Jen’s Gem: Love covers everything.
On the advice of my gardener extraordinaire friend, I brought my geranium plants indoors this winter. Each week, I carefully prune the dead leaves so that in the spring, blooms will emerge. This activity got me thinking about the need to prune away the dead stuff in our lives to make way for new things.
The past few years have triggered a lot of changes for people and caused us to rethink the way we live. That’s what a crisis does – it rocks our world and makes us laser-focused on what’s really, really important. It clarifies our priorities.
Today is Easter– where we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. No event before or since has caused more people to rethink and refocus than this. It truly rocked the worlds of the apostles, those of that time, and even today when people get a true revelation of its meaning.
“For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.” But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:32 NKJV).
I mean, you really can’t blame the apostles for not getting this whole resurrection thing, can you? It is a mind bender! Yet, on Easter morning, there was Jesus! Walking about and very much alive. (You can read the whole story in Luke 24.)
Everything Jesus said would happen, happened. There were many eyewitnesses who saw Jesus, yet my favorite is His visit with Peter.
You may recall that only a few days earlier, Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Adamantly denied it actually just as Jesus had said he would. (Read more in Matthew 26:69-75)
After the third denial, Jesus and Peter locked eyes. Peter knew what he did. Filled with guilt and shame for his actions, Peter wept – like ugly cry wept – and ran away. He ran as far away from Jesus as he could.
I can’t imagine how utterly heartbroken Peter must’ve felt. He’d spent three years with Jesus. They were besties yet out of fear of his own life, Peter denied even knowing who Jesus was.
The last words Jesus heard Peter say were “I don’t know Him!” Then Jesus dies and Peter doesn’t even get a chance to apologize. In fact, he wasn’t even at the crucifixion. He didn’t even help in the burial of Jesus.
But wait for it…wait for it…
Three days later Jesus is raised from the dead, alive and well. And what is the first thing He says? “Tell Peter I want to see him.”
He specifically requests to see Peter. Why? He knew the anguish Peter had been in because of his actions. Us mere mortals would’ve cast Peter aside. Kicked him out of our inner circle. His BFF status? Gone.
But not Jesus. Nope. Not a chance. He wasn’t giving up on Peter. Jesus would not forsake Peter despite what he did. (Hebrews 13:5)
When they meet, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him to which he responds in the affirmative three times. Three times. The same number of times that Peter denied knowing Jesus days earlier.
Love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
Jesus, the Son of God came to earth, died on the cross and then rose from the dead to save people like Peter, to prune away and forgive the dumb stuff we do so that we can be reconnected to God, be a part of His family and spend eternity with Him in heaven.
My friend, this is what Easter is all about.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6 NKJV)
If you’ve had a few “Peter” moments (and we all have!) and need some pruning, need to restore your BFF status with God, I want to encourage you to make an appointment with the Master Gardener, Jesus today.
Just like He did with Peter, Jesus is seeking you out and requesting your presence to remind you how much you are loved, accepted, valued, and cared for by your heavenly Father.
Will you take the meeting?