April 20th, 2019

April 21
Peter Got Up
 
Luke 24:9-12 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 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. 
 
DO you see it? A glimmer of light begins to break into the darkness of Jesus’ death and burial. Even though the Eleven did not believe the women, someone stepped into Hope. You see him, don’t you? He’s the one we call, “Betrayer. Out-spoken. Impulsive.” He’s Peter. Peter got up and ran to the tomb. See him bending over to see the strips of linen lying by themselves. Observe Peter as he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
     Did he hear for the first time Jesus’ hard words recorded in Mark 8:31 “Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Did Peter remember how he had taken Jesus aside to rebuke him for such words? Was he hoping against hope he would see his Lord again to tell him, “You know I love you!” (John 21:17b)  The empty tomb is real to the women, and now it is real to Peter. Other gospels record John went with him. Before this first day of the week is done, the other Eleven, too, will know the tomb is truly, eternally empty. Throughout the day, Jesus’ Light of life will burn brighter and brighter as he begins to reveal himself to the world.  
     These events are a good look at evangelism. We who know of the empty tomb must be faithful, excited, joyful and willing to tell the world. Even if many people say, “I don’t believe you.” we must remember some will get up to seek Jesus. As the women had no control over Peter, we have no control to force people to the empty tomb.
     But we do have the truth. We must tell the truth as if we have seen the stone rolled away and the resurrected Lord before us. In faith, we have. In faith, we know Jesus is alive. In faith, our lips must speak the good news. God will move his chosen disciples to run to the tomb, prepared to see what God has done.
      
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for getting me up to go to Jesus. Amen.
 
Joy to the World! The Lord is Come!