Two words. Not a complete sentence, but just those two words "and Peter" tagged onto the end of the sentence. They speak volumes that must have been a huge comfort to Peter, and provide continuing comfort to each one of us. Why single out Peter for mention? "Go tell the disciples" surely should have been enough. Surely Peter was a disciple and had been one for most of the period of Jesus' public ministry? He was. But did he believe it at that time? Jesus spoke these words to the women who were the first people to seek him alive when he'd been raised from the dead. This was the Sunday, the third day from his crucifixion and, what must have filled Peter with especial grief, this was the fourth day from that dreadful test that he (Peter) went through just outside the High Priest's house.
Bravery
Remember that scene. Peter,
who had spoken bravely in the upper room where they ate the Passover meal, faced a challenge that tested
him to the limit. His bravery (or was it bravado?) held out when the Sanhedrin Guard came to arrest Jesus.
There in the garden, Peter lashed out with a sword, cutting off the ear of one of the arresting party.
At that moment Peter was surrounded by the other disciples, but his boldness remained long enough for him
to follow the crowd right into the courtyard of the building where Jesus was on trial. But, by that time,
Peter stood alone among enemies, and his bravery ran out. He denied all connection with his greatest friend.
Despair
What did Peter feel about that?
We're told that "he broke down and wept" NOTE 2. Try to imagine how that really felt. Peter was a tough character,
used to taking risks to catch fish, quick to commit himself to what he believed in, and fiercely loyal. But
he'd come to the end of himself. The weight of events over those few days drained him dry. He hadn't only l
ost his Master, he'd lost himself. One of his fellow disciples had also failed Jesus that week, but he opted
to kill himself. How close did Peter get to that level of despair? My guess is that he came very close.
For three years he'd been following Jesus. It had become his whole life, and he'd become prominent among
the disciples. But now, after denying his Lord, he probably counted himself out of that group; but Jesus
didn't. Jesus counted him in and got his angel to make that point clear - "go tell his
disciples AND PETER." NOTE 3
Healing
Each of has failed at some time
or other. More likely, we've failed many times. Most of the time we pick ourselves up, admit our failure,
and move on by the grace of God. But sometimes the failure cuts deeper into our conscience and were driven
to the edge of despair (or even over the edge). When we come to that point, let's hear those healing words
- "And... (Insert your own name here)."