#mark 16:7

[walkswithmyfather]

“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.” —Mark 16:7

“When You Messed Up (Praying Through Failure)” By Elevation Church:

“When we first see Peter in the gospels, he is overzealous and filled with fire. Always quick to speak and tell Jesus what he would never do. But after his denial and betrayal on Good Friday, Peter’s fire was replaced with fear and his charisma was replaced with shame.

When faced with his failure, Peter abandoned his calling and went back to what was familiar — fishing. But Peter couldn’t even catch a break there. He fished all night and caught nothing.

That is, until Jesus showed up on the shore. In one of the most beautiful full-circle moments in the Bible, Jesus meets Peter in his frustration and tells him to cast his nets again — just like He had told him to do three years before (Luke 5:1-11). It wasn’t until Peter caught a load of fish too big to carry that he realized the man on the shore was Jesus.

Once Peter recognized Him, he immediately swam to shore, where he found Jesus standing by a charcoal fire. The four gospels mention a charcoal fire like this only one other time — when Peter denied knowing the Lord on the night of His arrest. As the smoke from the fire filled Peter’s nose, shame and guilt must have filled him as the memories came rushing back to him.

But Jesus didn’t build that fire to punish Peter. He wanted to set Peter free — to give him a new memory. No longer would the smell of smoke remind Peter of the time he blew it, but instead that memory would be replaced with how Jesus’ grace covered it all. Jesus brought him back to the point of his greatest failure so he could experience the deepest grace.

On the other side of Peter’s failure was an assignment, which is why God singled him out by name to the women at the tomb — He wanted Peter to know in spite of his denial, He had not deserted him.

God never changed His mind about Peter, and He won’t change His mind about you either.

Your story doesn’t end in failure. God has grace for you today and an assignment for you tomorrow. Jesus didn’t conquer sin just so you could go to heaven one day — He wants you to experience freedom, hope, and grace today. Your shame has been buried. New life begins now. Resurrection power is here.

Father, I praise You because of the new beginning You continually offer me. May the failures I’ve experienced be the starting point of Your grace. Today, I trade my frustration for surrender and I ask You to open my eyes to the assignment You’ve prepared for me. When lies whisper to me, remind me of Your truth — because You conquered death and sin, I don’t have to live in shame! What a gift. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

[Welcome Resurrection Devotional Day 6 of 7: https://bible.com/reading-plans/30678/day/6?segment=0]

“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.” —Mark 16:7

“When You Messed Up (Praying Through Failure)” By Elevation Church:

“When we first see Peter in the gospels, he is overzealous and filled with fire. Always quick to speak and tell Jesus what he would never do. But after his denial and betrayal on Good Friday, Peter’s fire was replaced with fear and his charisma was replaced with shame.

When faced with his failure, Peter abandoned his calling and went back to what was familiar — fishing. But Peter couldn’t even catch a break there. He fished all night and caught nothing.

That is, until Jesus showed up on the shore. In one of the most beautiful full-circle moments in the Bible, Jesus meets Peter in his frustration and tells him to cast his nets again — just like He had told him to do three years before (Luke 5:1-11). It wasn’t until Peter caught a load of fish too big to carry that he realized the man on the shore was Jesus.

Once Peter recognized Him, he immediately swam to shore, where he found Jesus standing by a charcoal fire. The four gospels mention a charcoal fire like this only one other time — when Peter denied knowing the Lord on the night of His arrest. As the smoke from the fire filled Peter’s nose, shame and guilt must have filled him as the memories came rushing back to him.

But Jesus didn’t build that fire to punish Peter. He wanted to set Peter free — to give him a new memory. No longer would the smell of smoke remind Peter of the time he blew it, but instead that memory would be replaced with how Jesus’ grace covered it all. Jesus brought him back to the point of his greatest failure so he could experience the deepest grace.

On the other side of Peter’s failure was an assignment, which is why God singled him out by name to the women at the tomb — He wanted Peter to know in spite of his denial, He had not deserted him.

God never changed His mind about Peter, and He won’t change His mind about you either.

