Romans 2:11 says, “There is no respect of persons with God.” The context of this verse is about the judgment of God. It doesn’t matter what your nationality, or gender we will all give account to God. Luke 9:28 says, “…He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.” Matthew 17 tells the story of how Jesus took Peter, James and John to a mountain, where the Lord was transfigured before them. Why only them and not the other disciples? Did Jesus have favorites among the disciples? Why in John 20:2 is John described as the one whom Jesus loved? Why was Peter and John singled out to be the ones to prepare the Passover meal in Luke 22? John 13:23 describes how close John felt to the Lord as to actually lay his head on the chest of Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord told his disciples to wait and pray, but he then took Peter, James and John deeper into the garden with Him. Why would he choose only those three?
Is it true that our Lord loves some more than others? The answer is not in how our Lord felt about them but how they felt about our Lord. Peter and John had distinct and much different personalities. Peter would be defined by the written record we have of him, as a person of great courage. When Jesus asked the question, who do you say I am? It was Peter who said you’re the Christ, the son of the living God. It was Peter who pulled the sword and cut the servant's ear off in the garden. John on the other hand would be defined as one of great affection and passion. To lay his head on the chest of Christ would be an act of affection and love.
Fast forward to the day of the news of the resurrection of Jesus recorded in John 20. Mary carries the news of the empty tomb to Peter and John. Courage and love in the form of Peter and John began running to the tomb. The story says that John outruns Peter to the tomb, but when they arrived, John stooped down to look inside while Peter went inside. The principle of truth is this, your love for Christ will bring you to Him faster than anything else but it takes courage to walk in. Many are standing just outside where Jesus wants us to be. I desperately want to lay my head on the chest of the Lord and feel the affection of Christ. I also want the courage to be able to walk in the dark tomb to discover the miraculous power of resurrection. John 20:8-9 tells us that after courage walked in the tomb then love followed. The testimony of love becomes faith, for when John walked into the tomb he saw and believed. After Peter and John both saw the empty tomb they went home. Mary stayed. Mary was alone in a graveyard. Mary stayed at the place of pain. Mary stayed at the place of despair until Jesus showed up. So great was her grief, that she didn’t even recognize Him when He spoke. When she did recognize that He was there and speaking her name she must have reached out to touch Him. He said, touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
Jesus placed the plan of redemption for the entire world on hold to visit one woman in pain. What a story. A story of love, courage and perseverance to be where Jesus wants us to be. I believe these same traits are what we need in this day. One trait no better than the other but all working their function toward leading us to the place where He can reveal Himself to us in wonderful ways.
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