Christians, imagine what you would have done back then, on this day, when the Lord was crucified. The Son of God, doing what He told you He would do… dies for the sins of the world. Would you trust that in 3 days he would be back, a conqueror of death? Or would you have fear that you would be rounded up and crucified right next to him for standing with Him, and following Him all these years? I have to admit… I would be torn.
Those 3 days would be full of a lot of pacing and speculation. My favorite song for this time of year is “He’s Alive!” I love how this song (sung through the eyes of Peter) captures both the dread and the hope a follower of Christ would feel after His crucifixion. The best line is when Peter admits he denied Him, just as Jesus told him he would. And then he says, “Even if He was alive… it wouldn’t be the same.”
It’s almost like he hopes Jesus doesn’t rise; because then, he won’t have to face his own betrayal.
I have felt that with a friend before. I did something that hurt my friend, and the consequence of my action was the end of a friendship. I remember wanting the friendship back, but I was too much of a coward to face what I did and just apologize… and ask for another chance. I think about that with Peter. Peter was actually friends with the Son of God. Peter knew the forgiveness and the love that was harnessed in this “God-Man” (as my son Connor calls Him). Yet even then, Peter played with the idea of it all being a figment of his imagination… the idea that maybe He wasn’t God and wouldn’t be back… because then Peter wouldn’t have to face Him. He wouldn’t have to admit his own weakness… his own failure.
I wonder if Peter felt his betrayal was so over the top that God couldn’t possibly forgive him for it. I know I’ve felt that before. But God can forgive… and He did forgive. We just need to accept it, and walk in that forgiveness. For me, I finally did swallow my pride and I asked for forgiveness from my friend. What I once thought was so unforgivable, turned out to be forgivable, after all. Now I’m left thinking of all the time apart, wasted on worrying, when we could have been together, laughing!
Hmmmmm….
So friends, I send you encouragement from my journey. On this day. where we think of the sacrifice made on our behalf for true reconciliation… If you are avoiding a conversation with someone in this world due to fear of your own “unforgivable sin”… Or worse… If you are avoiding a conversation with God due to something you think is “too much” for Him… If you think you’ve lost your chance at His love because of something you’ve done. Stop. Just stop. Accept His forgiveness and then… talk to Him. Accept His forgiveness and all the relief that comes with it, and then… call your friend. He’s Alive! So, let this be the start of a new beginning!
Sending you love from “The Lake House”.
Carole Says... 