Jesus' Target

Mark 16:7
When the women arrive at the tomb to anoint Jesus' body they encounter an angel who tells them that he is risen, and that they are to go and tell the disciples and Peter the news.  There is a distinction made here between the disciples and then Peter.  Whether he is still a disciple or not is not the question here, but rather why the distinction?  It is in the this question that there is both a fear and a glorious beauty.  Jesus had taught his disciples that if they confessed or denied him before men then he would confess or deny them before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33).  Peter had denied Jesus before men not once, but three times (Mark 14:66-72).  This puts him on very treacherous ground, and merits a distinction from the rest of the disciples.  This is the fear aspect of this distinction.  But the other aspect shines forth God's glory in a radiant way.  Jesus also taught that we are sheep, his sheep, and when one strays he leaves the others to seek out and recover the stray (Luke 15:4-7).  Do we see the love and mercy of our Savior here?  He was singling out Peter here as a target of his mercy and recovery efforts for his glory.  Jesus was coming after Peter in a relentless fashion, to reconcile him, despite the fact that Peter had denied him in a most purposeful, intentional, hideous way.  And Jesus beautifully succeeds (John 21).  But before all this, Peter broke down over his act (Mark 14:72).  There was actual repentance; repentance that broke him and led him into mourning, not the casual, flippant, token asking forgiveness that has no heart-felt motivation behind it and simply admits it is sin.  No, Peter felt the weight of his sin, and the stench of it in the nostrils of a holy savior.  And it overwhelmed him.  That is repentance.  This is truly great news for us today.  May the Lord single us out, as he did Peter, to the glory of His great name.  Romans 8:38-39.