LESSON SIX – AND PETER

Matt. 28:7—Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has been raised from the dead, and behold, He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.

Mark 16:7—But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see Him, even as He told you.

FALLEN PETER

All of the four Gospels record the story of the Lord’s resurrection. But only the Gospel of Mark has the words and Peter. Since John was the one whom the Lord loved, why does the Bible not say, “And John”? Since Thomas was doubtful about the Lord’s resurrection, so why does it not say, “And Thomas”? The angel did not mention the best disciples or the most needy disciples. He specifically mentioned Peter. Why? What made Peter different from the others?

What kind of person was Peter? Three days before the resurrection, Peter committed a great sin, a sin that would cause the Lord not to confess him before the Father’s angels. Peter not only denied the Lord beforemen, he even denied the Lord before a maid who was despised by others at that time. But the Lord wanted the women to tell the disciples and Peter about His resurrection. The words and Peter have a very deep meaning! If any brother or sister had Peter’s experience, they might think: “Oh! I have fallen. The sin which I have committed is not a common sin. I am afraid that I cannot draw close to the Lord anymore. The Lord might have already forsaken me.…At one time I confessed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. At another time I said to Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.’ But eventually, I fell just as the Lord was about to be crucified. I committed the great sin of denying Him.”

THE LORD SPECIFICALLY MENTIONING PETER— THIS BEING THE GOSPEL

Here was a fallen, sinful Peter, a Peter who had denied the Lord. Yet the Lord specifically mentioned him. This is the gospel! Brothers and sisters, do you know that once the Lord saves you, He saves you eternally? Although you may be discouraged, the Lord will never be discouraged. A sinful person like you may feel shame in turning back to Him, but the One whom you have sinned against considers that there is nothing wrong in returning to Him.…[Peter’s] condition was far below the Lord’s requirements. How could he dare to go see Him? But he went to meet the Lord anyway. He dared to go because of the words and Peter. Brothers and sisters, if you know the Lord’s intention behind the words and Peter, will you still turn away from Him, instead of turning toward Him? If you realize the profound significance of the words and Peter, you have to come near to the Lord.

THE LORD ENABLING US TO RETURN TO HIM

It may be very easy for you not to love Him, draw near to Him, or return to Him; but it is impossible for Him to forget you, forsake you, or not love you.…If you fall, He can make you rise up again. Although it seems that you will not be able to draw near to Him anymore, remember in faith the words and Peter, and you will be able to draw near to Him. When you want to come close to the Lord, but feel that you are very far from Him and have no strength to come near to Him, you need to remember the words and Peter.…The Lord did not desert Peter, and neither has He forsaken you. And Peter means “and you”—“you” who have failed like Peter. May you see the Lord’s heart for you. If you see the Lord’s heart, you will run toward Him. (CWWN, vol. 18, “And Peter,” pp. 251-254)

Reference: CWWN, vol. 18, “And Peter”

LOVED WITH EVERLASTING LOVE

Assurance and Joy of Salvation— Loved by the Lord – 284

• Loved with everlasting love,
  Led by grace that love to know;
  Spirit, breathing from above,
  Thou hast taught me it is so.
  Oh, this full and perfect peace!
  Oh, this transport all divine!
  In a love which cannot cease,
  I am His, and He is mine.

• Heaven above is softer blue,
  Earth around is sweeter green;
  Something lives in every hue
  Christless eyes have never seen:
  Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
  Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
  Since I know, as now I know,
  I am His, and He is mine.

• Things that once were wild alarms
  Cannot now disturb my rest;
  Closed in everlasting arms,
  Pillowed on the loving breast.
  Oh, to lie forever here,
  Doubt and care and self resign,
  While He whispers in my ear,
  I am His, and He is mine.

• His forever, only His:
  Who the Lord and me shall part?
  Ah, with what a rest of bliss
  Christ can fill the loving heart.
  Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
  Firstborn light in gloom decline;
  But, while God and I shall be,
  I am His, and He is mine.