The resurrection of Jesus was a cosmic victory that defeated death, dealt the fatal blow to evil, and ushered in the new reality of the Kingdom of God. Yet it is not enough to know the power of the resurrection in general. Like Peter, we need to experience it personally as well. Only then can we move from relying on what we can do for God to trusting what God has done for us through Jesus.

We all have grand ideas of who we think we should be, and we all have moments when we come face-to-face with how far we fall short of that. Peter was convinced that he would be faithful above all the other disciples, but when it came down to it he denied Jesus when it counted the most. His failure left him distraught with grief and shame, but Jesus held out hope for who Peter would be on the other side. And he has that same hope for us, even in the middle of our biggest mistakes.

Throughout his time as a disciple, Peter made plenty of mistakes. His human failings were included by the Gospel writers to teach that even though Peter was flawed, Jesus still continued to reveal more of himself to him. This is great news for us. Though we make mistakes and even go so far as to undermine God’s plans, he still loves us and uses us to build for the kingdom.

Jesus isn’t asking us for a perfect obedience, but a life-long obedience. Peter shows us how even if we are slow to say yes or quick to say yes, the important part is that we keep saying yes to Jesus! As we do so we grow in trust and understanding, which helps us know Jesus more and follow Him better.

Jesus tells us that we don’t need to impress God or work hard to get his attention. Prayer isn’t about convincing God to care and there isn’t a particular formula that we have to follow to make it effective. Jesus teaches us to pray in a way that aligns our heart with God’s heart, joining our will with God’s will.

Baptism is more than a one-time event. It is an act of faithfulness and obedience that immerses us into the the story and life of Jesus. Baptism marks our new identity in Christ along with all his people in order to serve the world in the restoration of all things.

Humble service is the expression of sacrificial love. Jesus modeled this for his disciples by washing their feet. Jesus' new commandment from John 13:34-35 for them to love each other just as he had loved them is true for us today as well. The ways we love and serve each other show the world that we belong to Jesus.

We often associate self-denial with punishment and misery, which is why many Christians avoid the practice of fasting. However, Jesus shows us that the point of fasting has never been punishment, but instead intimacy and transformation. Fasting declutters our lives and creates space for us to intentionally tune into God’s voice. The gift is a deeper relationship with Jesus and a heart set free.

What are we really doing when we do Communion? What does it mean to "do this in remembrance of Jesus"? The practice of taking Communion together is more than just a symbol. It helps us to embody our faith, and it reminds us that we've been delivered from sin, we live in light of the resurrection, and we wait in hope for the day when God will make all things new.