The book of
Mark is the shortest and possibly the oldest of the gospel records. In fact, most of what Mark records can be
found in Matthew, Luke or John. However,
Mark does include a few unique details and phrases. One of the most beautiful of which can be
found in his account of the resurrection.
On that
Sunday morning, when the women reached Jesus’ empty tomb, they met a young man
dressed in a white robe (presumably an angel) and he said, “Don’t be
alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the
Nazarene, who was crucified. He has
risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him”.
Then comes one of the nicest, two
word phrases in all of scripture: “But go, tell his disciples AND PETER” (Mark
16:6-7).
You may
remember that Peter’s failure had been the most obvious and the most blatant.
Sure, everyone else deserted Jesus at the cross, but it was Peter who denied
even knowing him – three times! Worse
than that, Jesus told Peter ahead of time that this was going to happen to
which Peter vowed, “Even if all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29)… but he
did.
Maybe that
is why God’s messenger makes it clear that Peter is to be told the good news of
the resurrection personally. Maybe God
wanted to make sure that Peter knew that his failure had not disqualified him from
the kingdom.
I like that
little phrase, “and Peter”, because it reminds me that I serve a gracious and
compassionate God. God certainly demands
that I live a life worthy of the calling I have received (Ephesians 4:1),
but he also provides his grace for the times that I don’t.
From this
point on, Peter is a different man. He
goes from fearful to bold and from denying to proclaiming. He preaches the first gospel sermon (Acts 2)
and he is the leader in the early church.
Now, I do
not know what you have been through in your life, or what you think you have
failed at or could have done better. I
do know this though; you have not disqualified yourself from the kingdom of God
or from God’s love. Like the Prodigal
Son we can all come back. We can turn
around. We can repent and start again.
Who knows? Maybe God has great plans for you too.
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