Note: Easter Day was a relatively good day for Susan. Her brother came to town for the afternoon; his visits truly made her smile. She even ate a small breakfast that morning and the weather was beautiful. Though it was a good day, it was surrounded by very challenging days. Susan would die within a few weeks of Easter. Though it was hard to predict her eventual timing, it was increasingly obvious to us that the end was near. I couldn’t help think about Peter’s despair when Jesus was crucified. So much hope that was seemingly erased on a horrific Friday afternoon. And what joy to later be reunited with his resurrected Lord. In our own despair, Susan and I often prayed for the strength to cling to God’s promises. I read the below message to her on Easter morning to both acknowledge our real angst and to pray for strengthened faith. (Tom Fitzgibbon)
And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” (Mark 16:6-7 ESV)
In the above passage, Peter is specifically named which indicates that Peter is forgiven, despite his Thursday night denial of Jesus. And this forgiveness is illustrated at the end of John’s gospel when the resurrected Jesus invites Peter to breakfast on the shore of the sea. Thus, we know the good ending to the story. But we should not overlook the heartbreak and despair that Peter must have felt when Jesus was crucified.
Earlier, Peter had correctly identified Jesus as “the Christ”. Peter knew that there was no one else to rely on – “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69). So, imagine Peter’s despair and guilt when Jesus was then crucified. At that point, everything seemed hopeless; Peter was devasted, confused and angry. I suspect he felt like a fool for having given up his life & career to follow this Jesus and then watch him be humiliated & killed.
My Susan, right now we are struggling with those same desperate feelings. Everything that we have cherished in this world seems to be fading away. But, we must cling to those wonderful words at the empty tomb, “…go, tell his disciples and Peter…”. I pray that God’s Spirit continues to speak those words (“…go, tell his disciples and Susan and Tom…”) into our hearts each and every day.
God willing, let us always remember that we already know the end of the story and it is truly, truly good!
I love you more than you will ever know.
Tom
God Speaks 