The Rooster in the Church

My husband and I had the pleasure of touring the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, a few weeks ago, while he was away on business.  We enjoyed a canal boat tour, shopping the street markets, and exploring several palaces and castles throughout the city.

One of the most memorable places we visited was Frederik's Church, commonly known as The Marble Church, right across from the palace of the Danish Royal Family.  It truly spoke to my spirit; let me tell you why.

Frederik's Church is a beautiful Lutheran church in its own right, with a towering rotunda and ornately carved marble (hence its nickname).  Here are a few pictures to give you an idea...

However, it wasn't until we wandered around inside that I saw something that truly caught my breath and gave me a lump in my throat, all at the same time.

You see, I've been accustomed to seeing Christian symbols like this in churches:

The Easter Lily...

The Vine and the Branches...

The Dove of the Holy Spirit...

But I have NEVER been confronted with a symbol like this:

A rooster!

All I could think about was Peter's denial of Christ, and how much I am like him in so many ways.  It was a powerful symbol for me, reminding me that even (or especially!) in the grandeur of a cathedral like this one, that I cannot forget how far I can fall, and how faithful God is to pick me up and bring me back.  It caused me to reflect upon my humanity and sinfulness in a fresh way, and its juxtaposition to all the other regal and holy symbols around the room declared to me that God knows I am sinful, and yet, He still loves me and cares for me and makes me a part of His redemptive plan to save the nations.

Revisit this story with me today, as found in Mark 14:66-72

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.

The parallel account in Matthew 26:75 adds the description that Peter wept "bitterly."

Can you picture it?  The man who boldly declared in the face of Christ's questioning, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God." The disciple who was zealous about Jesus never having to suffer and die (and rebuked by him for it); the follower who cut off the ear of the high priest's servant who had come to the garden to seize Christ. Can you see how Peter had to face his utter sinfulness and his humanity in such a real and raw and agonizingly painful way, when he heard that rooster crow the second time? (See Matthew 16:16, 21-23, 26:51)

I am reminded in a fresh way how similar I am to Peter, as I have denied Christ in big and small ways, throughout my life, my week, my day.

And yet, thankfully, that rooster is not the end of the story!  For just as Peter thrice denied Christ, we see how Jesus thrice asked Peter, "Do you love me?" and how Peter was restored and redeemed as a child of God by God's abundant grace.

And so the circle is complete, as I panned around that beautiful sanctuary in Frederik's Church--the rooster, the lily, the grapes, the dove...all a part of the amazing story of God's grace.

Praise be to God!