EPISODE 158 GOSPEL OF MARK CHAPTER 16 " and Peter "

Welcome to Share the Word, a Great Commission project bringing out the big ideas of the New Testament chapter by chapter. Well, we've reached the last chapter of the Gospel of Mark, and in this episode, Paul focuses on the death and resurrection of Christ through the eyes of one of the disciples, and Peter. I think you know where we're going with this. Let's get started and find out more. Mark 16. And Peter.

We've said since the outset of our episodes through Mark's Gospel that we believe this account is directly connected to the Apostle Peter. Mark, who had a close relationship with Peter since he was a boy and was with the Apostle in his last years, put down in writing the things Peter used to tell him about his years with Jesus. That's what the early Christians from that era tell us. I think it's fitting, then, that we finish up Mark's Gospel by focusing on the death and resurrection of Christ as it was experienced by Peter. That's what I'm going to do my best to do today. The Friday when Jesus died, Mark goes on to explain, was Preparation Day.

That's the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the council who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to the governor and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, summoning the centurion, he asked him if in fact Jesus had already expired. And when he learned from the centurion that he had, he gave permission to Joseph to take the body. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a new tomb cut out from rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb, and Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where this was done.

Those are the closing lines of chapter 15. Joseph of Arimathea, a Sanhedrin member who did not consent to the council railroading Jesus, boldly went to Pilate asking for his body. Interestingly enough, while Peter and the other disciples were in hiding. If Joseph had not done this, Jesus' corpse could have been thrown into a common grave along with the two criminals. We learn from John's Gospel that Joseph then, with the help of Nicodemus, carried the body of Jesus to a new tomb that belonged to Joseph that he had carved into a rocky hillside, presumably for his own family's use. Jesus' corpse, and that's the term Mark uses to underscore that he was really dead, was laid out there in that tomb, was wrapped with linen and spices according to the custom of the Jews at the time.

But because the Sabbath day was rapidly approaching, Sabbath began at 6 p.m. Friday evening, they were not able to complete the task. It'd have to come back on Sunday, so the disc was rolled down in place covering the tomb's entrance. Mark notes that some of the women disciples of Jesus saw where this happened. Realize now, Thursday at 6 p.m., Jesus was gathering with his disciples to celebrate Passover in the upper room. Only 24 hours later, at 6 p.m.

Friday, Jesus was dead and already entombed. Just that suddenly, surreally, the life and vibrant ministry of Jesus was snuffed out. That's not the end of the story, or there would be no gospel. Mark continues for us like this. After the Sabbath was over, very early Sunday morning, those women, Mary Magdalene, another Mary, and Salome, returned to the tomb site to anoint the body of Jesus, something they wanted to do on Friday, but apparently were also not able to. Reaching the place where they had seen him taken, they saw that the stone covering the sepulcher's entrance had been removed.

As every preacher worth his salt for the last 2,000 years has pointed out, the stone wasn't removed so Jesus could get out, but so these women and other witnesses could get in. When they did, they cautiously entered. They saw an unusual, in a good way, young man sitting in there, which, as we'd say, freaked them out. But he assured them, Don't be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus. He's not here.

He's risen. Look, that's where they laid him out. They did look, and sure enough, the grave wrappings were still there on the slab, but there was no body in them. The young man in the extra white robe continued, Go tell his disciples and Peter, he's going before you to Galilee and will meet you there. Mark's description of the women's reaction to this encounter is that they were literally shaking with bewilderment and excitement. Can you see them hurrying back to the city, breathlessly asking each other, Who was that guy in all white?

Is that what an angel looks like? Could Jesus really be alive like he said? Mark actually finishes his gospel right there with that scene, with these women followers of Jesus being told by an angel that he had risen and their being filled with excitement and wonder as they hurried to tell Jesus' disciples. I realize there are several verses beyond that in most Bible versions, but if you have a good study Bible, you'll find a note saying those verses were almost certainly added later. They're not in any of the earliest copies we have of Mark's Gospel. The best conjecture is that they were added by somebody who felt Mark's Gospel left the story too unfinished.

