A Resurrected Friend

But maybe you’re also wondering: Would Jesus even want to have a relationship with me?

I am so flawed. I have made so many mistakes. Will Jesus just pronounce me guilty and send me away? Will this be just another relationship failure in my life?

If you are asking some of these questions, I have good news for you. Jesus wants to be your Friend, Savior, and Redeemer.

How do I know that?

Because when Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning, He purposely went to those who were broken, who doubted Him, and who denied Him. Jesus came back as a Resurrected Friend to those who were imperfectly trying to follow Him.

Let’s consider some of the imperfect people Jesus appeared to.

Mary Magdalene

Luke 8:2 tells us that Jesus “cast out seven demons.” We do not know anything about Mary Magdalene’s past other than her desperate need for deliverance. After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to Mary before He appeared to His disciples (John 20:14–18).

Are you desperate for change? Jesus is your Friend. Don’t fear—run to Him.

Peter

Have you ever heard of the “Peter Principle”? It refers to someone who has been placed in a position of responsibility that they are not ready for. How would you like to have a principle like that named after you?

Peter was one of the three disciples in the inner circle of Jesus’ closest followers. Yet Peter utterly failed Jesus before the crucifixion. He denied Jesus openly three times.

And yet, Jesus called Peter back into leadership in the soon-to-be-launched Christian church. This moment was so important that the Gospel of John concludes with the story of Peter’s restoration to leadership. Failure was not the end of Peter’s story—and it is not the end of yours either.

Two Confused Followers of Jesus

Are you confused about Jesus? Maybe you doubt that He is who He says He is—the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, 100% God and 100% man.

So were two followers of Jesus on the road after His resurrection. When Jesus appeared to them, they did not even recognize Him in their sorrow. They said, “We had hoped He was the Messiah…” (Luke 24:21). They missed the moment badly.

But Jesus revealed Himself to them anyway.

Have you failed to recognize Jesus in your life? Have you doubted that He is God? So did they. And yet, Jesus made Himself known to them—and He is revealing Himself to you right now. Accept His invitation to be your Friend, Savior, and Redeemer.

Confused and Hurt Former Churchgoers

Our world is full of them. Perhaps you are one of them.

Jesus is calling people back to the imperfect church—the place where hurt sometimes happens—because people are imperfect, and churches are imperfect.

Don’t return to a hurtful or dysfunctional church. But do find a community of genuine followers of Jesus who are imperfectly trying to become more like Him.

This is your season. This is your year.