This is Easter Sunday, and on Easter Sunday, we usually hear the story of the Resurrection, and for good cause. The Resurrection is the most important event of Christianity.

Jaroslav Pelikan
"If Christ is not risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is risen, nothing else matters."

But interestingly enough, so many churches make the focal point the Crucifixion. The death of Jesus is monumentally important, a pillar of our faith. And the basics of the cross are simple.

- All of us have sinned. Romans 3:23
- The wages of that sin is death. Roman 6:23
- God showed his love for us that even as sinners, Jesus died for us. Romans 5:8
- He did this to take our place, to bear our sin, to be our sacrifice. 1 John 4:10
- Through Jesus, we become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
- If we confess him as Lord and believe in our hearts God raised him from the dead, we are saved. Romans 10:9-10

This isn’t complicated. It doesn’t take an altar. It doesn’t take the third stanza of Just As I Am. If you believe this and you confess Jesus as Lord, you are saved, even now in your seat. “Jesus You are Lord. Save me.” If you mean it, he means it.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Stephen Charnock, Puritan Clergyman
“We lost a paradise by sin, and have gained a heaven by the cross.”

Aren’t you thankful for the cross?!?!?

While the Cross is a monumental pillar in our faith, the Cross only dealt with the sacrifice for sin. But God had a bigger plan for us than simply sin being dealt with.

John 10:10
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

God wants you to live! This isn’t just breathing air and having a heart beat.
And this also isn’t limited to you being happy. He wants you to have spiritual life, resurrected life, REAL life.

Romans 6:5-11
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

This is the true power of Easter: not just that our sins are forgiven through Jesus sacrifice on the Cross, but that we can embrace real life through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

This means that Easter should have a profound effect on us. It is more than a weekend to celebrate what Jesus did for us, but it is an invitation to the family, the Kingdom, to his purpose for your life.

As I have thought about this effect the Resurrection has on us over the last few weeks, I began to notice this effect that I’m talking about through Peter. But specifically in how he thought and acted before Jesus’ death, while Jesus was in the grave, and after Jesus’ resurrection.

Peter before Jesus Death
The Chosen series has really humanized the Gospels for me. It is so easy to read the Gospel narratives and separate their humanity from them. I think sometimes we get disconnected from the awe and wonder they were experiencing, and especially people like Peter who were in the inner circle.

He’d had front row seats to the most amazing things you could imagine. He’d seen blind people see, deaf hear, the mute speak. He’d seen lame men walk and withered hands restored. Water turned to wine, a kid’s lunch feed a multitude. Twice. He’d cast out spirits and calmed the storm. He even raised the dead. Three times.

He was completely caught up in the beauty and the glory and the power, the awe and the wonder, completely stupefied at what Jesus could do. He’d been invited into the room when others were sent out. He’d seen the Transfiguration. He’d heard every word of the Sermon on the Mount.

Peter before Jesus’ death was in awe of what Jesus did, and he was even convinced he was the Messiah, but he’d only known Jesus as the Messiah.

Who was the Messiah to a first century Jewish man?
He’d overthrow the Romans, restore Israel’s prosperity and peace, rebuild the Temple and reinstate the sacrificial system, and he would sit on the Throne of David.

It is safe to say that Peter, just like many of the disciples, saw the things that Jesus did and fully expected the results that would come with the Jewish idea of the Messiah.

They were constantly blown away. For example, Jesus had just walked on the water to them and calmed the storm. Hours before that, he fed 5000+ people with 5 loaves and 2 fish.

Mark 6:51
And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,

Astounded is: eksístēmi (from ek, "out of," and, histēmi, "to stand”), literally, "to remove from a standing position," “to be beside oneself," “flabbergasted, completely stupefied,” “at a total loss to explain or account for something”

THREE YEARS OF THIS. Jesus was beyond imagining and it seemed there was nothing impossible to him.

They called him Messiah and confessed he was the Christ. They marveled at his miracles and were eksistemi at what he did. But would Jesus be Lord of their lives, and would they embrace the Kingdom that Jesus came to bring?

Peter while Jesus was in the grave.
We already know about Peter’s failure in the courtyard.

Luke 22:60-62
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

After this, Jesus is delivered to be beaten, crucified, and buried. Peter was no where to be found.

The next thing we see of Peter is him running to the tomb with John. Imagine what was running through his head while he was running to the tomb. They get there, but still no Jesus.

Jesus appeared to the disciples a few times after he rose from the dead, notably in John 20 where Thomas doubted Jesus. We assume Peter was there but he wasn’t mentioned. Jesus presumably hadn’t said anything to Peter, if he was there. The Bible records so many times where Peter spoke up, but not this time?

