Running to the Tomb - Part 2

If you missed Part 1, read it here.

Peter was despondent. Why hadn't he listened? What was it Jesus had just said to him in the Garden?

And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter,
“So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:40-41

Weak indeed. I am reminded of my own weaknesses every day. And when I become overconfident of my allegiances, ignore the warnings of the Lord, choose sleep over prayer? Watch out! I could have just as easily been the one who spoke words of denial. And in a manner of speaking, I have. The question is not, "Would I? Did I?" rather, "What do I do afterward?"

I want to run to Jesus. I love that Peter burst into the empty grave and went home marveling at what he saw (or didn't see) there. I love even more what Jesus did. Certainly, Jesus had extended the greatest grace on the cross, when He took all of Peter's sin, all of mine, all of yours, and covered them with His precious, sinless blood. Completely. 

 In His actions after His resurrection, Jesus reminds us His pursuit isn't just global, it's personal. After He abandoned the tomb, He went out of His way to assure Peter of His love, His forgiveness, and His purpose. The account in Mark (16:7) of the angel reassuring the women, who were first to discover Jesus gone, specifically mentions Peter:

But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.
There you will see him, just as he told you.” 

In Luke 24:34, the two men who were met and taught by Jesus on the road to Emmaus (wish I could have been there!), reported, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" I am convinced there were some special tears and murmurings between Peter and his Master. 

In John 21, Peter literally threw himself into the sea to get to Jesus, who had stopped by the beach and directed a hefty school of fish into the disciples' nets. There, we also read of Jesus giving Peter the privilege to proclaim his love for his Lord three times.

As has always been true, the power in a believer's life is not in the human ability to withstand temptation. The power is in REDEMPTION. We were all objects of wrath (Eph 2:3). I'm so thankful Peter's story didn't end with his denials. Thanks be to God, in Christ, our failures are never too many or too much. 

 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 Ephesians 3:14-21

 

Running to the Tomb - Part 1

Name that Disciple. Given a list of character traits or tendencies, Peter is easily the most identifiable of the twelve disciples. First out of the boat? Peter. First to speak his mind or slice off an ear? Peter. And  first to burst into the tomb that Resurrection Day? Peter. Of course, we reason; he was the impulsive one.

A few Easters ago, as I read that familiar part of the story, Peter's persistence struck a different chord. Could it be Peter wasn't just reacting in his typical spontaneous way? Could it be he was compelled to run? Could it be he had been thinking so much over the preceding days that he couldn't help but race into the reportedly empty tomb?

Back up to another well-known story: Peter's denial. Anyone who has attended Sunday School in late March or early April knows of Peter's dramatic foible. Though he had been overconfident of both his willingness to proclaim Jesus as the Christ and his determination to go to the grave ahead of Him, Peter was tripped up by a servant girl and a few others. Before he knew it, he had denied his Master. Three times. Immediate regret followed, evidenced by bitter tears and weeping.

Can you imagine? How heavy his weight, his guilt. If ever Peter had wanted to scream, "Do-over!" this would've been it. Surely, the sorrowful look on Jesus' face and the noxious rooster's crow were seared into his conscience. Sleep must have eluded him as he repeatedly beat himself up. I doubt he thought of much else. Christ was going to the cross, and Peter was crushed by the weight of it all.

Maybe someone tried to comfort him, "Hey, man. You didn't really mean it. We were all under a lot of stress. Jesus would understand." If so, the words probably bounced right off. Peter did remember Jesus' foretelling. Jesus had known, and he had arrogantly brushed Him off. I wonder if, in his despair, Peter recalled what Jesus had promised right before He predicted the triple denial: 

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus' prediction was loaded with permission, power, and promise. Satan was required to ask permission. Jesus had prayed for Peter's response. He knew that in Peter's free will, the choice to deny would be made. Certainly, He understood how words Peter's words would sting. He anticipated Satan would be there to rub salt in the wounds in every possible way. Yet, Jesus granted the permission, and He prayed. 

Part 2: http://themarymoment.blogspot.com/2012/04/running-to-tomb-part-2.html