He’s Already There

11.04.11

Mark 16.7 7 "But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” NIV

Peter was probably feeling terrible about the whole situation; he’d denied Jesus. Peter in his burning zeal had already tried to rebuke Jesus about His having said, He would be arrested by the chief priests and then being turned over to the Gentiles to be mocked and crucified. Peter in his misplaced passion said emphatically: “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You!” Peter, never say never. Peter at this point, I think, wondered if it had all just been a bad dream.

But the angel said to the women, "But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Jesus knew Peter was the point where he was going to give up – in his heart he probably already had. Sometimes circumstances get us to that place; and if we can receive it that is precisely the place where we meet Jesus again.

Failure is not the end, it’s the beginning. Failure is when we realize we’ve been going the wrong direction. Failure is when we quit depending on ourselves and look for help elsewhere. What was Peter’s biggest problem? What was the biggest obstacle in Peter’s life and faith? The answer to those two questions is simply, Peter. Peter was his own worst enemy and that fact was no surprise to the Lord. Jesus knew that full well. But when the collapse came in Peter’s life, who was the only one there to help Peter back up? Jesus. But go, tell His disciples and Peter. Jesus’ plans for Peter had not ended nor had His saving power gone away – Peter was important to Jesus.

The other disciples were probably just afraid and confused – Peter was heartbroken and ashamed. Sometimes it takes a big letdown to open the door to a great uplift. That’s what happened to Peter and Jesus was signaling to him that this wasn’t the end of things, it was only the next step in the process. Jesus will save us if we stay focused on Him and not on the process. The process is necessary but not the object: Jesus is the Object and we are to stay completely centered on Him.

This weekend, my wife and I, and our thirteen year old son are going to move from one house to another. It is now November and today, there are two inches of fresh snow on the ground. Yuck. I could sink to the place where I inwardly suspect the Lord of punishing me… or, I can rise to the place of thanking the Lord that He doesn’t lead me away from the snow but takes me safely home through the snow. Jesus doesn’t keep us from the storm – He keeps us safe in the storm. The difference is how Jesus thinks about us: He thinks very highly of us. I think Jesus would say to His dispatched angel “Tell the Church and (insert your name here) ___________ that He has already gone ahead of you and will meet you there when you arrive!”

That’s how I’m choosing to meet the Lord today and this weekend in the move…