It was early in the morning when the women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body with burial spices. They had been wondering how they would remove the huge rock from the mouth of the tomb, but when they arrived, they saw that it had already been rolled away. To their amazement, they then saw an angel who informed them that Jesus had truly risen from the dead. Luke 24:6 records the angel’s announcement, “He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee…”
After this statement, the angel gives them instruction. “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) Notice that this verse specifically states that the women are to seek out Peter and give him this message also.
Recall that after Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. John 18:25 records one of the interactions between Peter and a bystander. “And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.” Imagine the load of guilt Peter carried after rejecting any connection with Jesus. The words of the Saviour echoed in his mind. “And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.” (Mark 14:72) Perhaps the shame of rejecting Christ led Peter to avoid gathering with the other disciples. Perhaps he believed that he was no longer wanted by God, no longer useful to Him, and no longer part of the fellowship of believers.
But nothing could be farther from the truth!
Although Peter had forsaken Jesus, Jesus had not forsaken Peter. Jesus’ love for Peter was not altered by the sin of Peter’s rejection. What a beautiful picture of how God does not reject us because of the sins in our lives. His love for us does not change! However, our sins do cloud our perception of the enormity of God’s love for us, and our experiences with others in the loss of their love and the pain of their rejection attempt to solidify a falsehood that God surely must respond similarly. Again, nothing is farther from the truth.
The Bible tells us that God loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Scripture reiterates again and again the depth of God’s love for us.
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
- “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
- “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
We have the blessed assurance that our relationship with Christ is not circumstantial. Even as a believer, there have been times when I have thought my “after-salvation” sins were too great for God to forgive, for shouldn’t I, as a Christian, resist the temptations of the flesh? This is truly a lie from the pit of hell in Satan’s attempt to instill doubt, fear, and hopelessness into my walk with God.
Truly, guilt can be as a consuming fire, threatening to undermine our faith, but remember two things. The first is that the heart is “… deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) We are not to believe our own undependable thoughts, but instead rely on the absolute truth of God’s Word alone. Second, this passage where Peter is singled out reminds us that he was a man who walked and talked with Jesus on a daily basis, saw the miracles, heard the teachings… even experienced walking on water at one point…, but he faltered in his walk with God also, and still the Lord loved him with an everlasting love. Jesus was ready and able to forgive.
Can you imagine the reconciliatory meeting between Peter and Jesus in Galilee? I like to think they met privately at first. Peter would be experiencing the guilt and shame of his sin, the sorrow of a penitent heart, and then the unspeakable joy of forgiveness from Jesus! That is a picture of how it is for us when we come to Christ for forgiveness of our own sins. In our own private places, we come to Him through prayer with the burdens of our sins, the deep regrets and sorrows of a repentant heart, and when we confess these to Him, we receive that overwhelming joy knowing the Saviour has forgiven us and remembers our sins no more! (Hebrews 10:17)
Sin may be mighty, but it cannot overpower the love of God. Regardless of any sin, whether before or after salvation, God’s love is too strong for it to tear Him away from us. As believers who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus, we are held securely in the palm of God’s hand. In John 10:29, Jesus said, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” No sin and no man, not even ourselves, can remove us from the hand of God. We have that blessed assurance. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)
When we sin, Jesus knows the special work needed to bring about restoration and peace. He deals with us individually, just as He did with Peter… Saul on the road to Damascus… and Mary in the garden… to name just a few. No matter what we’ve done, no matter how bad we think our sin is, no matter how deep our shame… even when a particular sin is repeated over and over again… Jesus still loves us and is ready to forgive. All that is needed is for us to simply trust in His finished work on the cross and ask Him. The Saviour of the world is gracious, merciful, forgiving and loving…ALWAYS!
Thank God for Peter; thank God for Jesus!
Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
(from “Just As I Am” by Charlotte Elliott)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”- 1 John 1:9
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Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Won’t you open it and allow Him to forgive, restore, and heal your broken heart and spirit?