Dr LM Murry
Every Year we celebrate Good Friday. The same story of the arrest, the trial in the Sanhedrin, the crucifixion and burial. Today I want to focus on one person who missed the day. Some of us may also be like him.
Our Lord Jesus Christ sat with His disciples for the last supper. It was the most intimate time for sharing. While they were eating, He took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to the disciples saying, “Take it, this is my body” (Mk.14:22) Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offer it to them and they drank from it. This is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many. (Mk.14:23&24) He then washed the feet of the disciples. And told them ‘ you will all fall away for it is written “I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered As usual, Peter blurted out “Even if all fall away I will not’( Mk.14:22) Jesus told Peter “This very night before the rooster crow, you will disown me three times.
They all went to the garden of Gathsememene to pray. While He was praying Judas came with a large group of men of the Chief Priest with swords and clubs. He was arrested, bound and taken to the Sanhedrin, the High Court of the Jews. Peter mingled with the crowd and followed. While he was warming up over fire at the gate, a slave girl told him “you were also with that Nazarene Jesus.(Mk14:6,7) Peter denied it.. After this, the slave girl told people standing there that ‘this fellow is one of them’ (Mk.14:69) Peter again denied it saying, “I don’t know or understand what you are talking”. A little after, those standing there told “Surely, you are one of them for you are a Galilean” Peter swore and cursed and said, I don’t know this man you are talking about. Immediately the rooster crowed. He remembered what the Lord had told him and broke down. (Mk.14:72) He went out to hide and cry. Put yourself in the place of Peter. Yes, he was sorry but he had no way to go and apologise to his Lord. He imagined, how the Lord looked at him in sadness and disappointment But Peter had no chance either in the Jewish Court or the Roman Court to meet Him and confessed his weakness. Peter thought it was all over. There is no chance for Peter to meet his Lord face to face and ask for forgiveness. There was no way for him to erase his failure. We do not know if he had watched the nail driven in to the hand of Jesus and hanged on the Cross and died!
But, on the third day, when Jesus arose from the grave; the women who went to the grave early in the morning met an angel. The angel told the women, “He is risen, He is not here; but go and tell the disciples and Peter. God remembered Peter personally. God remembers us individually. We may feel insignificant but for God, we are important. In the earlier days, Christ rebuked Peter more than all the others. But He knew Peter inside out. Yes, Peter had human failures like us but he was quick to get up. What is important is to get up quickly when we fall. God remembers every individual. We are all precious to Him. We are individually very important to God. He never forgets us. His grace of redemption is available to every one of us.
Judas went out to commit suicide. Peter went out to cry. Tears are a sign of repentance. It is an opportunity to seek God’s Grace. It is God’s way of sharpening us. He is risen, He is not here, but go and tell His disciples and Peter.Jesus did not forget Peter. This is our message for Good Friday.
