GO TELL PETER

Mark 16:1-7 tells the story of Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. The sun is just breaking over the horizon as these three figures make the forlorn trip to the tomb. Through their minds the events of the past three days dominate each step. Silently they contemplate what lays ahead. Jesus is dead, laying on that cold, stone shelf within that craggy hillside. Bearing precious ointment, they come to anoint his body in a feeble attempt to mask the stench of death. Closer each step takes them. Finally, the silence is broken as one of them worries aloud, what has plagued their minds, “Who will roll away the stone?”

Clouded by the crucifixion, concerned about the future, crushed by their loss, they have forgotten that Jesus said, “I will raise this body up on the third day.” They forgot that there would be no need for worry until they caught a glimpse of the open door and the stone rolled aside.

Worry turns to fear and fear turns to fright and fright turns to faith as they enter the sepulcher and there sits an angel with a message for them. “He is not here! He is risen! Go spread the news! GO TELL PETER!!!”

Why Peter specifically? What would be so important that God would have the angel call attention to the fact that Peter needed to hear their report? There are 10 other disciples, but the importunity is upon Peter hearing that Jesus is risen and to go to Galilee to meet Him. Mark chapter 14 helps us find and understand the answers to these questions.

The first reason is that Peter needed to know he had not been forsaken. Jesus has spent much time preparing His disciples for the events that are soon to take place. He explains that He must go to Jerusalem and there He will be persecuted, crucified, and rise again. The words seem out of place. Jesus is riding a wave of popularity. People are thronging to His side to hear Him teach, see His miracles, and find hope. Undoubtedly Peter and the rest of the disciples are hearing this and wondering, “How can these things be?” It seems illogical and goes against all they are witnessing. But somewhere during the discourse the doubt turns to fear as Peter perceives something in the Master’s demeanor. The gravity of Jesus’ voice, the weight of the words, or maybe it was the thickness of the atmosphere. Whatever it was Peter forcefully avows, “I will NEVER be offended by you!” But with in a few short hours the words Jesus spoke telling Peter that before the cock crowed twice he would break that vow and deny his Saviour three times echoed through the chamber of his mind. Ringing with the grim solace of a solitary bell as it tolls it’s grim message across the countryside. “I NEVER KNEW HIM!” Haunting his conscience, tormenting his mind, burdening his soul.

Peter needed to know Jesus still loved him. Peter needed to know Jesus had not broken His vow. Peter needed to know that Jesus was alive. Peter needed to know that to fail did not condemn him to a life of failure. One moment in the present was not going to determine Peter’s future. Peter needed to know that God’s love reaches beyond our failures and into our future. Jesus wanted Peter to know he had not been forsaken or forgotten.

Just like Peter it does not matter how many times we have failed, fallen, or felt forsaken God has never left us. He has never disavowed us, never turned away from us, never closed His heart to us. God is always reaching, ever loving, continually calling to us to put aside the feelings of failure and forsakenness and by faith follow Him.

Mark 14:53-72 shows us the second thing Peter needed to know; that he had been forgiven. The crowd has come to the garden, Judas has kissed the check of his friend, the soldiers have taken Jesus away, and Peter follows from afar. Close enough to see and hear, but far enough to not be connected. It is while he is following from a distance that he gets in with the wrong crowd, warms himself by the wrong fire, and denies the wrong man. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” “I don’t understand what you’re saying,” “I don’t know this man!” Scripture says that Peter left weeping. What anguish and guilt must have swept over him the moment he heard the rooster crow that second time. The agony of his words, words he said he would never utter had now flowed over his tongue, through his lips, and upon his own ears. At that moment, the remembrance of Jesus’ words and his own denial fell fully onto his shoulders. Fleeing from the crowd, trying to find a secluded spot, he weeps with remorse and regret. Those feelings of failure and being forsaken now overshadowed by the thought, “I messed up. I have really done it now. How can Jesus ever forgive me?” Peter was fearing on the wrong side of Calvary. Peter is looking through the lens of the law at a God of judgement, rather than through the prism of faith at a God of mercy and grace.

Never let the devil convince you that you have done too much, gone too far, and are too lost for God to forgive you. “Grace, Grace, God’s grace. Grace that can pardon and cleanse within. Grace, Grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin.” The words of that old song are just as true today as they were when first penned. God’s grace is greater than ALL our sin. Satan is our accuser, not our executioner. What the devil says is not final, God always has the final word. As long as there is breath in our lungs, life in our body, and a beat in our heart, there will be grace. There will be forgiveness!

The third and final thing Peter needed to know was that he had a future. Peter is a broken man. He is looking at what he feels is the worst failure of his life. Certainly, the question, “Where do I go from here?” crossed his mind. He had left everything to follow Jesus. He retreats to the place it all began, the boat, and he starts looking around. All he sees is a pile of broken nets, broken pride, and broken a broken relationship. Peter needed to know his failure was not final. He needed to know he belonged to the Lord. He needed to know that he was not discounted, dismissed, or disqualified. He needed to know that his future was about to change. The Denier at the Fire was about to become the Proclaimer of Pentecost. He who once said, “I don’t know Him,” would now declare, “This is that!”

No one ever fails to the place that God can not look beyond their past and show them their future. It does not matter what you say, what you do, or where you go, God is always faithful. He never forsakes you, He never stops loving you, He never stops leading you. Go tell Peter, come meet me in Galilee.