Two Simple Words

“When have you believed that grace was for everyone else but you—and what would it feel like if Jesus whispered your name and called you into the resurrection story?”

“How often do you measure yourself by your mistakes, wondering if God could still use you—and what would it mean to hear Him call you personally, right now, saying, ‘And you’?”

Every person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.Every Christian ought to know that when Jesus Christ was dying on the cross, they were on His mind!

………

Peter was not the only one to fail that weekend.

Peter was not the only one that weekend to run when the Shepherd was smitten.

But his sin was clearly on his mind— he felt the weight of failure for three long days.

Peter might have said

I have seen the Messiah— and I have denied Him.

What name is left for me now?

The others whisper hope, but hope feels like a language I no longer speak.

The cross stands somewhere behind me. The tomb waits somewhere ahead.

And I— I am caught between wood and stone, between what I’ve done and what He said.

Hopelessness is the state of having no expectation of improvement, success, or positive outcomes, characterized by profound despair, helplessness, and a lack of hope

…………

But “Jesus didn’t just rise from the grave—He rose with Peter on His mind.”

The Story of Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson grew up in the South, in a time and place where racism and injustice were still deeply rooted.

But he had a gift—he was brilliant.

He went to law school and could’ve taken a high-paying job, lived comfortably, and stayed far away from hard situations.

Instead… he chose the opposite.

He decided to defend people that nobody else wanted.

The forgotten.

The poor.

The condemned.

He began working with prisoners on death row—people society had already decided were beyond hope.

And early in his career, he was given a case that would change his life forever.

A man named Walter McMillian.

Walter was accused of murder in Alabama.

He was quickly convicted and sentenced to death.

But there was one problem:

He didn’t do it.

There were witnesses who said Walter was somewhere else when the crime happened.

There was no solid evidence tying him to the scene.

But in a broken system, truth didn’t matter as much as assumptions.

So Walter sat on death row… waiting to die… for a crime he didn’t commit.

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The Turning Point

Bryan Stevenson went to meet him.

Now imagine this moment:

A young lawyer…Sitting across from a man the world has already labeled as finished.

And Stevenson expected to talk about legal strategy.

But instead, what he encountered was something deeper.

Over time, through conversations with people like Walter, Stevenson began to realize something:

The system wasn’t just lacking fairness.

It was lacking something else.

Something human.

Something spiritual.

It was lacking mercy.

And that realization eventually came down to two words that would define his life:

“Just mercy.”

Not just justice.

Not just punishment.

But mercy.

Two simple words turned someone’s life around— but mercy.

the depths of Peter’s denial— what it means

When we enter Peter’s denial

Luke 22:54–62 “Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

we are not just witnessing fear—we are witnessing the unraveling of identity.

First Denial – Distancing Himself

Text: Luke 22:56–57 (also Matthew 26:69–70, Mark 14:66–68, John 18:17)

A servant girl looks closely at Peter and says:

“This man was with Him.”

Peter responds:

“Woman, I do not know Him.”

What it means: This is the temptation of subtle disassociation— soft distancing!

Second Denial – Denying Association

Text: Luke 22:58 (also Matthew 26:71–72, Mark 14:69–70, John 18:25)

Another person says: “You also are one of them.”

Peter replies: “Man, I am not!”

(Matthew notes he even adds an oath.)

What it means: This is the temptation of protecting reputation.

The pressure increases—now it’s not just observation, but accusation.

Peter becomes more forceful

He verbally denies belonging to Jesus’ followers

Third Denial – Complete Rejection

Text: Luke 22:59–60 (also Matthew 26:73–74, Mark 14:70–71, John 18:26–27)

A group insists: “Surely you are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”

Peter responds: “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!”

(Matthew and Mark say he begins to curse and swear.)

What it means: This is the temptation of self-preservation at all costs.

The crowd is confident—Peter feels trapped

He escalates to emphatic denial, even invoking curses

This is no longer distancing—it’s outright rejection

Spiritual insight: Fear, when unchecked, can push a person to deny what they once boldly confessed.