But I'm pretty sure he meant to leave it right where he did. We'd say, on a cliffhanger, with those women shaking with excitement at the possibility that Jesus could be alive again. I'm convinced Mark wanted to leave the story right there so that his readers would want to investigate more. I've always found the implication of the instructions the angel gave to these women interesting. Go tell the disciples and Peter. Why did he say that, and Peter?

Peter was one of the disciples, right? Is there a reason he singled him out? Roll back the calendar a couple days. You may remember that on the night Jesus was betrayed, while they were still in the upper room, he told his disciples that it was one of them that would betray him. And he said more than that. He said, All of you are going to fall away from me tonight.

The shepherd will be struck down and the sheep will scatter. While the others sat there in shocked unbelief, Simon said, Surely not me, Lord. Even if everyone else abandons you, I will not. If I have to die with you, I will never abandon you. Jesus turned to him sadly and said, Friend, I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you're going to deny you even know me three times. By the way, did you know Peter was actually not his given name?

It was not even a name the Jews used at that time. Peter was actually a nickname Jesus tagged Simon with early in their friendship. The word in Aramaic meant stone or rock, as in, Here's a man I know I can depend on, a solid as a rock kind of guy. It was not long until Simon Peter's self-confident assurances to Jesus were tested. Later that same night, they left the upper room for the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus, knowing full well what lay ahead of him, left eight of the disciples near the entrance to the park and took only Peter, James, and John with him into the darkness of an olive grove.

He looked and sounded unusual that night, they noticed, and he asked them to stay up with him and pray. Then he went a little distance further and began pouring out his soul to the Heavenly Father. He asked earnestly if there was another way to accomplish what needed to be accomplished, let this cup pass from me, he said. But being assured that there was not, Jesus submitted to God's will. But Simon Peter and the other two, after trying to stay awake, shortly gave way to exhaustion and fell asleep. Peter was suddenly awakened by the armed posse from the temple that Judas had led out to arrest Jesus.

Unclear what was going on, he moved toward that threat and instinctively drew a sword to protect the Lord. In fact, he actually struck a servant of the high priest, hacking off the man's ear. Peter, put that sword back into its sheath, Jesus ordered him. Confused, Peter backed away into the shadows and watched as the police bound Jesus and led him away. Now fully awake and realizing what was happening, all the disciples panicked and fled into the trees, Peter included. He watched from a safe distance, apparently, as the arresting party wound its way out of Gethsemane back toward Jerusalem.

He actually followed them at a safe distance, keeping just in sight of their torches to see where Jesus would be taken. And it was eventually to the residence of one of Jerusalem's most powerful men, Caiaphas the high priest. After what seemed like a safe interval of time, Peter wandered into the courtyard of Caiaphas' impressive residence, where there were several other people milling around. He tried to blend in inconspicuously, warming himself by the fire. A young servant girl thought she recognized him as one of Jesus' followers. Maybe she had seen them together in Jerusalem previously.

She came over and said, You're one of the followers of the Nazarene, aren't you? Peter, trying to put her off, said, I have no idea what you're talking about. You must have me confused with someone else. He turned abruptly and walked away from her toward the gate, but the girl pointed him out to other bystanders, one of whom concurred, Yes, I recognize him too. I've seen that man with Jesus. But Peter again denied that.

His presence was stirring up interest now, and after discussing it amongst themselves, a couple more of them approached him and said, We know you're one of that man's followers. Your accent gives you away. You're a Galilean. This time, Peter lashed back at them. He cursed at them and said, What do I have to do to convince you people? I don't even know that man.

The sound of the rooster's crow pierced Peter's soul. He remembered what Jesus had said. He got away from there as fast as he could and went at a safe distance, broke down and wept. For the next day or so, we don't know where Peter was. The gospel narrative suggests that the disciples were in hiding. They probably wondered if the authorities would come after them next.

