Sadly, too many Christians have a theology that believes that God is just sitting around watching their life and looking for the aha moment where he catches them doing something wrong, that proves how unholy they are, so that he can disqualify them from experiencing, and manifesting the fullness of Christ but is our inheritance and our calling. When I think about the resurrection of Jesus I think about this enormous cosmic event that changed human history. In the crucifixion of Christ the entire old order was put to death and in the resurrection a whole new order and humanity was birthed. Those are enormous statements that are so big and so historical that it is hard to wrap our heads around it.
Watchman Nee said, “The greatest negative in the universe is the Cross, for with it God wiped out everything that was not of himself: the greatest positive in the universe is the resurrection, for through it God brought into being all.”
Having reminded ourselves of the sheer spiritual and historical enormity of the resurrection of Jesus, it blows my mind that he spent so much time immediately after His resurrection appearing to his followers to encourage them in their walk with Him, in light of the trauma they had just experienced because of his crucifixion, and the confusion and fears they were battling with.
Peter was the leader of all the disciples and just like Jesus had told him at the Last Supper, Peter, three times denied even knowing Jesus, as Jesus was being led out of the court to his suffering and crucifixion. When Jesus told Peter that he would deny him 3 times, Jesus told him that He would pray that his faith would not fail, and that once he was restored he was to strengthen his brethren.
Jesus was radically committed to Peter, to make sure that his faith didn’t fail. By the way, Peter is not some super deluxe model compared to us, for Jesus is just as committed to us that when we blow it and we are full of guilt and shame and fear, that our faith won’t fail. When Jesus told Peter the night before his crucifixion that after his failure he would strengthen his brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus was affirming to Peter that even though he was going to royally, and famously blow it, Peter was still going to be qualified to minister to others, and in some strange mystical way be even more qualified.
Let’s look at a few things Jesus did immediately after his resurrection to encourage Peter. When the small group of women came to the tomb and encountered the Angels, they were told to tell the disciples and particularly Peter that Jesus was risen.
Mark 16:6-7 NASB
And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. [7] But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” Why did the angels point out Peter particularly to be told? Obviously because Jesus wanted Peter to know, that he had not ruined everything, and that all was not lost.
According to Luke 24 Jesus appeared at some point during the first day of the resurrection to Peter personally. Luke 24:33-35 ,And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, [34] saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” [35] They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread..
We have no record of that conversation with Peter, but it is significant to note that Peter was the only disciple that Jesus appeared to individually. Jesus did appear to Mary Magdalene personally, but Peter was the only apostle. Why Peter? Because his need was so great; his heart was so burdened with guilt and shame and fear. Peter and John had been the first two of the apostles to see the empty tomb, and John went away believing, but I wonder what Peter’s thoughts were as he walked away from the empty tomb. I believe in that first encounter, Jesus reminded Peter to not let his faith fail, and told Peter how much He loved him, and that of course he was forgiven, Peter never talked about that conversation, and neither did Jesus, but I think all of us have had that conversation with Jesus from time to time. Those ones, when we were at our lowest points, not sure if Jesus ever wanted anything to do with us again, that nobody knows about but us and Jesus. I believe in that conversation Jesus also reminded Peter that the calling on him to strengthen his brothers had not changed.
If all this is true, what about the encounter in John 21 when there was a reenactment of the catching of fish that had occurred 3 ½ years earlier when Peter was called to be a fisher of men. I believe that Jesus created that scene so that the other disciples who were there could see and hear Jesus affirm Peter’s calling. On that first day of the resurrection I believe that Jesus deeply affirmed to Peter how much Jesus loved him and valued him, but on that day at the lake when Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him, I believe that Jesus wanted Peter to know how much Jesus believed that Peter loved Him.
The greatest victory in all of history was not spent by the Victor celebrating His extraordinary triumph of making all things new; instead the victorious risen Christ, whom we love, spent his time encouraging the disciples, and followers, who were fearful, and full of doubts. These imperfect ones are those that Jesus had called to go forth into all the world and bear witness of His resurrection.
Aren’t you grateful that in our most fearful moments, that can be full of doubts, guilt and shame, that the risen Christ is there to affirm you, to love you, and to without any shame in His heart toward you remind you that you were chosen specifically to bear His name into all the world.