The break from chapter 26 to chapter 27 might distract us from seeing how Matthew has juxtaposed the stories of the two disciples who failed: Peter (Matthew 26:69-75) and Judas (27:3-10). We are used to thinking that Judas was lost beyond hope of redemption; but if we simply read the text without stopping between chapters, we can see that Matthew has shown us that there were actually not one but two disciples who turned away from their master. After the story of their failures, there will be no mention of either of them by name in the remainder of Matthew’s book.

Yet something interesting happens when we read, almost at the very end of the book, that “the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them” (28:16). We are used to hearing about “the twelve disciples,” so we pause for a moment and then we remember, oh yeah, Matthew told us how we lost two of them, Peter and Judas. But wait, wouldn’t that mean that it should be ten disciples? Why does it say eleven?

Matthew has not given us any indication of how Peter got restored, yet he has subtly indicated to us that Peter came back. The last we saw of him, Peter had promised he would be faithful and then had denied Jesus three times, and was weeping hopelessly in the alley. Nevertheless, it turns out that “the eleven disciples” met Jesus in Galilee: no special mention of Peter, yet there along with the other disciples, hearing the Great Commission, from whence he would go on to make disciples, baptize, and teach (28:19-20).

We have all failed our Lord, too many times to count. But even in our worst failures, even in the face of our most bitter weeping (26:75), there is nowhere else to go. Judas decided his case was hopeless, and executed judgment on himself. Peter somehow did not give up, but instead gathered with the other followers of Jesus. That’s what we need to do, too.

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We are so grateful, Lord, for the astonishing depth of your forgiveness. You keep taking us back, as long as we keep showing up. Give us grace, we pray, that we may yet learn diligence and faithfulness, to follow as your disciples.