There are two words that indicate the depth and specificity of Jesus’ love in a simple yet profound way. Those words were “including Peter.” Those words were spoken by the angel who waited in the empty tomb after Jesus rose from the dead. Those words were spoken to the first disciples who visited the empty tomb. It was a message from Jesus, sent through the angel, that He wanted delivered to Peter. Those two words were both tender and specific.  They were a message to a man who believed his failure meant the end of his life with Jesus.

“Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” (Mark 16:7). 

It was Peter who had made a loud and public demonstration of his unwavering allegiance to the Lord. Peter declared, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me” (Luke 22:33-34).

During the night of Jesus arrest, Peter’s failure became evident when the rooster crowed twice, and Peter’s third denial was complete. In that moment of Peter’s failure, “Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ And he broke down and wept” (Matthew 26:32).

In his moment of denial, Peter thought it was all over for him. Peter thought his denial was too degrading and humiliating to overcome. That is why the Lord’s two words, “including Peter,” were so impactful.

The love Jesus has for all of us is so complete that our greatest moment of personal failure cannot deter Jesus’ love for us. In each of our lives, there will be that place of our ultimate failure where we think, like Peter, we failed so completely that our greatest failure would signal the end of our faith. 

It’s in that moment that we need to insert our name in the message the angel delivered from Jesus to the first disciples who visited the empty tomb. I did it this morning, inserting my name for Peter’s, “including Garris.”

It was no surprise that the message Jesus wanted to deliver to Peter was spoken from inside the empty tomb. It was a symbolic message delivered in the context of the empty tomb, a place where all human weakness and brokenness would be overcome by the power of Jesus’ resurrection. When we fail the Lord, He wants us to know the truth and depth of His love so we can continue to walk with Him into a redeemed future.