December 21

Go and Tell Peter

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.’” — Mark 16:7 BSB

Why “and Peter”? Why was Peter specifically named, while the other disciples were not? Was it because Peter had been the most loyal and faithful of Jesus’ friends? Certainly not. We remember how Peter had failed, how his last words to Jesus before the crucifixion were words of denial. Peter had acted worse than any of the other disciples.

So why did Jesus send this special message to Peter? Precisely because he had sinned. That final look from the Savior broke Peter’s heart, and he went out into the night, weeping bitterly in repentance. Since Jesus’ death, Peter’s sorrow must have been almost unbearable—not only mourning the loss of his beloved Lord but also tormented by his shameful denial. His grief must have been deepened by the thought that he could never ask for forgiveness. How he must have longed to have Jesus back, even for just a moment, so he could confess his sin and ask for pardon.

Jesus left this special word for Peter with the angel because He knew the depth of Peter’s sorrow. When Peter heard that Jesus had risen, he might have thought, “Perhaps He won’t accept me anymore.” So Jesus sent a personal message, calling Peter by name, to let him know that he was forgiven and wouldn’t be cast aside. What comfort there is in this “and Peter” for anyone who has sinned and is repentant! Those who have fallen are the ones who receive the deepest, most tender compassion from Jesus, because they need it most. The gospel always has a special word for the penitent; Jesus still comes to call the sinner.