Jesus Appears to Peter
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’
Horsham: 3rd May 2026
It’s easy to be critical of Peter. He is the one who always seems ready to say or do the wrong thing. We learn so much from his mistakes. He was at the heart of the story of the death of Jesus for all the wrong reasons. It was Peter who drew his sword and attacked one of the guards who had been sent to arrest Jesus (John 18:1-11). It was Peter who denied Christ three times while Jesus was being interrogated (John 18:15-27). It was Peter who led the disciples into hiding in fear of his own life after the burial of Jesus (John 20:19). It was Peter , as leader of the remaining disciples, who was suspicious of the testimony of the women that Jesus was alive (Luke 24:11). In human terms, there would be every reason for Jesus to turn his back on Peter. That’s not what happened. Jesus doesn’t think like we do.
8 ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,’
declares the Lord.
9 ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I wish that we knew more about this encounter. This tantalising verse in Luke’s gospel is the only mention in any of the Gospels that Jesus appeared to Peter, on his own, on the first day of his resurrection. This encounter was sufficiently well known and believed amongst the early followers of Jesus that Paul mentions it in his account of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-5), yet we know absolutely nothing more about it. What did Jesus say? Did he rebuke Peter? Did he encourage Peter? As with other moments in the resurrection story, we want to know more!
Along with his friends, Peter was devastated by the death of Jesus. For all of the disciples, the arrest, beating and crucifixion of Jesus was not any part of their concept of Messiah. Although Christ had warned that he would suffer and die, Peter never quite grasped that this was a necessary step for the Messiah.
We know that by the time of Pentecost, a few weeks after the death of Jesus, Peter came out fighting, full of confidence, and ready to fulfil the expectations of Jesus that he, Peter, would start building the Church. Whatever Jesus said to Peter during his resurrection, it changed him.
End Piece
I wonder whether you’ve experienced watching your team struggle in the first half of a game, but coming out for the second half with renewed vigour, enthusiasm and energy to win the match. The impact of a good half time talk can be extraordinary. With the right encouragement, a losing side cab be turned into a winning team.
Whatever Jesus said to Peter, it turned him round. A man who looked like he was falling short, came out filled with the Holy Spirit, bursting with confidence, overflowing with confidence. Peter went on to fulfill his purpose. To start something which continues to change the world.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.