There were many in the crowd in turmoil as He was dying.

After passionately telling Jesus that he would never leave him, Peter had refused to admit to the public that he was acquainted with Jesus, at one time saying he didn’t even know him.

But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 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.” And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:60-62

As he was denying him, Peter caught eyes with Jesus across the courtyard. He ran away weeping bitterly.

Imagine the pain. Once, when asked by Jesus if he wanted to leave him, Peter had said “where else would I go?” Jesus was Peter’s all, his hope, his Savior. Peter had left everything to follow Him. Now, Jesus is being ridiculed by the public marching to the cross, and Peter is acting like he doesn’t know him. The denial of Jesus ripped Peter’s heart out.

Also in the crowd was Mary Magdalene. The Bible tells us that Jesus had cured her from seven demons. Mary Magdalene had apparently been very sick, and Jesus healed her. Immediately, she went from hopeless to hope-filled. She followed him to his death, standing among those that were hurling insults and nailing Jesus to the cross.

but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25

As she watched, her healer, the one who changed her life, was being killed. It ripped her heart out.

Along with Mary and Salome, Mary Magdalene was among the first to visit the tomb after his death. Upon arriving, they were startled to see the stone rolled away. Not understanding, Mary began weeping outside the tomb.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. John 20:11

An angel comforts Mary Magdalene and gives her an important message.

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:7-8

The angel immediately fills Mary with hope. Jesus is risen, He is alive. The angel also specifically gives her a message of hope to take to the one that is possibly hurting more than anyone. The one who had turned his back on Christ. Peter. It is as if Jesus was saying, “go and tell Peter that everything is okay. I forgive him.”

So, Mary Magdalene, the one who had been healed, given hope from a state of despair, becomes the one to deliver the message of hope to Peter. I can only imagine when Mary’s eyes met Peter and delivered the news.

It was one thing to hear the news that He had risen, but Jesus would appear in flesh. In fact, the first person Jesus appeared to, perhaps the one who had hurt most at his death, Mary Magdalene. It was true, and Mary’s heart was healed.

Meanwhile, Peter solemnly went back to his old profession.

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. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. John 21:3-7

Overcome with excitement at seeing Jesus alive, Peter dives into the sea. You get the picture of him running to the arms of Christ, uncontrolled excitement.

Mary Magdalene and Peter, two people hurting for different reasons after the death of Jesus, are both uniquely ministered to by Jesus. He individually reached out to each of them in unique ways, knowing the hurt and hopelessness that had filled their hearts. Christ gives us a picture of his heart, his care, his love for people through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and Peter. A picture of how he uniquely ministers to individuals. He meets people where they are.

The same hope given to Mary Magdalene and Peter is given to us today. The same healer of hearts is with us. The one that deeply cares when individuals hurt and are lost in despair is with us. He is risen, and He uniquely ministers to us. He meets us where we are.

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

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