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.
In looking at the stories of Judas and Peter toward the end of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 14:43-72), one notes their respective denials of Christ and attempts to return to him. These lives highlight the difference between Godly grief vs worldly grief. But how do we know with any degree of certainty that our grief over our sin and repentance are Godly? Bonhoeffer answers this for us in Life Together:
One of the primary means God has given to assure us the grief we feel when we deny Christ is Godly and not worldly is our Christian brother. Avail yourself of this means of grace by confessing to your brother this week, and note the liberation that comes from true repentance.