Newsletter 4/6/23

Dear Recover America Friend,

Of all those who loved Jesus and followed Him during His brief time on earth, who do you think missed Him the most while He was buried in the tomb? Now remember, they weren’t expecting Him to walk out of the tomb three days later.

Was it Mary, His birthing mother? I think a good case could be made for her. Perhaps it was John, the beloved friend of Jesus whom He instructed to care for Mary.

I think it was Peter, who betrayed Jesus within the hearing and seeing of his Savior and friend, just to save his own skin. Luke 22 covers the story of Peter striking Malchus, (John 18:10) the servant of the High Priest, with his sword, cutting off his ear. Jesus immediately healed the man and rebuked Peter for striking him. Then Jesus was led away to face imminent suffering and death.

While the rest of the disciples dispersed, Luke tells us that Peter followed Jesus and the soldiers, but from a distance. Perhaps you, like Peter, are following Jesus, but from a distance, which always leads to bad things happening. The Scriptures tell us that Peter sat down among those wanting to kill Jesus.

In Psalm 1 the psalmist warns us that the one who walks with sinners will soon sit with them, which always leads to spiritual disaster.

Peter is soon accused of being one of Jesus’ followers, which he denies. Soon another accuses him as well, and then a third to which Peter vehemently denied knowing Jesus. Luke 23:6 states: “The Lord looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

I believe that Peter wept for the next three days with such brokenness that it can’t be fully described. That accounts for what the Angel dressed in white said on that first Easter Sunday morning when Jesus arose from the dead: "Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and tell Peter."

Of all those who grieved, perhaps none grieved like Peter because his denial was so great, and it was the last thing Jesus heard from him before Jesus gave up His life. So, when Jesus arose, among His first instructions was to tell Peter that He still loved him and that he was forgiven. Then Peter was chosen for the job of preaching at Pentecost when 3,000 souls were saved, and the church was born.

Truly we serve a mighty God. The message of Easter is that Jesus is Alive and that no matter the sin, His grace is greater than our sin. Now that IS Good News!

Happy Easter from your friends at Recover America!

I remain…

His and Yours,