At last Sunday morning comes--that blessed morning--and the first thing Peter hears is that Christ has risen. And He sent word to Peter--one of the most touching things He did. Just let me read from the sixteenth chapter of Mark and the seventh verse:
“But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you.”
Oh, how tender! I don’t know but if He had said “Go back and tell My disciples,” Peter would have said: “I am no disciple; I have forfeited my right as such.” But Jesus said: “Tell My disciples and Peter.” Tell Peter; put his name in; don’t leave him out.
We are told that Christ had an interview with Peter, and they met alone. No one ever told us what took place, but I can imagine how Peter felt. Like the woman that we read about in the seventh chapter of Matthew, He restored him to salvation and then sent him out to preach.
But when the twelve were at meat together the Lord turned to Peter and asked: “Lovest thou Me more than these?”
How those words must have cut down into Peter’s heart! Jesus wanted to see whether his conceit had been taken out. That was hard, you know. He could not get any thing out of Peter. Peter did not say a word. Again the Lord asked: “Peter, lovest thou Me more than these?”
He was a broken and empty vessel, and must be filled.
Then Jesus gave Peter his commission: “Go, feed my sheep; preach the Gospel to all the world.”
This is a sweet thought, that after Peter had denied the Lord, He took him back and used him!