Certainly Peter learned that Jesus was condemned. He must have heard the shocking report about the crucifixion. Peter was not there with John and some of the women followers of Jesus. I imagine wherever he was, he was just aching with self-condemnation. Having always been sure of himself and viewed by others as strong, now he felt humiliated, like a shameful weakling. After all that Jesus had done for him and meant to him, how could he deny him and abandon him at such a time?

I'll bet his thoughts turned very dark during those hours. He was not only ashamed of what he had done, but on top of that, he was thoroughly discouraged because all of his hopes and dreams invested in Jesus were now crushed. I'll bet the enemy had to be telling him, Just end it all, Peter. You worthless loser. Do everyone a favor, you miserable failure. But for some reason, unlike Judas, Peter didn't.

Sometime on Saturday, he gathered the courage to look for the others. John had family in Jerusalem. I think Jesus' mother was undoubtedly there because Jesus had entrusted her to John from the cross. Some of the other followers of Jesus may have been there as well. Realize none of them were aware of what had happened at High Priest's courtyard, but to Peter, probably seemed like everybody knew. The guilt and shame were heavy on him, and he would try to act as normal as he could, whatever normal was in those circumstances.

But all of Jesus' followers were grieving and dejected too, so Peter's despondency maybe didn't look so different. But he was painfully aware of his own unique failure. As he tried to sleep that night, his foolish boast no doubt played over and over in his mind: No matter what anybody else does, I will never abandon you. When the rooster crowed that Sunday morning, I wonder if he even slept a wink. At that very time, those women who had risen early already had been to the tomb and were running back to find him and the disciples. We learn from John's Gospel that one of them, Mary Magdalene, found Peter and John and told them exactly what they had seen and heard at the tomb.

After listening to her report, convinced she was not hallucinating, those two raced out to the site to see for themselves. John ran faster than his older friend, but when he reached the tomb, he hesitated to go in. Peter, arriving later, huffing and puffing, brushed right past John. He stooped, entered into the sepulcher, and found exactly what the women had described. John, get in here and see this! Jesus was not there, all right, although the grave wrappings still were, lying like an empty cocoon on the slab where his body had been laid out.

When John saw that, he was convinced that what Jesus had told them about rising again must be true. I can see him excitedly grabbing Peter by the shoulder, saying, Friend, he's alive! He's alive! Why did we ever doubt him? If Peter could have sorted out his feelings at that moment, they probably could be best described as divided. Of course, he was excited at this incredible development, but if he allowed himself to believe Jesus was really alive, that meant he might soon have to face him.

So he was probably not as elated as John. He didn't know how he felt just then. You think that sounds crazy? Maybe. But depressed people living under a load of guilt and shame don't always think very clearly. For the next several days, Peter no doubt wrestled with how he felt he should feel versus how he actually felt.

During that time, Jesus, very much alive, appeared to several people: to Mary Magdalene, to his brother James, to two other followers on the road to Emmaus, among others. The fact of his resurrection was becoming undeniable. Peter himself was in the upper room when the Lord appeared to them there twice, showing them the crucifixion wounds still visible in his body. But Peter, who was normally in the forefront, always the leader, always speaking up, was on those occasions apparently quiet. We have no record of any interaction between him and Jesus. He was living under this dark cloud.

He had failed so badly under pressure, he'd made a complete fool of himself, and he couldn't forget that. He couldn't forgive himself for that. And he wasn't sure if Jesus would ever forgive him either. As the angel instructed, all the disciples left Jerusalem for Galilee to wait for a promised meeting with Jesus there. The district of Galilee, remember, this is where it all began three years earlier. It was home for all of them except Judas, and that traitor was gone.

It was at the seaside town of Capernaum where Peter lived that Jesus had first met him on the shore one morning, where he was mending his fishing nets. It was there that Jesus challenged him to leave those nets and everything else and become his disciples. Man, that seemed like a long time ago now. The next part of Peter's story is only told in the Gospel of John's last chapter. One particularly miserable night, he told the others, I'm going fishing. Maybe being out on a peaceful lake under the stars, he thought, would soothe his troubled spirit.