Your story doesn’t end in failure. God has grace for you today and an assignment for you tomorrow. Jesus didn’t conquer sin just so you could go to heaven one day — He wants you to experience freedom, hope, and grace today. Your shame has been buried. New life begins now. Resurrection power is here.

Father, I praise You because of the new beginning You continually offer me. May the failures I’ve experienced be the starting point of Your grace. Today, I trade my frustration for surrender and I ask You to open my eyes to the assignment You’ve prepared for me. When lies whisper to me, remind me of Your truth — because You conquered death and sin, I don’t have to live in shame! What a gift. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

[Welcome Resurrection Devotional Day 6 of 7]

“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” —John 21:1‭-‬19 (NIV)

[quotesfromscripture]

'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." ' Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

- Mark 16:7-8 NIV (2011)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The News of Christ's Resurrection Sent to Peter

by Charles Bradley

"But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee." - Mark 16:7

Who was Peter that he should be thus singled out from among the disciples? By what was he distinguished from the other ten that he should be thus honored? We know that at the period when he received this message he was distinguished from them by a preeminence -- a preeminence not in merit but in guilt. Just two days before, he had denied his Master when his Master was about to die for him. "All the disciples forsook him and fled," but Peter went further and added the guilt of falsehood, curses, and oaths to the baseness of desertion. His sin was of the first magnitude, of a crimson dye. It had too this peculiar aggravation, that it brought a scandal on the church when the church seemed least able to bear it. The Shepherd was smitten, the sheep were scattered; and this was the season in which Peter dishonored his Lord and denied his connection with his persecuted followers.

This then was the man to whom the risen Jesus specially directed his angel to send this joyful message. Had the faithful John, who adhered to him in his sufferings and stood by his cross, been thus singled out, it might have excited no surprise. But for Peter -- the treacherous Peter -- to be thus honored seems indeed mysterious. Who can fathom the depth of the Savior's love? Who can measure his unbounded grace?

Was Peter singled out then on account of his peculiar guilt? God forbid. Never let us attempt to magnify the grace of God by making that abominable thing which he hates a recommendation for his favor. It is true that he is ready to pardon the greatest, the vilest sinner who really seeks his pardon. It is true that he has sometimes shown the riches of his grace by making a heinous sinner a holy saint. But are we therefore to "sin that grace may abound?" Does the greatness of the sinner's guilt plead with the greatness of divine mercy? Never. Sin may draw down vengeance from heaven on a transgressor's head, but never has it drawn down mercy and grace.

Why then, it may again be asked, was Peter thus distinguished and honored? We have hitherto taken only a partial view of his conduct. Let us more closely examine it.

Peter was not only a great and scandalous sinner, he was also a penitent, mourning sinner. Scarcely had he denied Jesus in the hall of Pilate when a look of love and pity from his injured Master melted his heart and filled him with the deepest sorrow. We do not see him trifling with sin, making light of his transgression, and attempting to excuse or palliate it. We do not find him comforting himself with the thought that he was a disciple of Christ and therefore might sin without fear; and, that though a heinous transgressor, he was a child of God and could not be finally cast away.

Rather, we see in Peter nothing but self-loathing and contrition, sorrow and tears. St. Matthew says that "he went out and wept bitterly." And Clement, an ancient Christian writer, relates that throughout all his future days, every morning when he heard the cock crow, Peter fell down on his knees, and with tears streaming from his eyes he supplicated pardon for his dreadful sin. Here, then, we see that it was not the guilty Peter who was thus honored; it was the sorrowful, contrite Peter. It was not his cursing and oaths which brought this mercy to him, but his penitence and tears.

There is no comfort, then, in this scripture for the careless, hardened sinner; no comfort for the self-righteous sinner; no comfort for the man who, in the midst of his iniquity, feels no self-abhorrence, no deep contrition for his guilt. There is no comfort for such characters as these.

But there is the sweetest comfort for the broken-hearted transgressor. And if there be such a sinner here, may the Holy Spirit enable him to derive peace and hope from this instance of his Savior's love! May he "draw water with joy" out of this well of consolation!

