I still believe in you

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.” (Mark 16:7)

Two words caught my eye today. Two words so ordinary you could easily miss them.

“…and Peter…”

The angel didn’t just say, “Tell his disciples.” He said, “Tell his disciples…and Peter.”

Somehow, I don’t think the angel threw that in on his own.

I get the feeling Jesus specifically told him, “Hey, tell Peter that I mean him too. He’s probably still beating himself for denying me. But tell him, ‘I still believe in you.'”

And if Peter still had any doubts, Jesus alleviated them by appearing to him personally (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5), and then having another private chat with him later (John 21).

That’s encouraging to me. No matter how badly I mess up, Jesus still calls me by name and says, “I believe in you.”