THE COCK
WATCH AND WAIT

The Symbol:   The crowing cock represents Peter's betrayal of Jesus, which Jesus prophesied: "And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, 'Before a cock crows, you will deny Me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly" (Matthew 26:75). The rooster that traditionally crows in the morning to wake up sleepers, crows to "wake up" Peter and call him to repentance. While Peter actively denied his Lord before the cock crowed, he and the others with him had earlier found it difficult to stay awake, keeping watch, waiting and praying as Jesus had asked: "And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?' " (Matthew 26:40).

The Verse:   "And He said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; wait here, and watch.' "

THE DOVE
THE SPIRIT WILL GUIDE YOU

The Symbol:   When shown with a halo, the dove represents the Holy Spirit, which descended on Jesus when Jesus was baptized:   "And it came about in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: 'Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well-pleased' " (Mark 1:9-11).

The Verse:   "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

THE EAGLE
WITH WINGS AS EAGLES

The Symbol:   The eagle, with its soaring flight and sharp eyes, represents the ascended Christ, watching over the world. To early Christians, the eagle represented baptized Christians because of a myth that the eagle renewed its youth by plunging three times into a spring of water, typifying baptism.

The Verse:   "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

THE PEACOCK
HE BROUGHT LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT

The Symbol:   The early Christians (c. 300 CE) adopted the peacock as a symbol of immortality because of an ancient myth that held that the peacock's flesh does not decay. In addition, the peacock symbolizes the resurrected, glorified Christ because it grows new, bright feathers each year. The "eyes" in the tail feathers are sometimes identified with the all-seeing eye of God.

The Verse:   "[B]ut now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

THE PELICAN
THIS IS MY BODY
THIS IS MY BLOOD

The Symbol:   The pelican was adopted by early Christians (c. 200 CE) as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. An ancient myth tells of the mother pelican that pierces her own breast in time of famine to feed her young, giving her life for theirs. Thus, the pelican represents both the suffering Savior, shedding His blood on the cross, and the elements of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

The Verse:   "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, 'Take eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.' "

THE PHOENIX
I AM THE RESURRECTION

The Symbol:   The ancient Egyptian myth of the phoenix (c. 2800 BCE) tells of its rising from its own ashes after three days. Early Christians (c. 200 CE) adopted the phoenix as a symbol of the resurrected Christ, who rose from the dead on the third day.

The Verse:   "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies'."

THE SPARROWS
HOW DEAR IS YOUR DWELLING

The Symbol:   The sparrow symbolizes the all-loving God's omniscience and omnipotence:   "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will" (Matthew 10:29).

The Verse:
  How dear is your dwelling place,

O LORD of hosts!

  My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

  Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young,

  at your altars, O LORD of hosts,

my King and my God.