By Pastor Mario D. Ford
If you are a sports aficionado, you know that benching occurs when the decision is made not to allow a player in game or a player has been removed from the game because of flagrant foul.
Brothers and sisters, we do one another that way; make enough mistakes, do enough wrong, people will say they wash their hands of you, ain’t goanna have nothing else to do with you, and will move on from you.
However, when I look back over my life; I’m so glad God didn’t wash His hands of me, God never gave up on me, and He never forsook me.
Wherefore, I don’t give up on anybody because God never gave up on me.
Mark 16 records the events of Resurrection Morning, as Jesus has been crucified and is now risen from the dead.
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome had come to anoint the body of Jesus for burial, an angel had rolled away the stone placed at the entrance of the tomb, and further tells these sisters that Jesus was not there but He is risen as He said He would.
Moreover, the angel gives a message for the sisters to tell the disciples and Peter, to meet Him in Galilee.
While the Passover meal was being eaten, Peter promised his allegiance to Jesus, saying he would be willing to lay down his life for Him.
A few hours later, Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane, takes Peter with him, to stand guard, and Peter falls asleep.
When Jesus was arrested, Peter drew his sword and cut off one of the soldier’s ears.
Later that same night, while Peter was hanging out by the fire, he was accused of being with Jesus and ultimately denied even knowing Jesus three times.
Despite all these fouls, the Lord didn’t bench Peter and He doesn’t bench us, regardless of how many times we mess up.