Peter’s journey is our journey. Hours after claiming that he would stay with Jesus and die with him, Peter denies even knowing him – repeatedly. Fear overtakes Peter, and panic pushes dreadful words out of his mouth. Imagine his torment on Friday and Saturday as failure, despair, and regret crush him. Jesus is dead, and Judas wasn’t the only one who had betrayed Him!
We don’t know when it happened. We aren’t allowed to see the encounter, but we are told that on the very day of His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Peter, specifically (Luke 24:34)! Jesus sought him out! Surely he knew Peter’s desperate need to see him. Surely he knew that his friend was crushed and broken under his own failure. And Jesus gave him the greatest gift—the opportunity to confess, and to receive His love and forgiveness.
Imagine Peter’s joy! Jesus forgave his greatest failure and gave him new life that day! Jesus still loved him! He still loves me. He still loves you. He gives each of us this same gift, forgiving our greatest failures and giving us His new life.
“But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy. We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Happy Resurrection Day!