Jesus Through The Eyes Of Peter

JESUS THROUGH THE EYES OF PETER

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: DEER SEASON HUMOR

1. A preacher, a lawyer, and a doctor went hunting together. They all shot the same deer at the same time. So when they went to tag it, they couldn't decide who could claim it, since all three had shot at the same time.

2. As they were discussing it, a game warden came along and they explained the situation. They asked, "Can you tell us who shot the deer?" The game warden leaned over the deer and quickly responded, "That's easy. The preacher shot it."

3. The men were incredulous, "How can you tell?" And the game warden responded, "Because it went in one ear and out the other."

B. THESIS & TITLE

1. We all see things differently. I see things you don’t see. You see things that I don’t see. We each have our own perspective of life.

2. QUESTION– WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO MEET JESUS? THE BIBLE GIVES US AN INSIGHT, BY EXPOSING US TO THOSE WHO KNEW JESUS BEST. ONE OF THOSE WAS PETER.

3. What made Peter different from other men, so that people fell dead before him, or that his shadow healed the sick, or that 1,000s were saved when he preached? It was his intimate exposure to Jesus!

4. This is important because it shows that as Peter walked with Jesus, he grew spiritually. Are you and I growing? Are we making progress? Are we conforming to the image of Jesus and are we changing people’s lives around us?

5. The title of today’s message is “Jesus through the Eyes of Peter.”

I. PETER’S BROTHER

1. Jesus entered Peter’s life through his brother Andrew who was a follower of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the first prophet to prophesy to Israel in 400 years. He wore a garment of camel’s hair with a wide leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey. When John saw Jesus pass by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (Jn. 1:36) Andrew overheard him and followed Jesus home and visited with Him.

2. Then Andrew went and got Peter, telling him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). The word "found" is “eurakamen,” from which we get our word “Eureka!” as of a wonderful discovery. Andrew had long sought and now found the Messiah!

3. John 1:41-42 says, “And he brought [Peter] to Jesus. Jesus looked at him [with prophetic vision] and said, “You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Rock).

4. Andrew a). Never wrote an Epistle; b). Never founded a Church; c). But was the instrumental to bring Peter to Christ. Praise God!

II. PETER’S HOUSE & MOTHER-IN-LAW

1. Next, Jesus came to Peter’s house. I’m glad that Jesus makes “house calls.” He wants to come to your house. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with “a great fever” (Luke 4:38;KJV).

2. The NIV describes it as a “high” fever, probably over 103 degrees. This indicates she had a dangerous bacteria or virus racking her body, from which she might have died.

3. Mark says that Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up (1:31). Jesus healed her. Jesus didn’t have to touch her; many times He just spoke and people were healed. But Jesus frequently touched people. He wants to touch you and me.

4. Peter’s house was a private residence. However, when the news of her healing got around town, people started coming from everywhere to get healed.

5. In fact, the Bible says that “the whole town gathered at the door,” and Jesus healed them. His ministry was multiplied because of “touch.”

III. PETER’S BOATS & NETS

A. JESUS IN PETER’S BOAT

1. One morning Jesus asked to use Peter’s boat to preach out of, because the crowd was getting too big that it crowded around Him. After He taught a while, Jesus asked Peter to launch out into deep water and let down his nets to catch some fish. Now, Peter and his fellow workers had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. They knew that early morning was the best time to catch fish, so trying mid-day would be useless. But Peter, having respect for Christ, did what He asked.

2. Luke 5:6-11 says, “6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat...and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 ...Jesus said... “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left