In his great Galatians lectures of 1535, Dr. Martin Luther, of blessed and holy memory, wrote on Galatians 3:13 saying, "When He took the sins of the whole world upon Himself, Christ was no longer an innocent person. He was a sinner burdened with the sins of a Paul who was a blasphemer; burdened with the sins of a Peter who denied Christ; burdened with the sins of a David who committed adultery and murder, and gave the heathen occasion to laugh at the Lord. In short, Christ was charged with the sins of all men, that He should pay for them with His own blood. The curse struck Him. The Law found Him among sinners. He was not only in the company of sinners. He had gone so far as to invest Himself with the flesh and blood of sinners. So the Law judged and hanged Him for a sinner."   When we say that Jesus became David the adulterer and Cain the murderer, we believe that Jesus died that the sins of lust and murder can be forgiven. Yes, we believe that Jesus died so that those who are penitent of their sins may be forgiven. 

We believe that Jesus died for all sinners because He invested Himself in the flesh and blood of sinners. This is to say that, in this blessed exchange, Jesus became the sinners of the world. One of the most difficult ones to get around for us is Peter the Denier. Peter denied Christ three times and then went and hid out of fear of what the Jews would do to him. In the time of testing, Peter rejected Christ and denied Him before men. What does Jesus say about those who deny Him before men? Jesus says He will also deny this one before His Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:33). Yes, we also know of the sin of rejecting the Holy Spirit, that this is the unforgivable sin. Is rejecting Christ something that Jesus died on the cross for?

What does rejecting Christ look like? If we are to say that Jesus became the rejector on the cross, then we have to know what that looks like. Well, it looks like one who doesn't believe at all, who rejects the words of Scripture and doubts God's very existence, meaning an atheist or an agnostic. A rejecter can be a adult or child who denies the faith and does not believe it. This is the most obvious rejecter. However, the rejecter is also he who does not confess Jesus before men. Yes, when we do not confess Jesus before men, in either our words or our actions, then we deny Him before men. Yes, we can outright reject Christ, but we also do this when we do not live in faith toward God and in fervent love toward our neighbor. Yes, when we skip church for other activities that somehow have greater everlasting benefits than the forgiveness of sins, we are denying Christ before men. There are extremes for every sin, meaning that sometimes sin is very obvious and other times it is subtle. Did Jesus become both the obvious denier and the subtle rejecter? 

Did Jesus invest in the flesh and blood of those who openly reject Christ and for those who, without thinking about it, deny Him before men? Yes, on the cross Jesus became Peter the denier. When the law found Him, the law did not find the sinless Son of God, but weak and rejecting Peter who denied His Lord before men. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for those who reject Him and don't believe in Him. Yes, Jesus died for those who live in skeptical rejection of His love and mercy. Jesus died for those who deny Him. Jesus died so that the sin of rejection may be forgiven.

What did Jesus do after His resurrection with Peter? Did He condemn Peter and send him away? Did He tell Peter there's not a chance that he will ever see the pearly gates? No, but rather, we read the recording of Peter being forgiven and restored. Yes, we read of this absolution which says, "When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:15-19).  What did Jesus do for Peter? He did not reject him, but forgave him his denial. Yes, Jesus forgave Peter three times, for the three times he denied him. Yes, Jesus forgave Peter unconditionally and bade him to follow Him. Yes, Jesus did not reject Peter, but accepted him in the forgiveness of his sins. 

Do you know someone who rejects Christ. Maybe its a friend, a spouse, or even one of your own children. It is hard to watch someone reject Christ and His love. It is very easy to get angry about the whole thing. it is very easy to despair and live in the fear that your loved one will never enter heaven, but will burn forever in hell instead. However, you must dwell on the reality that Jesus, on the cross, became the one who rejects Him. Yes, on the cross, Jesus paid the debt for every skeptic. On the cross, Jesus died that He may forgive everyone who rejects Him. What did Jesus cry out on the cross, "Father, punish them, for they know what they are doing?" No, but rather, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The forgiveness of Jesus trumps the rejection of the sinner. Yes, Jesus did not abandon Peter, but did all the work needed that Peter could be forgiven and kept in the true faith. This is the same truth for you and for anyone who rejects Christ. Peter was forgiven and now dwells forever in the eternal dwellings as a beloved saint. May the Holy Spirit grant the same mercy and forgiveness on those who reject today, softening their hearts that they may receive the gift of forgiveness that Jesus purchased and won on the cross for them. May we know when we ourselves reject and repent, knowing that our Lord Jesus loves us and desires nothing more than to forgive us that we may live with Him forever. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam drowned anew that you may hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I love you. I forgive you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog