Death could not stop Jesus

​4-17-22
Death could not stop Jesus
Since today is Easter Sunday, or as I prefer to say, “Resurrection Sunday,” since the Easter bunny has taken over the holy day of Easter for most of society. The text that my devotion is based on is John 20”6.7, “He (Peter) saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
During his time as Jesus’ disciple, he was always ready to do his part and spoke up very quickly in response to revelations from Jesus, even to the point of being willing to die for him. He even took admonishment from Jesus and remained loyal – until people challenged him after Jesus’ arrest and denied knowing Jesus three times. Oh, Peter! How he regretted that sin against Jesus.
We next hear that he and the other disciples went into hiding until the woman gone early Sunday morning to take care of Jesus’ body came back to them and said they had taken his body. Peter and John went to the tomb. Peter, being slower, got there second but went straight into the tomb. Later, when they were fishing, Peter saw Jesus and jumped out of the boat into the water and, again, was challenged to follow Jesus.
Our lives may cause us to have guilt that we think is unforgivable. But there is comfort from Peter’s life – that even though his denial of Jesus was so great, he could turn back to God, who welcomed him back with open arms and words of encouragement. The truth is that Jesus never left him.
Please pray with me, God; thank you for never leaving me when I deny you by my words and inactions. Help me always to remember that I am forgiven and that because of your resurrection, I too will be raised from the dead to live body and soul in your presence. In our blessed living Savior, I pray. Amen.