He Is Risen

Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. "

The Teenager walks by pauses to listen and states, "Now that is beautiful."

I agree. It's one of my favorite songs written by Annie Herring in 1971.

This is also one of my favorite passages because of this: "But go, tell his disciples and Peter"

...and Peter...

Why did he specifically mention Peter? After all wasn't he also a disciple?

Could it have been that Peter had just denied Christ 3 times and was despondent because of his own weakness and act of betrayal? How could he have denied his dearest friend and teacher at his friends most horrific hour?

“And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”

Bitter weeping. We've all been there. Some of us are there now.

Sometimes we forget about grace. Sometimes we forget about mercy. Sometimes we forget about the purity of Godly love directed towards us. Sometimes we need a special invitation to remind us.

Like Peter did.

Let the miracle of Easter Sunday remind us of these truths and quicken our hearts with joy.

Happy Easter dear friends!