Getting More Than We Deserve
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, today’s Scripture reminds us that Jesus gave the angel a special message for Peter, announcing him by name in the instructions he gave to the women. I thank You for the truth contained in that special message—forgiveness is available to all, even those who deny Jesus, as Peter did on the night before He was crucified, and as I do so often in my life, by what I say and do, and by what I fail to say and do. I do ask for Your forgiveness for all the times in my life when I fail to stand up for Jesus; when opportunities come to carry out an act of kindness or speak a word of encouragement and I miss those opportunities. I ask Your forgiveness for saying things that hurt others, or which are simply not kind and necessary. I pray that You will fill me anew with Your Holy Spirit that I may bring You the glory and honor You deserve in my life today, and that I may have the courage to step out in faith in every opportunity You give me to bear testimony to Jesus’ Lordship and salvation in my life. These things I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today – Mark 16:1-18
1The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus’ body. 2Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb. 3On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. 4But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone—a very large one—had already been rolled aside. 5So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, 6but the angel said, “Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!” 8The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk.
Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.
9It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping. 11But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.
12Afterward he appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn’t recognize him at first because he had changed his appearance. 13When they realized who he was, they rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.
14Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief—their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. 16Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. 18They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
Why do you suppose that the angel singled Peter out by name in giving the instructions to the women? If God were to send you a message via an angel right now, what do you think it would be?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
List the specific information in the angel’s message to the women:
Why do you suppose the women were so frightened, given that they had just received such tremendously good news?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
What does the angel’s message for Peter and the other disciples tell us about God’s purpose for us?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Peter had denied Jesus three times on the night of Jesus’ arrest. Jesus had predicted this would happen. Now, the angel singled Peter out for inclusion in the message of Jesus’ resurrection. What do you think is the significance, if any, of this singling out of Peter? Take some time right now and consider a time or times when you have denied Jesus, or turned from His ways. If Jesus were to give you a particular message right now what would it be regarding those particular situations. Take some additional time and reflect on that question, which we raised earlier in our reflections on God’s word.
Thoughts—Including Peter
On the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter had boldly sliced off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. He had “led the charge” of support on Jesus’ behalf. Jesus had rebuked Peter and actually restored the ear of the servant. Jesus knew that His “hour” had come. It was time to give His live in exchange for the sins of the world. Jesus also knew that Peter would face a difficult night, and that in the end Peter would deny three times ever having known Jesus. At that one moment of all moments when Jesus needed a supporter, Peter would turn away. We all know the account, how Peter followed Jesus at a distance as He was taken to the chambers of the High Priest and put through the mockery of a trial. Peter waited outside, warming himself by a fire. Those present started noticing that Peter was one of Jesus’ followers. A servant girl mentioned it. Peter denied it. Then another. Peter denied it. Then another. Peter denied it. In the distance a rooster crowed. Jesus had said, “This night before the rooster crows, you will deny three times ever having known me.” Peter remembered the prediction, ran out and “wept bitterly.” To make matters worse Peter watched as Jesus was beaten and crucified. Perhaps he followed at a distance to see where Jesus was buried. Then Peter and the other disciples had locked themselves in a house, fearing for their own lives. What must it have been like for Peter in those hours between Good Friday evening, and Easter morning when the women came shouting that Jesus was alive? A bigger question: what must it have been like for Peter to hear that Jesus was alive, knowing that he had denied ever knowing Jesus. What would Jesus do? Peter deserved punishment. Perhaps Peter deserved to be cast out from the group. But the first words of hope came from the women themselves—the angel had said, “Tell the disciples INCLUDING Peter.” Jesus wasn’t about to reject Peter—the “rock,” the one on which the church would be built. Jesus’ came not to reject but to restore relationships—INCLUDING Peter, and including US!!! The wondrous news of Easter is that no matter how far we feel from God, God wants us to know and love Him. Peter offers us great hope, because Jesus gave Him—and will give us—far more than we deserve!