“But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you’” (Mark 16:7).
Here we see one of the most comforting passages in the entire Bible. It resonates with all the grace, mercy and compassion that is only available through the Lord. It also reveals the true heart of our Savior, as He sets forth one of His most essential qualities that should bring a praise to our lips on a daily basis. Without this distinguishing attribute, we would find it most difficult to live the type of life that would be pleasing to the Lord.
What is this essential quality? It is forgiveness. While the word does not appear in our verse, its fingerprints are all over it. We can see this divine act in the simple phrase, “and Peter.”
During this most painful season in his life, we can safely conclude that Peter may have been feeling like somewhat of an outcast. The severity of what he had done cannot be denied. He had denied ever knowing his Lord. Scripture records the actions of Peter and the disciples on this fateful night:
“But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end” (Matthew 26:56-58).