AND PETER

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him as He told you.’ (Mark 15: 5-7)

Now why would Jesus single Peter out for a special message? Wasn’t he one of the Twelve, even their self-appointed leader? Peter had the biggest mouth and was always the first to speak or act. He was not only one of the Twelve but also the first of the Three; Peter, James and John, the three men who were closest to Jesus. If anyone had anything to say, it was Peter. If anyone was first to react, it was Peter. Who wanted to walk on water with Jesus? Peter! Who was quickest with the sword to defend Jesus? Peter!

Peter was up front alright when it came to being noticed. So why Peter?

I think the answer is obvious. Peter was not only ahead when it came to responding to Jesus. He was also right out front when it came to disowning Him. He has pushed his way into the courtyard of the high priest’s house, mingling among the “enemy” in the hopes that he would not be noticed, but his Galilean accent gave him away. And the serving maid had pounced on him. In that split second, did Peter think that she had any influence to get him arrested along with Jesus? Why did that bother him? It was not he but Jesus they were after.

A downfall happens in an unguarded moment. Peter didn’t have time to think. He blurted out his denial before his brain caught up with his mouth, and it was too late to take it back. The next time he faced the same accusation, he had to carry on the deception. It was not planned; it just happened. Wasn’t that exactly what Jesus had warned them all about? He knew what Peter would do, but what about the rest? Was he the only guilty one?

When it was time to prepare themselves for the unexpected, they slept. It was a lesson they had to learn through hard experience. They did not know what was coming but Jesus had warned them of impending trouble. It was not about the details of the circumstances but about having a watchful attitude that they completely missed.

How did Jesus handle their failure, and especially Peter’s, seeing he was their leader? Did He write them off as hopeless? That would have been a disaster because He had invested three years in them, grooming them to take over where He left off, and there was no one else to whom He would entrust His message; even more important, His very own presence in them. Apart from Him they could do nothing.

Jesus was neither disappointed in them nor disillusioned with them because of their failure. He knew that it was part of their journey and far more important than any successes along the way. They had to know that He had not written them off. ‘Tell my disciples and Peter . . .’ Jesus did not miss a beat. Love doesn’t give up. He knew that it was not their love that had failed Him but their flesh. Their intentions towards Him were settled. Unlike Judas who had abandoned Him in his heart long before his dastardly action, the disciples loved Him.

He saw Peter’s bitter tears. How He must have longed to comfort Peter in those terrible moments when remorse hit him like a tidal wave! God’s like that! No angry accusations. No harsh judgment. Just mercy and compassion for a fallen son! No matter how Peter felt, he could not take back his hasty words. And he could not get near to Jesus.

‘Go and tell His disciples . . . and Peter.’ And Peter? Packed into those two words are all the scandalous mercy of a forgiving God. Can you feel the compassion of the Master’s heart towards His fallen companion? Unlike us, unlike the gods we have created in our own image, the heart of Jesus was for him. Yes, he did wrong; yes, he sinned grievously; yes, he lied and deceived to save his own skin, but Jesus was not offended. He thought only of the pain in Peter’s heart for the severing of fellowship in that moment.

Peter’s tears were the visible evidence of a broken heart; not broken as shattered but broken as submissive – like a young horse that submits to a saddle and rider after a great struggle. Peter knew, in that bitter moment that Jesus was right and he was wrong. It was not his worst failure but his first victory. A ‘broken’ Peter would finally submit, knowing that all his blustering protests of self-control were but a vapour.

‘And Peter’ was Jesus’ declaration of confidence that Peter had finally ‘got it’. Teaching him didn’t do it; warning him didn’t do it; he had to feel and know the pain of failure before the lesson was firmly embedded in his spirit. ‘And Peter’ was His call to leave his pain and bitter remorse and step back onto the path of trust and obedience, a humbler and wiser man. No, Peter’s failure did not disqualify him. On the contrary, it eminently qualified him to be a true disciple of Jesus.

Nothing teaches a disciple better than the exposure of failure. Failure brings him right down to earth with a bump. It reveals not only who he is but also who He is, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. (Ex 34:6)

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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