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And Peter
The angel said to them, “Do
not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of
Nazareth
, who was crucified. He is risen!
He is not here. See the
place where they laid Him. But go,
tell His disciples – and Peter - that He is going before you into Galilee;
there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
It’s such a small phrase – “and
Peter” – only two words, seemingly insignificant…something we generally
pass over without even noticing. But
it meant so much more to the man than we could ever imagine.
The crucifixion was difficult on all those who were close to Jesus.
But possibly no one felt his world crashing down around him harder than
Simon Peter. After all, he was the
“rock”. Jesus had given him the
keys to the kingdom. He had bragged
on Peter’s answer to the question, “Who do you say that I am?”
But as Jesus hung on the cross, Peter felt like anything but a rock.
He slept during the time when Christ needed Him most.
He had denied his Lord three times, once even to a young girl.
He ran like a scared rabbit when the chips were on the table, and
wasn’t even there when Jesus breathed His last breath.
Peter was emotional…fiery… on the mountaintop some of the time…but in the
deepest confines of the valley this time. His
lowest point, surely he thought it was over...whatever happened…good or bad.
Even if Jesus somehow overcame this darkness, there would be no place in
the kingdom for the infamous “solid rock.”
Once a fisherman, always a fisherman.
How could he have ever thought that he was fit to be a follower?
Dejected, defeated, disillusioned, Peter was swallowed up in guilt and feelings
of insecurity.
And then it happened.
Some women had gone to the tomb to anoint the body and returned with a story of
an empty tomb. There was a
messenger. There was a message.
“Go tell the disciples, and Peter…”
Or maybe they said, “Peter, he told us to tell you….that He will meet
you in
Galilee
.”
However they said it, the next time we hear Peter’s name, he is running toward
the tomb. John says Peter ran ahead
of him. Maybe Peter was faster than
John. Maybe hope in the midst of
hopelessness makes you faster.
The darkness in Peter’s life had turned to light…the light that only Jesus
can give. Jesus had said his name.
He was still in the plans! Is
it possible that Jesus would still have him?
Peter would find his answer in the days to come, and the answer was a
resounding “YES!” Peter would be
the rock, just like Jesus said. The
forgiving love of Christ changed the coward to the champion!
All of us have felt unworthy, and wondered how in the world Jesus could ever
have room for us. And yet, He calls
out our name. In spite of our sins,
our failures to take a stand for Him, our weaknesses, our faithlessness…He
calls out our name…personally…individually…He knows us.
We’re still in the plan!
The most powerful force on earth is the love of Jesus Christ.
It heals our brokenness, it strengthens us in time of weakness, and it
gives us hope in the midst of hopelessness.
His forgiveness makes us fast again…to do His will…to change the
world through Him. He’s calling
your name!
- Love in Christ,
- Billy
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