He Learned From the Master - Conclusion of Was Peter Beyond Forgiveness?

 Did Peter believe  that Jesus had been resurrected?  Not at first, even though faithful women reported that angels had appeared to them to announce that Jesus had risen from the dead.  (Luke 23:55-24:11) But by the end of that day, all traces of sadness and doubt in Peter's heart had melted away.  Jesus lived, now a mighty spirit! He appeared to all his apostles. He did something else first, though, something private. The apostles said that day: "For a fact the Lord was raised up and he appeared to Simon!"  (Luke 24:34) Similarly, the apostel Paul later wrote about that remarkable day when Jesus  "appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." (1 Corinthians 15:5)  Cephas and Simon are other names for Peter. Jesus appeared that to him that day-evidently when Peter was alone. 

The details of that touching reunion are left unrecorded in the  Bible.  They remain between Jesus and Peter.  We can imagine how moved Peter was to see his beloved Lord alive again and to have an opportunity to express his sorrow and repentance. More than anything in the world, Peter wanted forgiveness.  Who can doubt that Jesus extended it, and in abundance at that?   Christians  today who fall into sin need to remember.  Jesus perfectly reflects his Father, who "will  forgive in a large way." - ISAIAH 55:7.

Next time: He Learned From the Master - Further Proof of Forgiveness

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