Screw ups

I am a little obsessed with the people in the Bible who screwed up.  I think that with stories like Peter’s denial or Saul’s conversion or even Thomas’s doubts we are offered some of our greatest hope.  If the Lord can forgive a man who hunted and killed His followers, then just maybe there is a chance that I can be used by Him for some of His work.

Heading in to Good Friday, I try to imagine what it was like for the apostles when their Master was being brought down from the cross.  I am sure they had expected Him to be rescued by angels or to lift Himself from the cross.  I cannot fathom the disappointment they must have felt to actually see the lifeless, torn body of their teacher.  Judging by their reactions to the death of Jesus, it is as if they didn’t listen to Him at all though His time with them.  Over and over Jesus told them that the Son of Man must be delivered up.

I think my favorite part of the Easter story is that of Peter.  Like Peter, I have denied my Lord.  Maybe not in answer to a direct challenge, but I have definitely denied His authority in other ways.  In John 21, we find out what happened when Peter met the resurrected Jesus.  Jesus doesn’t reveal Himself to Peter by yelling, “Hey, it’s me.  Remember when I said I would come back?  Remember denying me? Well how do you feel now?”  He does it in a pretty funny way, by recreating for Peter the circumstances of their first meeting and filling Peter’s nets full to bursting with fish.  Peter actually jumps out of the boat to greet his Master.  Again, Jesus doesn’t berate Peter, He feeds him instead.  Our Lord has prepared a fire and provided a bounty for a meal.  Even after conquering death, He still serves those who should be serving Him.

Peter was given a second chance.  I think his failures at serving Jesus when He was on earth helped strengthen Peter for his own work after that first Easter morning.  I imagine he never forgot what he did and that he was forgiven.  In short, he screwed up, he repented, he was forgiven and he served.  Isn’t that what we are all supposed to do?

I and so happy we serve a risen Savior.  And I am glad that he keeps forgiving a screw up like me.