Restoration
Earlier on the night when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He had to tell Peter that he too would betray Him.
Jesus then told Peter ‘But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail’ (Luke 22:32). Peter’s denial was not the end of his walk with God. God’s restoring grace would always be there. ‘…when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers’ (v.32).
Peter couldn’t just pretend the denial never occurred. He had to face it and turn from it. Repentance is central to our ongoing walk with God. Without repentance we become entrenched in our sin and can never move on.
In Mark’s account of the resurrection, an angel tells the three women who have come to anoint Jesus’ body ‘But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee’ (Mark 16:7). Notice that Peter is singled out by name ‘and Peter.’
It has been suggested Peter’s denial denied him the right to be included as a disciple and so his name is separated from ‘his disciples.’ While this is possible, it seems far more likely that Jesus wanted Peter to know that his denial did not cut him off, and so there could be no question, he is mentioned by name specifically.
Never underestimate the power of grace to find and restore you. Never give up on yourself or others. Grace by nature never gives up, so we can’t either.
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