Peter the Apostle is not a casual follower and his denial was not just one of embarrassment or sugar-coating his identity.

The one who walked on water

The one who confessed, “Thou art the Christ”

Matthew 16:13–18 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The one who vowed, “I will die with thee”

Matthew 26:34–35 “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”

And yet, in a courtyard, before strangers, he says, “I know Him not.” Taking an oath, he disavowed all allegiance to the Lord Jesus! Through disassociation, Peter is not just lying; he is severing visible connection to Jesus to preserve himself. The gospels record that he

Distance (he “followed afar off”)

Pressure (questioning, accusation)

Collapse (denial, cursing) “Peter didn’t fall in the courtyard—he fell long before. He even fell before he began to follow at a distance. Peter fell slowly and incrementally every time he did anything in his own power and strength— every time he thought he had the world by the tail— temptation— his inner life by the tail— drew him oh so slowly into a pit of despair!

AT THAT MOMENT WHEN JESUS WAS GIVING HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR PETER- PETER WAS SEEKING TO SAVE HIS LIFE FROM THE HOUNDS THAT SOUGHT HIM.

the despair he felt- what it looked like

he wept bitterly!

THIS IS ALL AN EXERCISE IN REMEMBERING—

Remember! Bread and Wine

Remember! What He said!

In that instant, everything converged:

The warning of Jesus Christ

His own bold claims of loyalty

The reality of what he had just done

This wasn’t gradual guilt—it was instant, overwhelming clarity.

Peter didn’t just realize he had sinned— he realized he had become the very thing he swore he never would be.

To the heights of what Peter accomplished as a preacher— what it represents

Acts 2- THE PREACHER

Acts 4:1- THE ULTIMATE 2ND CHANCE

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….suppose the gospel of Mark was the only Bible you had…and that Bible only had 15 chapters…what would you think the last chapter of Mark’s life would be?

FAILURE. REGRET. WEEPING. DEPRESSION. A GOOD MAN SEEN AT HIS WORST.

IF I CAN SAY IT THIS WAY, WE DON’T HAVE A 15 CHAPTER SAVIOR. WE HAVE A 16-CHAPTER SAVIOR.

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All hinging on two words— and Peter.

PETER MUST HAVE THOUGHT— If He’s not done with me, then I should be done with Him!

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Because Stevenson realized:

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The Outcome

BRYAN STEVENSON fought for Walter McMillian. For years. Facing opposition, corruption, and resistance. But he didn’t quit. And eventually… the truth came out. Walter McMillian was proven innocent. His conviction was overturned. And after years on death row… He walked out a free man.

But the story didn’t end there. Those two words—“just mercy”—reshaped Bryan Stevenson’s entire life. He went on to start the Equal Justice Initiative (chatgpt://generic-entity?number=3) And through that work, he has helped:

    •    Free innocent people

    •    Defend the wrongly condemned

    •    Fight injustice across the nation

He even wrote a book called Just Mercy (chatgpt://generic-entity?number=4) All because two words changed how he saw people.

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And here’s the connection: two simple words: “Just mercy”…“And Peter”…

They are saying the same thing.

Because when Jesus says “and Peter,” He’s not just giving instructions. He’s extending mercy. He’s saying: “Peter, I saw your failure… but I’m not finished with you.” “Peter, I heard your denial… but I still call your name.” “Peter, you think you’re disqualified… but I’m adding you back in.”

Some of you are living in a “Peter moment.”

You’ve messed up.

You’ve failed.

You’ve said things you regret.

You’ve done things you wish you could undo.

And now you think: “I’m done.” “I don’t belong.” “God can’t use me anymore.” But the message of the resurrection is still the same: “Go tell the disciples… and you.”

Because Jesus doesn’t just rise from the grave— He calls names. He restores failures. He brings people back in. So whatever you’ve done… wherever you’ve been… how far you think you’ve fallen… There are still two words with your name on them:

“And you.”