Mark 16:7, commentary and pictures

Very early on the first day of the week the angel at the empty tomb told the frightened women that Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified had risen and was not there, and sent them to tell His disciples that He would go before them into Galilee where they would see Him as He had promised. The appointment was for a large public meeting in Galilee to assure His followers He was alive and to remove their doubts before they carried on His work without His personal presence. In that first message after the resurrection Peter was named personally with the promise that he too would see Jesus in Galilee. That special naming singled out the fallen disciple after his threefold denial to assure him that he was still remembered, loved, and claimed, that his bitter repentance was accepted and his sin forgiven, and that he would be restored to his place among the disciples and to his work of caring for Christ's flock. What was done for Peter reveals wondrous love toward those who in weakness are overcome and betray Him, showing a compassionate Saviour who does not cast them off but calls them by name, forgives abundantly, and restores all who are humble and contrite.

Message at the Tomb

Very early on the first day of the week at sunrise, after the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome came with sweet spices to anoint Jesus and wondered who would roll away the very great stone, found it rolled away, entered and saw a young man sitting on the right side clothed in a long white garment, and were affrighted. The angel told them not to be affrighted, that Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified is risen and is not there, and pointed to the place where they laid him. He asked why they seek the living among the dead, and reminded them how he had spoken in Galilee that the Son of man must be delivered into sinful hands and be crucified and rise the third day. The women remembered his words and carried the news of the resurrection to the sorrowing disciples with fear and great joy, telling the eleven and all the rest, but their words seemed as idle tales and were not believed.

The message sent through the women by the angel gave Christ's appointment for a public meeting with his brethren in Galilee, where he would go before them and they would see him as he had said to them. That promise included what he had told them in the upper chamber that he would meet them there. It was arranged for a large gathering so he could reveal himself to his followers and remove their doubts before they continued his work without his personal presence. The disciples remained in Jerusalem through Passover week and then went to Galilee as directed. Meanwhile Jesus appeared to them twice in Jerusalem and told them to stay there for a time.

The meeting in Galilee was part of his first work after rising to assure the disciples, including those who had forsaken him, that he had not cast them off but was alive, had broken the power of the tomb, and still loved and cared for them with the same loving heart they had known. The angels' message is evidence of the resurrection because they had witnessed his life, trial, crucifixion, and words to his disciples.

Peter Named and Restored

The first word sent to the disciples after the resurrection named Peter by himself alongside the rest and promised that he also would see Jesus in Galilee. The risen Christ remembered him in particular and had his name spoken in the message, knowing that hearing it would lift him after he had denied his Lord and repented. That personal naming singled him out for reassurance and pointed forward to his being brought back to his place among the disciples and to his appointed work of caring for Christ's flock.

The separate naming was comfort for the fallen disciple, assuring him that he was not forgotten, forsaken or cast off by his sin-pardoning Saviour but was still claimed, thought of and loved. The mention of his name told him his repentance was accepted, his grievous sin forgiven and his faith restored, giving him hope and another opportunity. It was a most precious message after his thrice-repeated denial, signifying to him that he was forgiven.

That comfort met Peter's condition after his denial and the last look Jesus gave him, when he was deeply sorrowful and remorseful, weeping bitterly in deep humiliation and awful struggle. He hated himself and felt that although Jesus would forgive him he could never forgive himself, and his failure had grown out of self-confidence. Jesus knew all that sorrow, remorse and deep repentance, and did not forsake him in the hour of trial but still loved him. Coming to him while his soul was in that state, the message announced that Jesus had risen and still claimed him, calling him by name and sending him a loving word of forgiveness and reunion.

His inclusion showed Christ had not cast him off but freely forgave him and offered him another opportunity. The later meeting restored him to his place among the twelve, appointed him to care for the Lord's flock, and closed with the personal direction to follow Jesus.

Grace for Failing Disciples

The verse reveals wondrous love and matchless grace toward one who put Him to open shame. After Peter's fearful and humiliating denial of his Lord in the hour of trial, Jesus did not forsake, reject, or thrust him from Him. By naming Peter separately from the disciples and calling him to meet the risen Jesus in Galilee, the verse announces that Jesus has risen from the dead and still claims Peter, coming to him while his soul was in deep humiliation and awful struggle with personal assurance of forgiveness and reunion. Though Peter hated himself for failure rooted in self-confidence, the Lord still loved him, and after His resurrection lovingly remembered him, called him by name, and sent him a loving message. This shows a kind, loving, and compassionate Saviour who still loves those who are tempted and in weakness are overcome and betrayed into sin, who loves His disciples still when they err, loves them still and will forgive and pardon abundantly, continuing to love and care for His followers even when they fail.

What Christ did for Peter proves He will restore to Himself all who have dishonored Him. His prayer for Peter is offered for all who are humble and contrite in heart, and His message assured the fallen disciple that he was not forgotten by his sin-pardoning Saviour. The risen Christ specifically remembered Peter and included him with the other disciples to see Him in Galilee, knowing that hearing his name would encourage him after he had denied Jesus and repented. That personal thought for Peter in a small, considerate act teaches the value of giving encouragement that way.