Wanted, by Mike Glenn

"Wanted: Dead or Alive" posters are the staple of all the great westerns. Sometime during the movie, someone will pull out a folded piece of paper with the words "Wanted" stamped in large letters across the page. In the middle of the page will be a pencil sketch of a face that could have been anybody in America, but the bearer of the paper is sure it's a picture of the cowboy standing in front of them.

Being wanted means being on the run.  Ducking in and out of the shadows, always afraid someone will recognize you and turn you into the authorities. You’re living on the run, doing everything you can to delay, if not totally avoid, the impending confrontation. 

Can you imagine how Peter must have felt? The women return from the empty tomb with the incomprehensible news that Jesus is alive. The women had seen the empty tomb! They had seen Jesus! Jesus was waiting for them in Galilee. And, oh yeah, Peter, Jesus said he was looking for you. 

Can you imagine what was going through Peter's mind? The last time he had seen Jesus was when he had denied him. Not once, but three times! Peter had sworn he wouldn't deny Jesus, but he had. Over and over again, Peter told the crowd around him that he didn’t know who Jesus was. Then, the rooster crowed. 

Now, Jesus was looking for him.

Uh oh. 

This can't be good. It's never good news when you get called to the principal's office. Now, Jesus was looking for Peter. This was going to be bad. Peter's blood must have run cold hearing the women mention his name. How would you have felt if you were Peter? The women return from the tomb and say, "Pete, Jesus is looking for you."

And Jesus did find Peter. We know the rest of the story. There on the shores of Galilee, Jesus called Peter by his name and in doing so, called him back to ministry.  Jesus had been looking for Peter, but to redeem him, not to condemn him. Peter probably hadn't thought about that.

Neither do we. We assume that if God is looking for us, it can't be good news. Our first response is to avoid the encounter all together. Will do whatever we can to postpone any conversation with Jesus. We’ll go to church and stay so busy we don’t have time to talk to Jesus. Will drive in our car with our music 30 decibels too loud. Any quiet moment is quickly canceled out with our ever present screens.

 Why do you think most of us don't pray? It's not that we're too busy or lack faith. We're afraid of what Jesus might bring up.  We're all too aware of our failures. Who knows where Jesus would begin?

If Jesus had a fistful of 'Wanted' posters in His hand as He left the tomb, surely it had to be a list of people He was going to bring to justice. Pilate's name would have been on that list. The religious leaders' names would have been on that list.

And of course, Peter who betrayed Him, his name would have been on that list.

And our names would’ve been on that list as well. Our faces would be on those Wanted posters.  Jesus wouldn't quit until He found us --Peter, the women, the disciples  and yes, you and me.

Easter isn't over. It's just begun. Jesus is alive and he’s waiting on the road just ahead of us.

But it's not to catch us or condemn us. It's to redeem us. His arms aren't stretched out on the cross anymore. They're stretched out for us.

Imagine how Peter must have felt when he realized Jesus was looking for him. My guess it's the same way you and I feel when we realize Jesus is looking for us. He had no idea how much love Jesus could carry. He didn’t know how much grace Jesus would bring. 

Neither do we. Good news! Jesus is alive. 

…and he’s looking for us.