Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 354

December 20;      Mark 16:7;      44/260;      ‘Jesus Restores Peter’

Mark 16:7 But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."

Peter denied the Lord Jesus three times after saying he would rather die than deny Him.  Peter must have thought his ministry and usefulness to Jesus was over.  How could the Lord forgive him?  Peter sincerely meant that he would die with Jesus rather than deny Him, but when the confrontations came, Peter did exactly what the Lord said he would, deny Jesus.  The women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body.  An angel was there and spoke to the women, telling them to go tell Jesus’ disciples and Peter that Jesus would see them in Galilee.  Jesus specifically mentioned Peter by name.  Jesus wanted to assure Peter that his ministry was not over, it was just beginning.  The love, grace and mercy of the Lord is incredible.  Jesus knows us and knows we sometimes are fearful.  Jesus also knows that if we will stay with the Him, He can and will make something powerful and fearless out of us.  How comforting to know that even when we mess up, the Lord forgives us and will still use us mightily.  Never give up.  Jesus never gives up on us.  Peter, in the upper room was baptized in the Holy Spirit and this time really did become fearless.  The importance of the baptism in the Holy Spirit cannot be overemphasized.  Then his ministry blessed countless people.  The same goes for us.  Forget your past, spend time getting to know the Lord through the Word, prayer and a good church.  You can, just like Peter, go on to do mighty things.  It is not how you start, it is how you make necessary adjustments and finish strong.  This world needs who Peter became and you can be.