The Weathervane.
On my visits to some churches a lot of the older buildings have church towers and spires. And on top of these buildings there is sometimes a weathervane. It’s a little metal plate and it turns to show which direction the wind is blowing from at any given time. You can see them at the highest point of some older churches and they are usually just a simple pointer arrow or sometimes the metal plate is cut into a shape to symbolise something from the local christian community.
Some churches will have a weathervane shaped like a ship or boat. But I have seen a few that are shaped like a cockerel or rooster. And this is a very, very significant symbol since it is taken directly from the Bible. Historically speaking the symbol of the cockerel is used as a warning. And when used in conjunction with a weathervane it means to be aware of the wind direction.
The symbol refers to when Peter denied Christ during the week of Jesus' trials....
Matthew Ch26 (71) Then he [Peter] went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." (72) He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" (73) After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away." (74) Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed.
Mark Ch14 (70) Again Peter denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." (71) He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." (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."
John Ch18 (27)Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
However, Luke records something extra which is very, very significant.
Luke Ch22 (60)But Peter said (to the bystanders), "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. (61)And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
The only thing that I can think of that would have felt worse than Peter's guilt would have been his shame as Jesus, stripped, bloodied and beaten, turned to look at him.
That wasn’t the only day that God gave somenoe a warning signal. Indeed, God has always been giving warning signals to His children to show His displeasure. In 1st Samuel Ch2 v34, Eli the high priest was given a warning sign that God was displeased about things. Eli was told that both his sons would die in the same day.
…(34) This will be the sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die.
What Eli didn’t know was that on the very day that he received the news of his son’s deaths he would die also…
1st Samuel Ch4 (17) The man who brought the news [to Eli] replied, "Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." (18) When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died…
But not all of god’s signs were for warnings. A lot of them were to foretell His plans for His children. God foretold his promise of the coming Messiah through the prophet Isaiah…
Isaiah Ch7 (14)Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
And even at the time that the Messiah was born a sign was given to the shepherds in the hillsides…
Luke Ch2 (12) “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Signs of God’s love toward us have been around since the beginning of time. God set a sign of a rainbow in the heavens to show that he would never destroy man again. The burning bush was a sign to Moses that God was present. The fiery pillar was a sign to the Children of Israel that God was leading them. The whole of the Tabernacle and the Temple were signs that God would be with His people. Our Bible is filled with signs, and every single one of them points to God and His love towards us…
Luke Ch11 (30) For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.
In these last days Jesus has left us with one sure sign that we are his followers…
John Ch13 (34) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (35) By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
So let us press on with our love for Christ. Even though Peter denied Christ the love they had for each other overcame this act of betrayal. And no matter the number of times we let God down and fail Him, He continues to love us anyway. God loved us then, He loves us still. He always has and He always will.
From the chains of defeat there’s no key.
See the tears of those broken, hear the cries of the slaves:
Is there no one worthy to set us free?
Then the crying is stilled as the chorus rings out,
Those shackled released from their chains.
And thousands of voices are swelling the song:
Worthy the Lamb that was slain.
Then all the archangels, the saints of all time,
Holding their crowns in their hands,
Fall down before Him joining the song:
Worthy, worthy the Lamb!
Worthy, Worthy. Worthy the Lamb that was slain.
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