Singled Out

S - Mark 16:3-8 (NLT): "On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone--a very large one--had already been rolled aside. So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, "Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!" The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk.[Shorter Ending of Mark]Then they reported all these instructions briefly to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen."

O - Why is Peter singled out twice? There are eleven apostles left and more disciples than that … why just mention Peter? Is it the rock issues of his confession (Matthew 16) or the very public denial issue of the last three days? The Scriptures do not specifically say and it could be both of these along with others that don't and won't cross our minds. However, with the unique and powerful exchange of Jesus with Peter in John 21, I am compelled to think that the denial was certainly a leading reason for God to have the angel mention him specifically and the Scriptures to record the message as delivered to him along with the others. All of the "boys" ran, only Peter and John make it to the High Priest's house. Only Peter is three times directly asked about his association with Jesus and three times he just as directly denies any affiliation whatsoever. Could it be that all of heaven (not just Jesus) wants Peter to know he's still wanted, still "in", still the rock, the friend, disciple and, yes, an apostle of Jesus? Could it be true that Jesus and all of heaven wants us at our worst, not just at our best? Perhaps the importance of this "singling out" is not found in a conclusion about Peter but about ourselves and how we think heaven thinks about us.

A - Wanted not tolerated. Loved because we're loved not because of anything we could, should or ever will do. It may be more than coincidental that Peter will be inspired to observe (1 Peter 1:12): "Even angels long to look into these things." This is true for all people at all times and this is true for me at all times too. The only thing left to do is simply love him back … the very thing I am eager to do.

P - Lord of life, love, all and Lord of me,

Thank you for singling me out for love. Thank you for wanting me at my worst; for loving me so much you would pay more than what it "cost" to get me in your family and kingdom … you would pay what it would cost to keep me in. Let me love you back, have the joy of making you glad and being a reason someone else would believe.

Steve