated, “Don’t thank me, thank God!” God was at work and Joe was feeding a lamb, directing the man’s thankfulness to the One who heals!

Does our “rooster’s crow” signify judgment or merciful opportunity?