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Always First in Fellowship

by Charles Spurgeon

"He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you." - Mark 16:7

Where He appointed to meet His disciples, there He would be in due time. Jesus keeps His trust. If He promises to meet us at the mercy seat, or in public worship, or in the ordinances, we may depend upon it that He will be there. We may wickedly stay away from the appointed meeting place, but He never does. He says, "Where two or three are met together in my name, there am I"; He says not, "There will I be," but, "I am there already."

Jesus is always first in fellowship: "He goeth before you." His heart is with His people, His delight is in them, He is never slow to meet them. In all fellowship He goeth before us.

But He reveals Himself to those who come after Him: "There shall ye see him." Joyful sight! We care not to see the greatest of mere men, but to see Him is to be filled with joy and peace. And we shall see Him, for He promises Himself to them. Rest assured that it will be so, for He does everything according to His word of promise: "As he said unto you." Catch at those last words, and be assured that to the end He will do for you "as he said unto you."

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The News of Christ's Resurrection Sent to Peter

by Charles Bradley

"But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee." - Mark 16:7

Who was Peter that he should be thus singled out from among the disciples? By what was he distinguished from the other ten that he should be thus honored? We know that at the period when he received this message he was distinguished from them by a preeminence -- a preeminence not in merit but in guilt. Just two days before, he had denied his Master when his Master was about to die for him. "All the disciples forsook him and fled," but Peter went further and added the guilt of falsehood, curses, and oaths to the baseness of desertion. His sin was of the first magnitude, of a crimson dye. It had too this peculiar aggravation, that it brought a scandal on the church when the church seemed least able to bear it. The Shepherd was smitten, the sheep were scattered; and this was the season in which Peter dishonored his Lord and denied his connection with his persecuted followers.

This then was the man to whom the risen Jesus specially directed his angel to send this joyful message. Had the faithful John, who adhered to him in his sufferings and stood by his cross, been thus singled out, it might have excited no surprise. But for Peter -- the treacherous Peter -- to be thus honored seems indeed mysterious. Who can fathom the depth of the Savior's love? Who can measure his unbounded grace?

Was Peter singled out then on account of his peculiar guilt? God forbid. Never let us attempt to magnify the grace of God by making that abominable thing which he hates a recommendation for his favor. It is true that he is ready to pardon the greatest, the vilest sinner who really seeks his pardon. It is true that he has sometimes shown the riches of his grace by making a heinous sinner a holy saint. But are we therefore to "sin that grace may abound?" Does the greatness of the sinner's guilt plead with the greatness of divine mercy? Never. Sin may draw down vengeance from heaven on a transgressor's head, but never has it drawn down mercy and grace.

Why then, it may again be asked, was Peter thus distinguished and honored? We have hitherto taken only a partial view of his conduct. Let us more closely examine it.

Peter was not only a great and scandalous sinner, he was also a penitent, mourning sinner. Scarcely had he denied Jesus in the hall of Pilate when a look of love and pity from his injured Master melted his heart and filled him with the deepest sorrow. We do not see him trifling with sin, making light of his transgression, and attempting to excuse or palliate it. We do not find him comforting himself with the thought that he was a disciple of Christ and therefore might sin without fear; and, that though a heinous transgressor, he was a child of God and could not be finally cast away.

Rather, we see in Peter nothing but self-loathing and contrition, sorrow and tears. St. Matthew says that "he went out and wept bitterly." And Clement, an ancient Christian writer, relates that throughout all his future days, every morning when he heard the cock crow, Peter fell down on his knees, and with tears streaming from his eyes he supplicated pardon for his dreadful sin. Here, then, we see that it was not the guilty Peter who was thus honored; it was the sorrowful, contrite Peter. It was not his cursing and oaths which brought this mercy to him, but his penitence and tears.

There is no comfort, then, in this scripture for the careless, hardened sinner; no comfort for the self-righteous sinner; no comfort for the man who, in the midst of his iniquity, feels no self-abhorrence, no deep contrition for his guilt. There is no comfort for such characters as these.

But there is the sweetest comfort for the broken-hearted transgressor. And if there be such a sinner here, may the Holy Spirit enable him to derive peace and hope from this instance of his Savior's love! May he "draw water with joy" out of this well of consolation!