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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
The angel said. Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter. In Galilee you shall see him. Mark 16:7. The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. Luke 24:34.
The most remarkable fact in the narrative concerning the resurrection of the Lord is, as the evangelists more especially note, that He first: revealed Himself to the greatest sinners, namely, Magdalene and Peter. Beloved, this is not written without a definite purpose in the story of Jesus. "Did He appear to Simon, first and particularly to him? " you ask in wonder. No one had caused Him more sadness than Peter. No one denied Him more shamefully. No one acted so cowardly and faithlessly toward Him in spite of all the warnings and admonitions the Lord had given him. Very true; he did not deserve it; his fall was too great. But behold, Peter "wept bitterly. " No one felt his weakness and unfaithfulness more deeply than he. No one was so afraid. No one waited so painfully and with such longing as he. How he hastened together with John to get to the sepulcher first when he heard the alarming news of the Lord’s missing body! How he ran first into the sepulcher! Behold, all this the Savior saw and knew. He does not only see your fall, your denial, and your unfaithfulness, but also your fears, your sorrow, and your earnest desire to be pardoned, comforted and received by Him again. Oh, be of good courage, ye hearts who are deeply "bowed down and broken because of your sins! When the Savior visits and comforts His own. He first visits and comforts you. For He knows that you have more need than others.
Forgiveness, peace, joy, righteousness.
On earth and there in heaven
These are the Easter-spoils that bless
The hearts to Jesus given.
So we. His heirs, wait patiently.
Until our bodies fashioned be
Like His own glorious body.
