But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened. Luke 24:11-12 (NLT)
Peter had blown it. He had denied Christ three times and now, Jesus was dead. There was no fixing what he'd broken. Or so he thought.
When Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on Sunday morning, Jesus' body was not there. Instead, an angel reminded them of what Jesus said. They rushed to the eleven disciples to share the good news! In verse eleven it says the men did not believe it. Everyone but Peter.
Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb. Do you think as he was running he was hoping and praying that maybe this was his second chance? Maybe he could tell Jesus he was sorry and be forgiven? Do you think in his heart of hearts even though he knew it was crazy to believe that someone could rise from the dead, he also understood more about this Jesus since he denied him?
Isn't this the story of the gospel in a nutshell? No matter what you've done, no matter how horrible you think it is, Jesus died and rose again so you would be forgiven. Peter saw his second chance and he went running toward it.
And when Peter turned to Jesus, God used his experience; his understanding of what the good news truly meant to build a church.
Jesus will do the same for us. No matter how many mistakes we make, he is offering us forgiveness. He's saying come; spend time with me. I have a job for you. Today, which way are you running? Toward Jesus or away from him?