And Peter
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
4/16/2017 AM
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Text:
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Mark 16:7a
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Psalters: |
130, 58, 281, 263 |
- Especially Peter.
- One of Jesus’ first thoughts as He arose was of His disciples and Peter.
- When Peter is specifically mentioned, he is distinguished from the other disciples.
- Peter separated himself from the others by boasting self-confidently, putting himself above the rest of the disciples.
- But then Peter separated from the other disciples when he denied Jesus three times.
- When told of this message, Peter thought that Jesus now considered himself to be outside the circle of His disciples.
- If the angels had only said, “Tell my disciples,” Peter would have concluded that the message was not for him.
- This awakened his conscience even more than when he went out and wept bitterly (14:72; Matt. 26:75).
- Especially reassuring.
- Jesus’ messenger called him, “Peter,” not Simon.
- The message is: “He is risen; He is not here. Go so He can meet you.”
- Death cannot hold Him; the crucified One is risen and He lives.
- This message is for all in the darkness of sin: all of our sins are forgiven, not matter how many, how great, how shameful.
- Especially comforting for “Peters.”
- God’s love always adds, “and tell the Peters among My people.”
- This emphasizes that that God’s love for us in Christ is always first.
- God’s infinite love is always first; it is an everlasting love.
- When we fall into sin, God’s love never fails, for it remains and it conquers, bringing the sacrifice of His own Son.
- When the Peters among My people are afraid that they are loved, tell them of My love.