Jesus Every DaySample

“And Peter”

Go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee.”
Mark 16:7, NIV

Three women were making their way to Jesus’ tomb. They were bringing spices to anoint the Lord’s body for burial. On the way, they wondered who would roll away the heavy stone for them at the entrance of the tomb.

But when they arrived, they were surprised to find that the huge stone had already been moved aside. Not only that, but inside the tomb was an angel dressed in white. The women were alarmed.

But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Jesus isn’t here. He’s alive! Go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee’” (see Mark 16:6–7). The news seemed too good to be true.

But notice who the women were to give this news to: “his disciples and Peter.”

Peter was the one who had told Jesus at the Last Supper, “I’ll never desert you. Not me.” The other disciples had said it too, but Peter had been the most vocal.

“Not only will you leave me,” Jesus had told him, “but you’ll also deny me” (see Mark 14:27–31).

When a rooster crowed right after Peter denied the Lord for the third time, just as Jesus had foretold, Jesus looked right at Peter (see Luke 22:54–61). Can you guess the kind of look he gave him?

Well, it wasn’t a look of anger. It wasn’t a “See, I told you so” look. That’s not who Jesus is.

No, it was a look of compassion, from eyes filled with mercy.

Peter went out into the night and broke down and wept (see Luke 22:62). He could have been thinking, I’m ruined. I went too far. I even boasted that I wouldn’t do it. The devil must have piled on the guilt, accusing him, “You denied the Lord three times. The third time you even cursed! God is done with you for sure.”

How many times have we felt like that? We fail the Lord, and we’re sick with ourselves. We’re heartbroken. Then the devil comes and says, “It’s over. I mean, look what you’ve done.”

That’s why “and Peter” should mean so much to us. Jesus didn’t say “and James” or “and Matthew.” No, he said, “Tell the disciples and Peter.”

When Satan tells us it’s all over, it’s not. We might feel as if we aren’t accepted and can’t be blessed by God. But that’s not true. God is full of mercy and grace toward us. We have to believe that he delights in mercy (see Micah 7:18). God is still saying today, “And Jim, and Carol, and _____________, I’m alive, and I love you. I know what you’ve done, but I’m going to pick you up and clean you off.”

When we let people down, sometimes they give up on us and turn away. But Jesus never throws us away, does he? He’s the God of the second chance, the two hundredth chance, the two thousandth chance. No one will be strutting around in heaven with their head held high, saying, “You know why I’m here? Look at the wonderful life I’ve led!” Instead, we will all proclaim for eternity, “Worthy is the Lamb.”

Thank you, God, that we serve a Jesus who says “and Peter.” If it wasn’t for your mercy, where would I be? I love you, Lord.