REFLECTION

Peter

"REFLECTIONS" pages are encouragement for you taken directly from Scripture.  We invite you to let these truths sink down deep inside you, and to begin to know, understand and feel Comfort directly from our Father in heaven, designed especially for you and where you are at in life!  Please take time for the Pause, Reflect and Receive at the end of every REFLECTION.

What does Unfailing Love look like?

“Don’t be alarmed”, the angel said.  “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He is risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, he is going ahead of you to Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you.” 

MARK 16:6-7 (NIV)


What an exciting story for Peter, and for you and me!!!  Simon Peter was chosen by Jesus to be the rock upon which he would build his church.  He was to be the leader, the encourager, the decision-maker, the “go-to” person in the movement that would soon be called Christianity.

But he wasn’t a leader that the world recognized.  Instead, he was just a fisherman, not well educated, very unstable and impetuous, speaking first and thinking later. 

And on top of this, he really went totally AWOL on the Thursday evening before Good Friday, denying repeatedly that he even knew Jesus!  Three years of being at the side of Jesus, down the drain, or so it seemed.

Yet Jesus was acquainted with shame and guilt, and how people suffered from it.   Jesus knew that a good dose of shame, when fully believed and made a home within someone’s mind, lead to complete destruction of any sense of having worth and value.

So Jesus wanted the angel at the empty tomb to make sure Peter knew he was specially invited to meet up with Jesus later.  Jesus was about the business of re-instituting worth and value in Peter, and he wanted to tell Peter that the shame of Thursday night was completely gone.  Peter was, and would be, the leader.

…Afterward Jesus again appeared to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberius.  It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel … 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, have you any fish?”  “No,” they answered.

Jesus 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 (John) 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, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  Simon Peter climbed aboard 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.” 

… When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again, Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?”  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

Can’t you almost hear Jesus telling Peter that although he fumbled the ball, Jesus needed Peter back in the lineup, in the middle of the field, leading his team once again?  He alone had the special ability, and the special call, to move the new team forward.  Fumble?  What fumble?

In most of our lives there is plenty of shame and resulting low self-worth to go around, but the message is that Jesus calls us by name, tells us we are special, tells us to forget our fumbles, and encourages us to play an active role in his future plans for us.  Forgetting our past, you and I are still the people he’s counting on!  His love for us is unfailing!

 

At the end of various readings in Comfort.Guide, we will have a "Pause", "Reflect" and "Receive" section.  The purpose of this exercise is to help you better understand and to personally absorb the encouragement Comfort.Guide offers.  If you would like, visit the "HOW TO USE" page for a review of "Pause, Reflect and Receive".


PAUSE … Invite Him to be with you; let Him quiet you with His Love.


REFLECT… What is God saying to you?

Think of Peter’s self-image and feelings about himself after the crucifixion, and again after the Resurrection.  During the conversation between Peter and Jesus, why did Jesus ask Peter three times about his love for Jesus?  Imagine this conversation; Peter either had to retain guilt and shame, or release it and believe the new start Jesus was giving him.
  

RECEIVE …

Peter received the most tender and personal care; but Jesus wasn't finished only with Peter.  He's still wanting to have breakfast with His brothers and sisters.  Pull up a chair and talk!

 
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