A few of the others joined him, and they rowed out onto the familiar lake and let their nets down. Peter was no doubt hoping this excursion might help him escape his negative thoughts. That night, he fished with great nervous energy, as if by his own efforts he could turn back the clock in his life to the simpler days, to the time he worked on this lake as a mere fisherman before Jesus came along and complicated everything. But no matter where they fished or what they tried, they caught nothing, absolutely nothing. Peter was reaching his breaking point, I bet, feeling himself at a dead end, sick of everything in his life. He must have been thinking, I've been a failure at following Christ, and now I can't even catch fish anymore.

I don't even know who I am. Have you ever been at that place? As the night was giving way to the dawn, having still caught nothing, from the shore a figure called out to them, Hey, fellows, have you caught any fish? Someone from the boat called back, No, nothing. The man on the shore offered them a fishing tip. Try casting your nets on the other side of your boat, and I bet you'll find some.

They shook their heads at each other as if to say, Like that's going to make a difference. So, for some reason, they did. They pulled up their nets, they cast them out again on the other side of their boat, and when they did, suddenly their nets swelled with so many fish they could not even pull them back up into the boat. You know who the stranger on the shore was, don't you? And what was he doing there? He was looking for the disciples and Peter, especially Peter.

John turned to his friend and said, It's the Lord, Peter. And by this time, he was so thoroughly sick of where he was in his heart and mind, he dove over the side of the boat and swam for the shore. When he came sloshing up out of the water, he was face to face with Jesus. And let me tell you something very important. He was not met with a wagging finger and, Shame, shame, shame. He wasn't met with, Peter, how could you possibly have failed me so badly?

No. He was met by Jesus with a fire going to cook him breakfast. Jesus always knew what was going on inside of people. He knew Peter a lot better than Peter knew himself at this point. That reminds me of the scripture that says, When our own hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. As they finally were able to talk face to face that morning, here at the same place they had first talked face to face, Jesus only wanted to know one thing: Peter, do you love me?

It was a question Jesus knew the answer to, but one which Peter needed to remember the answer to. Jesus asked him three times, in fact, in order to bring Peter's mind and heart back to the most important thing. It was not that Peter had, in a crisis, failed him. Jesus didn't measure this man based on that one failure. That didn't even come up in their conversation, so far as we know. Jesus only wanted to know, Peter, where is your heart right now?

Do you really love me? Finally, Peter said, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus responded, Then feed my sheep. You know what he meant by that? He meant, My calling is still on your life, friend.

It's time for you to get about doing what I've spent the last three years preparing you to do, because I assure you, everything's okay between us. That morning, beside the lake, when Peter sat on the shore talking with the risen Lord, that was the turning point in this man's life. Jesus helped him look deep inside and reconfirm their relationship. Then he challenged him to get about fulfilling God's call on his life. And Peter decided at that point to place the broken pieces of himself into Christ's hands, into the hands of one who would lovingly reassemble them into something stronger, something better, and something more useful than he was before. I don't know about you, but I identify with this episode from Simon Peter's life.

You might be struggling with a feeling of failure or shame or guilt because of some past thing that's weighing you down. Maybe, like Peter, you're questioning whether God could ever forgive you and love you again. Peter found out, to his great relief, that Christ is very much into finding, repairing, and using broken things, and that the callings of God are irrevocable. I can assure you, as surely as the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ restored Simon Peter, He's ready to restore and use you too, if you really love Him. So don't go on and on and on in guilt and shame. Don't wallow in failures from your past.

Confess them to the Lord. Leave them at the foot of the cross where Jesus died for them. Then get about doing the things God has called and been preparing you to do. This is Paul for Share the Word. Thanks, Paul, for continuing to bring out insights that are often overlooked and not always thought about. My question to all of you who are listening: Where's your faith?

And are you focused in the rearview mirror, thinking that your past actions could never be forgiven? Well, I've got great news. When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, they are. All of them. Your sins are forgiven, past, present, and future. And to find out more, please email us at info at sharetheword dot org, and let's set up a time to talk.