Remember, Jesus had arisen, but as far as Peter is concerned, it is over. Even if Jesus was alive for real, Peter had blown it. There is no coming back after that level of betrayal, at least in his mind.

How can we know this? John 21 says it all. John 21:1-3
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Peter had enough. He’d already assumed it was over for him. He’d already assumed that his denial - check that - his THREE denials had taken him out of the game.

So he went back to all he’d known - fishing. And he even failed at that, catching nothing all night. Jesus said, “It is finished” on the cross. That is exactly how Peter felt.

Peter after the Resurrection.
I am so glad that John 21 doesn’t end with verse 3. As dark as Peter was between the betrayal and the resurrection, Jesus restored him. Jesus, standing on the shore, called to the men, “Fish on the other side.” It was the same thing that Jesus did when he first met Peter. Sometimes we get in a spiritual mess and it seems so impossible to dig out. Rather than trying to back track, why not just start back at the beginning. “Jesus you are Lord. Save me. I am yours.”

We read on in John 21:15-17, 19
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 19 And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

From that moment on, we see a very different person in Peter. He still had his foot in mouth moments. He was still impetuous. But he was a changed man due to Jesus’ love and forgiveness. And that was only the start.

In Acts 2, they got something those before them could only dream of.

Acts 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This moment changed Peter forever. Between the moment Jesus met Peter on the shoreline and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, he’d experienced insane ups and downs,

He’d said powerful word and ignorant ones. He’d seen miraculous moments and hopeless ones. He’d succeeded. He’d failed. He’d stood beside Jesus. And he betrayed him. He’d felt the depravity of his sin, been demoralized by Jesus’ death and burial, yet, he’d been forgiven and welcomed back to his Kingdom purpose. And now he’d been filled with the Holy Spirit.

Why is this such a big deal?
Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

And what was the result?
Acts 2:38-39
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

When you mix the forgiveness of the Cross, the life of the Resurrection, and the power of the Holy Spirit, the result is the courage to fulfill your Kingdom purpose.

You might be thinking, “For a message about Easter, he sure is talking a lot about Peter instead of Jesus” I want you to understand why.

There are three ways to look at Jesus that we can see through the lens of Peter:
- Before the cross
- In the grave
- After the resurrection

1. After the Resurrection
Isn’t this where we want to live? This is the power and the life and the joy of the Resurrection! this is sin defeated, death overcome, relationship with the Father restored. This is the life we were created to live!

And the results of this life lived completely in Christ Jesus does more than fulfill us. We see the monumental affect it has on the people around us as we fulfill our purpose! We see this demonstrated as Peter and John appeared before the religious leaders after they’d healed the lame man.

Acts 4:7-13
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

The courage to speak. The boldness to act. The power to accomplish. Every single one of us wants that deep down in our being, but it only comes one way: Complete and total commitment to Jesus Christ!

If you will embrace Jesus, you will experience the fullness of what life was really meant to be.

If this is how you’re living today, praise God and thank him! You are living out the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! You’ve been forgiven. You’ve been redeemed. You’ve been empowered. You are moving the Kingdom!

Living out the resurrection is the result of a total commitment to Jesus Christ.

Maybe you’d love to have that, but you’ve just lost hope.

2. In the Grave
Peter was broken-hearted during those three days, and over more that the betrayal. His best friend died. His only hope died. Peter’s version of Jesus died. And even though Jesus said it would happen, he was in despair, and sure, a lot of that may have been from the betrayal, but some, perhaps, from the fear that Jesus would stay dead.

Things weren’t turning out like Peter had hoped, whether that meant Jesus wasn’t really the Messiah, or how, even though he told Jesus “I’ll die with you,” he had betrayed Jesus. No matter the how or why, Jesus was dead, and Peter was hopeless.

Maybe that is you today. Maybe it didn’t go like you expected and hope died.

Psalm 27:13
I would have given up hope had I not believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

Great verse preacher, but if you were looking at what I am looking at, where’s the goodness? I don’t see goodness. I see heartache and brokenness, failures and hopelessness.

Nothing turned out like you’d hoped. What you spent years investing in is dead and gone. Along with your dreams and passion and joy. All you see is what could have been, maybe what should have been.

But, what does Jesus see?
Peter saw failures and heartache and a tomb with a body in it. You might be seeing the same thing. You see the letdown, the loss, your hopes in that tomb.

But that isn’t what Jesus sees.

