Get Up Like Peter
I've been talking about the women at the empty tomb this week, but today I want to take a little look at Peter, and how he responded to hearing what the women had to say. Luke writes this: "Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened." (Luke 24:12)
Eagerness
Three things happen here. First, Peter ran to the tomb. There is an eagerness there! He heard that maybe Jesus was alive, and he ran to see.
Question: are you eager to meet the risen Christ? Do you run to see Him and encounter Him?
Curiosity
Second, when Peter got there, he bent over and took a look at things. I think this is profound. Peter is not only eager, he is inquisitive. He bends over and checks out the evidence. He doesn't just shrug off the women's claims as nonsense.
Question: are you inquisitive about things related to Jesus? Are you 'bending over' to see what evidence there is of His resurrection? Are you seeking to understand and learn and grow in knowledge?
Wonder
Third, Peter walked away from the tomb and wondered to himself what had happened. His eagerness led him there, his inquisitiveness got him examining the evidence, and then he walked off and began pondering and thinking about it all.
I think a lot of the time we hear the Jesus story, and we kind of leave Him behind at church, or on the video we watched. Peter here keeps Jesus in his mind!
Question: is Jesus on your mind much? Do you wonder and think about Him during the day?
There's a line in a Charles Wesley hymn, which I recorded the other day, that says:
Of nothing think, or speak beside,
My Lord, my Love is Crucified.
Surely that was true of Peter?! All that was on his mind and heart was Jesus that weekend. As we see in the rest of the New Testament, Jesus was on Peter's mind always until he died.
So today: run to meet the risen Christ! Bend over to examine the claims about Him, and think about Him all the time.
He will meet you as you come; He will show Himself to you as you seek Him; and He will fill your heart with joy as you focus on Him. I know it.
The women came looking for a dead man and found an empty tomb - they were seeking in the right place. Ask yourself today whether you are looking for life in Jesus, or in things that will never truly satisfy.
An extra devotion for you my supporters! Thank you for your kindness. Jesus rested in the tomb on the Sabbath - a profound picture of the rest He now offers to all who trust in Him. This Easter Saturday, cease from your striving and find true rest in the finished work of Christ.
Two criminals hung beside Jesus on the cross, but only one received salvation - the one who repented and trusted in Him. On this Good Friday, consider where your trust truly lies.
As He was nailed to the cross, Jesus cried out for the forgiveness of His enemies - practising to the very end what He had always preached. Consider today whether there is someone in your life you need to forgive.
In His darkest hour, Jesus turned from His own suffering to weep over those who would reject Him. Ask God today to give you His heart for the lost, and let it move you to action.
Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself enough to accept help on the way to the cross. Examine today whether pride is keeping you from both receiving help and offering it to others
We have spent weeks looking at everyone around Jesus at the cross - now it's time to fix our eyes on Him. Pause today and truly behold the Lamb of God who gave His life for you.
Like Pilate, many of us see the truth about Jesus but fear the crowd more than we love Christ. Ask yourself today: are you compromising the Jesus way because of what others might think?
Pilate saw the truth about Jesus but rejected Him anyway to please the crowd - a mistake many of us still make today. Consider whether you are compromising what you know to be true about Christ.
A stubborn refusal to examine the evidence for Jesus is as dangerous today as it was for the Sanhedrin. Ask yourself today: have you genuinely considered the claims of Christ with an open heart?
The guards who mocked Jesus at His trial made a tragic misjudgement of who He truly was. Be careful today that your words and your life honour Him as He deserves.
Jesus stands on trial today just as He did 2000 years ago - and each of us must reach a verdict on His claims. Consider today: how will you judge Him?
An extra devotion to thank you for your support! Let me share a story that reminds me of Peter’s staying away from Jesus in fear of condemnation. I hope it will inspire you to go back to Jesus, if you need to, today.
Jesus promised to strengthen Peter's faith after his denial – and He will do the same for you. Will you return to Jesus and find strengthening too?
Peter heard the women's news and ran to the tomb - eager, inquisitive, and reflective. Follow his example today by running to meet the risen Christ with an open and wondering heart.