«Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee.
You will see him there, just as he told you before he died» (Mark 16:7, emphasis added).
I still remember that snowy morning because after having read the verse above, I knew that from then on I would see things differently. A Christian author wrote a devotional based on this text and, though I read it without giving it much thought, I saw the story in a brand new light. The author mentioned that the gospel of second chances» could be found in it.
Peter had denied Jesus as their gaze had met across the courtyard. Peter had bitterly cried—feeling remorseful for what he had done— and now he probably missed his Master, who had passed away. The new day had likely bleakly dawned with the absence of his beloved friend.
I don ‘t know how your first day of this new year has dawned. Maybe it started out full of expectations and enthusiasm. Maybe, like Peter, you ‘re carrying guilt from the past. Maybe thinking about the future seems overwhelming to you. Maybe your resolutions are still not very clear. Maybe you feel the previous year hasn’t really ended yet and the weight of another one is more than you can bear on your own. Or the changing date may not mean much to you and today might have started off like many other days.
With each new day God reminds us that He’s giving us a new chance to live and to be full of hope and joy.
Upon His resurrection, Jesus gave an invitation to His disciples and explicitly mentioned Peter. He assured him that he was still included in the group, but above all, He assured him that He still loved him and wanted to see him again.
As we start a new year, we have the opportunity to reassess certain things.
Let’s make good use of this date to remember that Jesus is giving us a similar invitation. He wants to remind us that He’s alive, that He’s willing to forgive us, that He wants to give us another opportunity and wants to see us again.
He actually still has many plans for us and wants to use us in spectacular ways every day of this year so we may be a blessing to others. He wants to remind us that He goes before us and, just as He’s fulfilled so many of His promises, He will also fulfill His promise to return. So let’s replace Peter’s name with ours, let’s set out to have an intimate relationship with Christ and let’s joyfully accept this «gospel of second chances.»