This day, the time between Jesus dying on the cross and Him being raised from the dead (between Good Friday and Easter) has always held a lot of mystery for me.  I always think of it as the gray time. And one thing I always imagine is how difficult that gray time was for the disciples…  namely one Simon Peter.  

The rock upon which Jesus had promised to build His church had failed his Lord in the worst way possible.. a betrayal second only to Judas himself.  The time after the removal of Jesus’ destroyed and dead body from the cross and His resurrection was no doubt the very worst time in Peter’s life.  He knew what he had done… he had even been forewarned.  And now there was no Jesus present to apologize to.  If I were him, I’d just want to die…  like Judas… 

The disciples did not understand that Jesus had to be raised from the dead.  Peter probably felt beyond hopeless, with no tangible way to make it right.  But then Jesus rose from the dead.  And on His third appearance He made special time to restore Peter.  I cannot imagine Peter’s joy and his relief.  

I think there is a takeaway for us who have screwed up so badly or made terrible choices.  When that dawn, realization, and conviction comes…  When that feeling of hopelessness covers like a wet blanket…  When we see no way out and just wish we could die…  He is at work.  We may not immediately see Him during that gray time, just like Peter. His motivation is that He loves us so much that He will seek us out in the darkness we put ourselves in.  Sometimes we feel like we are in that time between death and resurrection like Peter and it feels like everything is lost.  But He is always working things out for our restoration.  He always wants us drawn back to Himself.  

In Peter’s case, He used three questions…

Peter do you love me?
Peter do you love me?
Peter do you love me?

The Bible says Peter was hurt because he DID love Him.  And Jesus’ response was to reiterate His assignment to Peter…  Feed My sheep – effectively restoring this contrite and broken man to his callings and his relationship with Jesus, whom he loved.

It’s for us too.  Our sins separate us from our God.  But this whole weekend is about Jesus victory over sin and death and the gift of direct restoration for us…  no matter how badly we have screwed up.  Draw near unto Him and He will draw near unto you.