We serve the risen God of Isaiah 61 who binds up the brokenhearted, who proclaims freedom to those captive, who comforts all who mourn; who gives them beauty for ashes, gladness instead of mourning, praise instead of a spirit of heaviness. He calls you an oak of righteousness, the planting of the Lord.

He says you’ll build up the ancient ruins, and raise up the former devastations, you will repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, instead of confusion you will rejoice in your portion. In your land you will possess double, and everlasting joy shall be yours.

Jesus doesn’t see failure and death and hopelessness. He sees YOU.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you, so fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. I know the plans I have for you, son and daughter, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. And why? Because I loved you so much that I gave myself so that if you will just believe in me, you won’t die, but you’ll have my everlasting life.”

Stop looking at what went wrong based on what you are seeing, and fix your eyes on what Jesus is seeing.

You just might find a resurrection is only a few hours away. And with the resurrection comes life, joy, hope, courage, relationship, aka the Kingdom.

3. Before the Cross
Believe it or not, this is where most people live.

Two things are certainties of Jesus before the Cross:
1. While he did miracles that blew their minds,
2. He wasn’t their Savior yet.

I bring up these to points because this describes the mindset of so many people today.

We love what Jesus does. We love the miracles and the impactful words. We love the kindness and gentleness and grace. And the crowds did too.

Mark 3:10
For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

This is the Jesus we want. The one Psalm 103 tells us about who forgives all our iniquity and diseases, who redeems our life from the pit and crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, who works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

We want the Jesus who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, who doesn’t deal with us according to our sins or repay us according to our iniquities, who is steadfast in his love toward those who fear him;

We want THAT Jesus!
We want him to do the things he does for us and as long as he does them, we’re good. Not the suffering or carrying our cross. Not the discipline and standing alone and rejecting the world.

That is why the crowds followed him, and it is why many people today do.
They are only interested in his hands, but not his heart.

The two certainties I mentioned before are the miracles that blew their minds, and the fact he wasn’t their savior yet. That is partially because they wanted what he did, not who he was, but also, he not been sacrificed yet.

Why is this a big deal?
Hebrews 9 tells us without the shedding of blood there is no repentance of sin.

Acts 2:36
Let all the house of Israel, therefore, know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified

The reason I reference Jesus’ lordship is that salvation comes through the work Jesus did on the Cross and the Resurrection, which is why Romans 10:9-10 speaks about confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in his resurrection.

This is so important because without the Cross there is no forgiveness or salvation, and without the resurrection, there is no life.

So all of these people followed Jesus based on what he could do for them,
yet none of them - including Peter - knew him as Lord and Savior
as he hadn’t accomplished that yet.

SO the point is that the people who followed Jesus before the crucifixion knew what he could do for them but they didn’t know him as Lord and savior

And sadly, so many people today still have the same experience.

You like Jesus. You follow him. You love what he does. You know he’s the one to turn to when life has you by the neck.

But while you are blown away by his miracles, he still isn’t your Lord.
You love what he can do, but he still isn’t your savior.

And in reality, you are one bad thing happening from walking away from him.

Peter before the cross could tell you what Jesus did. Peter after the resurrection told them who Jesus was. Before the cross, it was all about Jesus’ hands. After the resurrection, it was all about Jesus’ heart.

So which one are you?
- Are you living after the Resurrection, fully committed, walking in his power, moving the Kingdom?
- Are you still in the despair of Jesus being in the tomb, where things haven’t worked out like you planned, and you feel hopeless?
- Are you living before the Cross, you are following what Jesus can do, but you haven’t mad him Lord, you haven’t gone all in, he is still just a wise teacher, but not your Lord or savior?

Philippians 3:8-10
8…everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[c] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.

I want to ask you to take a moment and evaluate where you are living.

After the resurrection where Jesus is alive. In the grave where Jesus seems to have vanished. Before the Cross where Jesus is good but not yet your God.

If you are living after the resurrection, start praying for those around you now who are not.

If you are in the grave moment where things seem hopeless, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the work he is doing in your life. Now take a deep breath. You are alive. That means God is not finished with you yet. Take a moment and commit to seeing what he sees, to trusting him.

If you are living before the Cross, it is time to see him for who he really is. He isn’t a genie to satisfy your wants. He is your sacrifice, your savior, he is your lord.

But you need to confess it.

"Jesus, I confess you as Lord. I believe in my heart that you died on the cross for my sins, I believe that you rose again three days later. Save me. I am yours. In Jesus name, Amen."

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?

How does he want you to respond?