Peter's Easter

Various Passages

All of us either have, or will have at some time, what is defined as the lowest moment in our life. The lowest moment in Jesus’ life truly was when His shattered body was in the grave and He was dead. The joy of the resurrection is that Jesus’ lowest moment was followed by His greatest victory. Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and your sins, carried our sins to the grave and left them there.

But He did not stay in the grave. He arose. He lives. He is the victor over death and the grave. And that victory empowers our resurrection after our death.

But it also represents our victory over the darkest moments in our lives. We are given hope in our lowest point because of the Easter message. This was true for Peter. I want us to profile his life today and see Peter’s Easter.

I. Paramount

Peter was obviously a leader among the disciples. His named is usually mentioned first when the disciples are named (Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13). He was one of the three that was in Jesus’ inner circle. When Jesus went to heal Jarius’ daughter, Peter was one of three that was allowed in the room (Mark 5:34-43).

At the transfiguration, Peter was one of three disciples who were invited further up the mountain to witness this historical moment (Matthew 9:2-6). And he was one of three who saw Jesus in his agonizing in prayer in Gethsemane. He was asked to stay awake and pray also, but he fell asleep (Mark 14:33-42).

He appeared to be the most committed. When Jesus told of His death, burial and resurrection, many people stopped following Jesus. Jesus asked His disciples, “Will you go also?” It was Peter who said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:66-69.

It was Peter who seemed to be the spokesperson for the other disciples. When Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”, it was Peter who gave the great confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” At that time, Jesus gave His vision of Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:13-19.

Peter is the most discussed of the 12 disciples. He was viewed as the rising star of Christianity. Walking on water, speaking out…

This was before Peter denied Christ. Peter was one of the bravest of the Apostles. It was Peter who pulled out a sword to fend off the arresters of Jesus. (John 18:1-11) 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5 They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

That night Jesus was, in fact, arrested and tried. Only two disciples went to the palace to see the trial and the proceedings. The other disciples feared and hid. John 18:15-16 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.