Apostle Peter Series

Area #4: Love. The command to love God and one another is not an easy one to obey! Sometimes we get so caught up in accomplishing our goals that we see people as a “means to an end” rather than recipients of our love! When Jesus came to “Simon Peter” at the Last Supper and went to wash his feet he brashly told Jesus “you shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8). Since foot washing was considered the lowest and least desirable of all jobs, he could not accept Christ taking on that position. “Simon Peter” failed to understand this foot washing ceremony was symbolic of his need to be cleansed and forgiven. Later Peter would write that we are to “love each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). If we are to serve others in God’s kingdom then we need to be like Peter and love people despite their shortcomings and failures. It is so easy to see in others our sin and condemn them rather than show them the mercy we have already received!

Area #5: Compassion. Peter came to understand how important it was to show compassion. Jesus told “Simon” that once Satan had sifted them all as wheat, he was to strengthen his fellow apostles (Luke 22:31-32). Sometimes we get so engulfed in meeting our service goals that we can lose sight of our duty to stop and show compassion when others are hurting because of the sins they have committed. After having felt the utter sham of having denied Jesus Christ three times, “Peter” learned how important it is to help others who are lacerated by sin and personal failures. “Peter” wrote “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9). Like Peter with the same comfort we have received from Christ we are to comfort others (1 Corinthians 1:4) by helping them to see that those who seek forgiveness will receive it!

Conclusion

One can have an abundance of submission, restraint, humility, love and compassion; but without courage service to God rarely happens. We have many excuses as to why we do not serve inside of God’s kingdom, but nothing keeps us from service more than our fear that we are simply not worthy! Since we all sin and fall short of God’s glory this is merely an excuse for the real reason we do not serve: in the face of opposition it is so much easier to go along with the crowd and be like “Simon” and say, “I don’t know Him.” Once Peter had the power of the Holy Spirit inside of him, he had the courage to preach the Gospel message and to be crucified for doing so (John 21:18). Do you have the courage to go where your old-self does not want to go? Are you willing to die for Christ if He asks you to do so? Let me leave you with this parting thought: are you ready and willing to fulfill the divine role assigned to when you were born again or are you still too in love with yourself to love God and other people?

This sermon is based on John F. MacArthur Jr., Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (Nashville, TN: W Pub. Group, 2002).