The Easter Story from the Perspective of the Apostle Peter

After denying Jesus on Friday, Peter and the other ten disciples were in a state of bereavement and bewilderment. Even a report from some women that the tomb was empty was not sufficient evidence of anything more than a case of a missing body. It was crazy to believe that Jesus had arisen, even though He had said this would happen. Seeing the empty tomb, Peter went away wondering what had happened.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples later on Sunday, “They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost” John 21:37 (NIV). After hearing Jesus speak and seeing his hands and feet, “…they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement…” John 21:43 (NIV).

At this point, one might assume that the three years Jesus had invested in the disciples was not producing the results He intended; yet, His time with them in the last 40 days plus the indwelling of the Holy Spirit brought forth a commitment to Him that has been used to change the lives of so many.

The bewildered denier, Peter, became a bold declarer in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost where three thousand became believers.

Peter wrote the following in the book of 1 Peter (NIV): “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

How can I become one whose faith will result in praise when Jesus Christ is revealed? Could it be that I need to claim the promise that I am behind the shield of God’s power and boldly go about doing what He has called us to do – to be a witness unto Him?