Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
The last time Peter is mentioned in the story of Jesus’ death, he was warming himself by a fire denying he knew Christ. Now, in this chapter, Mary Magdalene is running to Peter and the other disciples in a panic. She is on alert because she has discovered that Jesus’ body is not in the tomb. I can’t help but read between the lines. I find it comforting and encouraging and challenging that Peter was included. Just days before, Peter had committed the unthinkable, he denied Christ! His denial had to have affected his relationship with the other ten men.
I am sure that there were several tough conversations between Peter and these men. Maybe they also confessed that they were tempted to do the same thing that Peter had done because they were also afraid. On the other hand, maybe they could not believe that Peter had gone that far. Maybe they confronted Peter with many questions of “How could he deny the One who was the Son of God” and “How could you turn your back on the One who had been so good to all of us?” I’m sure there were long conversations and many emotions.
Mary’s running to the disciples and including Peter tells me that they all knew Peter had given in to weakness and had been gripped by fear on that dark night. Peter ran into the tomb. Maybe Peter was outrun because he hesitated to go or maybe he was slow. Who knows? What matters is Peter returned to his core character: he charged in. Peter, once again, displayed that part of his personality that we all love.
Something happens that I do not understand… “then the disciples went away again to their own homes.” I do understand they knew they were not safe. They could not go and report Jesus missing. Yet, I don’t understand why they went their separate ways. The death of Jesus had brought about a hopelessness that I will never be able to identify with. There hopelessness pulled them apart. They were living the story as it unfolded and “…they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” I only know this story already knowing the facts and the ending. I cannot imagine the overwhelming emotions they felt.
That leads me to wonder what Peter’s thoughts and feelings were as he walked home to tell his family what had been discovered or rather Who had not been discovered. Did he feel the depths of shame and despair knowing that when it counted most, he had not only let Jesus down; he denied Him. Did he find comfort in knowing that the other disciples had forgiven him? Did it make him feel good knowing that Mary Magdalene sought him out?
I am amazed that the details of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ has one main theme. He is hope. He gives hope. Without Him we have no hope. As Peter walked home that night, I wonder did he grasp that Jesus is THE hope! Because on that walk home, I have to think Peter realized that all hope was lost. Little did Peter know - Hope lived.
John 18:10-11, Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
We are 25 days away from celebrating Easter! This is my favorite celebration of all. At this time of year as Easter approaches, I find myself reminiscing. I want to read and re-read the timeline that leads up to the most unexplained and victorious event in History. As I read the Easter story, I am fascinated with Peter. In the above verses, the focus is on Peter and his spontaneous act of defense. I noticed something I had never noticed before. “The Servant’s name was Malchus.” Malchus is there with the others to arrest Jesus, Peter cuts off Malchus’ ear and God finds it necessary for us to know who this man is.
Jesus did heal this man’s ear. Did that change Malchus’ heart and, I wonder if Malchus ever realized that God knew his name? In the beginning of Jesus’ darkest hours, He kept his priority the main priority: people. He rebuked the one that should have known better and reached out to the one that did not know who He was. How often do we coddle the follower of Christ and rebuke the lost person that really does not know any better. I am guilty of expecting the lost person to “act saved” and I defend the actions of a saved person. When in reality, to be a true follower of Christ, I should reach out with compassion to the person that does need Christ. I should make it a point to make sure that person knows I care and that I do see them as person in need.
What Peter did in that moment began to set him up for the rest of the night. He went from defending to becoming less defensive. He went from being aggressive to being passive. He went from honoring his Lord and Savior to hiding from his Lord and Savior.
I just wonder when Christ took His last breath if Malchus touched his own ear and simply wondered, “Could it be possible that this man is the Son of God?” I find it challenging to know that I should reach out to people that do not know Christ and therefore do not know any better. Do I leave them simply wondering why I would care so much? Or am I like Peter, defend my Savior without compassion and truly recognize that those without Christ really do not know any other way.
Jesus knew his name. He recognized Malchus’ need and met it. Jesus did not want Malchus to think that He approved of Peter’s actions. This man who was there to take Jesus to Pilate, at some point, had to have wondered about the experience he had with the Son of God. I wonder if that experience made him curious enough to become a believer. You and I come into contact with people every day. Do we leave them curious about the experience they have had that they want to know more?
