We have all missed the mark! Each and every one of us has stumbled and made wrong turns. Sometimes we feel like we’re the only one who has failed. Sometimes we have the false notion that everyone else has their act together. But the reality is that nothing could be further from the truth. The apostle Paul reminds us that “all have sinned and fallen short” (Romans 3:23).
The question is not “if” we have stumbled, but rather, what we do when we have stumbled. How do we view ourselves in that moment, as well as in the moments that follow – and more importantly, how do we view God? Are we too ashamed to turn to Him? Have we allowed our guilt and shame to distort our view of Him? Are we allowing our shame to keep us from experiencing His unbreakable grace, mercy and love?
There is a somewhat obscure reference in the resurrection account of Jesus in the Gospels. If i was to ask you to whom Jesus appeared on the day of His resurrection from the tomb, you would probably respond with a familiar list. The list would include Mary Magdalene outside the tomb (John 20:11-18), the other women who had come to the tomb that morning (Matthew 28:8-10), the two men who were traveling on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-31), and all of the disciples (except Thomas) as they gathered that night in the locked room (John 20:19-25). In each of those appearances we are told specifically what Jesus said.
But there is another appearance of Jesus that occurred that day. As a matter of fact, only Luke and Paul make somewhat obscure references to this specific appearance (Luke 24:34 and 1 Corinthians 15:5).
Jesus appeared to Peter – One-on-one. It occurred sometime after Peter and John had visited the empty tomb. And it occurred when Peter and John were apart from one another. John had believed by faith that Jesus had risen when he saw the empty tomb (John 20:8). Peter hadn’t known what to believe.
i can’t help but wonder what Peter was thinking when he saw the empty tomb. Was he caught in that uncomfortable place between his belief that Jesus had risen and the shame that was keeping him from wanting to see Jesus? After all, the night before Jesus’ arrest Peter had bragged that he would follow Jesus to the death (Luke 22:33). But instead, he had cowered before a servant girl and denied Him (Luke 22:54-60). Then, instead of standing by Jesus as John had done (John 19:26), he had fled and hid in shame (Luke 22:62). Was his acceptance of the resurrection of Jesus being clouded by his shame over his denial and abandonment of Jesus?
We do not know any of the details surrounding Jesus’ appearance to Peter. We only know that it occurred. We don’t know where or specifically when it took place. The words spoken during their encounter were kept private. It was a personal transaction of healing that needed to take place between Peter and his Lord. And that healing needed to occur before Jesus and Peter were together with the other disciples later that night.
i am confident that Jesus took Peter in His arms that day as Peter confessed his sin and wept in the loving embrace of his Lord and his Savior. i am certain that Peter walked away from that encounter forgiven and cleansed of his sin. i am certain because i remember the times that Jesus has privately taken me into His arms and embraced me… and forgiven me.
He knows when He needs to rebuke us. He knows when He needs to correct us. And He also knows when He needs to heal us. He knows the “what”, the “how” and the “when”. And He will take the same care with us that He took with Peter. It’s called grace. It’s called mercy. It’s called love. And it is unbreakable.
Though our shame may cause us to want to run and turn our backs from Him, He will never turn from us. Though our guilt may attempt to deceive us into believing that we are beyond forgiveness, He will never cast the truly repentant aside. And though our brokenness may cause us to believe that He could never again love us, He will never stop loving us.
As the song (below) says, His fount of living water will never dry up. There is no height or depth that can separate us from His love. His grace, mercy and love are unchangeable… unshakable… unmovable… and unbreakable.
Jesus knew what Peter needed. He needed to be forgiven and have his broken heart made whole. Jesus met him at the very point of that need. And our risen Savior knows exactly of what we have need. From the beginning to the end, be assured – His love for us is unbreakable!
Excerpt from Taking Up The Cross, chapter 57.
UNBREAKABLE
When you’re a prisoner of hope
There’s a fire in your bones
And what I love about it most
Is it don’t matter where you go
Yeah, we may make a wrong turn
We may stumble or get burned
We may miss the perfect mark
But the very best part is
Your love’s unbreakable, unmovable
You’ll never turn Your back on us
Your heart’s unchangeable, unshakable
Living water that will never dry up
Oh Your love, Oh Your love,
Oh Your love is unbreakable
We’ve been rescued by peace
And promised every need
When it’s harder than it seems
I will trust and believe
Your love’s unbreakable, unmovable
You’ll never turn Your back on us
Your heart’s unchangeable, unshakable
Living water that will never dry up
Oh Your love, Oh Your love,
Oh Your love is unbreakable
From the beginning to the end
One thing remains, one thing remains
Your love is greater than anything
No height, no depth can separate
‘Cause Your love’s unbreakable, unmovable
You’ll never turn Your back on us
Your heart’s unchangeable, unshakable
Living water that will never dry up
Your love’s unbreakable, unmovable
You’ll never turn Your back on us
Your heart’s unchangeable, unshakable
Living water that will never dry up
Oh Your love, Oh Your love,
Oh Your love is unbreakable