Luke 24:34. The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!
On Easter Sunday morning Jesus appeared to Simon Peter alone. While the other disciples were gathered together, Peter must have chosen to be by himself. And who can blame him. He had just denied Jesus three times on the night of the crucifixion. Three times people asked Peter if he knew Jesus, and three times Peter lied and said no, I do not know that man.
Peter was one of Jesus’ first disciples. Jesus saw him fishing and said, “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.” And Peter left everything and followed Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, Peter did some pretty amazing things. He walked on water, fed the five thousand, healed the sick, saw the dead raised to life, and he saw Jesus glow with glory on the Mount of Transfiguration.
But Peter also did some pretty foolish things. He sank in the water after walking on it, he tried to send people away at the feeding of the five thousand, he refused to let Jesus wash his feet at the Last Supper, he swore that he would not deny Jesus, he cut off a man’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane after “praying” all night. And then, of course, he denied Jesus three times.
It would only make sense that Jesus would be done with Peter. For sure, Peter will not get his own personal visit from the resurrected Jesus. But he did. And then, a few days later, Jesus will restore Peter with one of the most gracious and loving conversations ever recorded:
John 21:15-19. 15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Three times Peter denied Christ. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loves Jesus. And all three times Peter said, Lord you know that I love you. Jesus isn’t just forgiving Peter here; he is letting Peter know that he still wants to use him. Three times Jesus will tell Peter to feed my sheep.
If you haven’t already, one day you will do something that you will feel very bad about, just like Peter. But never forget that Jesus will always forgive you and always love you. Beyond that, he will always want to use you to love and care for others. That’s what being with Jesus means, you are never just your failures, you are God’s child. His forgiven and faithful child.
You: Have you ever done something that you regret? Do you ever see yourself as a failure?
You with Jesus: How does Jesus’ cross and resurrection allow us to be used by God even when we mess up?
Prayer: Father, I want to “feed your sheep” like Peter did, even though he messed up. I don’t want to feel like a failure. Help me to trust that you will always love me and can always use me. Amen.
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