And Peter

“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” (Mark 16:7)

Even though we have officially left the Easter season and our lives have returned to normal (whatever that means for you), we never really leave behind the resurrection of Jesus Christ in our lives. This verse, taken from the account of Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother, Mary, at the Garden tomb, brings us to a beautiful realization I feel we always need to keep in mind.

Here we see the two Marys who have come to anoint the body of Christ in His tomb. A very solemn duty, to be sure. Here they encounter what they believe to be an angel, Who tells them to go back into the city (of Jerusalem), find the disciples, and tell them to depart to Galilee. There they will meet, again, with the risen Savior. But look again at what the “angel” said to them: “tell His disciples AND PETER…” Strange when you read it again, isn’t it?

Recounting the scene from Jesus’ arrest and trial – comparing the gospel accounts – we remember how Peter went into the outer court of the judgment hall and was accused by a servant girl of being one of the disciples. As Jesus had forewarned Peter, he denied three times that he even knew who they were talking about. Three different times Peter denied Christ – even using crude language the third time (as if to prove he wasn’t a disciple). One account tells us that after Peter denied the third time, Jesus turned and made eye contact with Peter. Wow! Talk about conviction!

Jesus knew how the human heart works – obviously. Think about it for a moment. Put yourself in Peter’s place at that point in time. How would you feel about yourself – knowing you had just turned your back on the One about Whom you had boldly declared, “To Whom else should we go, Master? You alone have the words of life.”? Peter had, in the Garden, cut off one of the soldier’s ears because he had been sent to arrest Jesus. Peter was one of the inner circle – the three who accompanied Jesus everywhere. Peter was the outspoken one. The one who had walked on the stormy waters of the sea to get to Jesus. Now, here in Jesus’ hour of distress, he had denied even knowing Who He was. How would YOU feel?

We write ourselves off, discard ourselves prematurely many times. Now, obviously I’m not condoning what Peter did. By denying Christ (effectively renouncing his faith), Peter had qualified himself for a first-class ticket on the train to hell. There have been those who said that what Peter did was more damning than Judas’ betrayal. I can’t speak to that point, but I can certainly see where they are going with that argument. They even go so far as to say that Judas, at least, had the honor and presence of mind to commit suicide out of shame for his actions. Again, more learned men than me have argued these points. All I will say is that Jesus’ love for us is so much deeper and greater than any love I have ever experienced in my life! We know that in this passage because, even though Peter had turned his back on Christ, Christ never cast him away. “Go into the city and tell the disciples AND PETER…”

In my own life I have given Jesus many opportunities to kick me out of His kingdom, yet each time He came to me, found me, called out to me, and restored me. And each time He did that, my love for Him has grown deeper and fuller. Through it all (in the words of the late Andre Crouch) I have learned to trust in Jesus and I have learned to depend upon His Word.

Perhaps it is the same with you, my friend. Maybe you are hearing this message “by accident” – you just stumbled upon it somehow. Maybe you are running from God. You were raised in the church and had godly parents, but now you are finding your own way. You want to get away from all that weird stuff and really find out what the world is all about. Your story may be that of the prodigal son – who went out and spent his life living the wild life. You may even be living as King Solomon did. You started out good, but as the money starting rolling in and life got better, perhaps you decided to just get on that train and see how far it will take you. Everyone’s story is different. One is living lavishly while another is sleeping over a steam vent in a cardboard box. You may either be the one riding in the back seat of a chauffered Rolls-Royce, or you may be the one sleeping in the alley and eating out of the dumpster. All men (and women) – rich and poor, high and low, successful or utter failures – come to one realization: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” In modern language that translates to, “Useless, worthless, everything is worthless.”

What will you do with that realization, my friend? When all is said and done, when everyone turns against you, when you even begin to believe religion’s condemnation and stamp of disapproval on you – what are you going to do? Judas went out in sorrow and hung himself. For him there was no opportunity for restoration and hope. He cancelled his own ticket. Peter, however, despite his shame and self-condemnation, stuck around. He wanted to believe – he wanted to see if it went the way Jesus had foretold, even if he had to watch from afar. But Jesus, Who is rich in mercy and quick to forgive, called him back into the fold. “Go tell my disciples AND PETER…”

Today, I don’t know what’s going on in your life. I don’t know where you are hearing (or reading) this message. But God knows. He sees your broken heart, He knows your broken spirit. He is aware of what has been done to you and knows what YOU have done. Yet, He has told me to “go tell His disciples and Tom (or Jane, or Kathi, or Frank – you fill in your name). Tell them I love them and want to be with them.” So here it is. Jesus loves you – even if you don’t love yourself. Even if you think you have gone too far. Even if you don’t feel “good enough.” Jesus is calling you back into His arms. Not so you’ll get close enough for Him to slap (I learned that old trick when I was a child), but close enough for Him to comfort you, to hold you through the storm, to love on you until the fear goes away. Come to Him.

Be blessed.