12 Disciples – Peter – Monday 25th September 06
Originally named Simon, Peter was a Galilean fisherman (Mark 1:16; Luke 5:2; John 21:3), the son of Jona (Matt. 16:17; John 1:42; 21:15-17) and brother of Andrew. John 1:35 -44 tells us that the brothers came from the village of Bethsaida and had been disciples of John the Baptist before they became disciples of Jesus.
The name ‘Peter’ is the Greek word for ‘rock’ (petra) The Greek rendering of the Aramaic name, Cephas, is also used for Peter in John 1:42.
All of the Gospel traditions place Peter among the first disciples to be called, frequently along with his brother Andrew and the sons of Zebedee (cf. Mark 1:16-20; Matt. 4:18-22; in John 1:40-42 Peter is summoned by Andrew and given his ‘name’ as part of his calling).
Luke 5:1-11
1. Called By Christ.
This account of Peter’s calling is the example of how we should respond to the call for discipleship. Confronted with Jesus’ divine power evident in the large catch, Peter confessed his own sinfulness (Luke 5:6-8). When summoned to change his life and become a ‘fisher of men,’ Peter and his companions left everything in order to follow Jesus (vv. 9-11).
Peter’s possessions were always at Jesus’ disposal. Jesus stayed at Peter’s house at Capernaum, where He healed Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31; Matt. 8:14-15; Luke 4:38-39). He used Peter’s boat as a place from which to speak to the crowd (Luke 5:1-3).
2. Walks on Water (Matthew 14:28 – 31)
The forth watch was 3am – 6am (darkest part of night). For hours the disciples have struggled in the midst of the stormy sea. They see the Lord approaching and think that He is a ghost. Our attention then turns to Peter. (Two ways of seeing this)
Before we criticise him for sinking, it took a great step of faith to get out of the safety of the boat and onto the stormy sea.
Why did he sink? (eyes off Lord)
3. Publicly Confesses Christ (Matthew 16:16 – 18)
Christ asks a rhetorical question (He knew everything – even men’s thoughts) A right confession of who He is determines salvation (Rom 10:9-10, 13) Some thought He was John the Baptist others thought He was Elijah.
Look at Peters response. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Who do men today say that Christ is? Jw’s, Mormons, etc… You?
4. Witnesses Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1 – 8)
Peter is credited with being a leader among the disciples during Jesus’ ministry. Frequently, he was their spokesman. His name always occurs first in lists of the disciples (Mark 3:16; Luke 16:14; Matt. 10:2; in Matthew ‘first’ is added to Peter’s name). Along with James and John, he is singled out for special revelations of Jesus’ divinity (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51, the healing of Jairus’ daughter; Mark 9:2; Matt. 17:1; Luke 9:28, the transfiguration)
The Transfiguration was, first of all, a picture of the coming kingdom. Jesus promised that some of the disciples would not see death until they had seen His kingdom (Mat 16:28). Read carefully 2 Peter 1:16-20 for Peter’s explanation, and you will see that it has to do with the promised kingdom.
Peter had just recently confessed Christ as the Son of God (16:16) and had learned the truth about His coming death (16:21-23). He and the other disciples were probably asking, “If He is going to die on the cross, what about all the promises of the kingdom? Will they be fulfilled?” Christ in His transfiguration assured them that the Word would stand and the kingdom would come.
The scene is actually a picture of the kingdom: Christ glorified, the three apostles representing the redeemed Israel, Moses representing saints who died in Christ, Elijah representing saints who were raptured (for Elijah did not die), and the multitudes at the foot of the mountain representing the other nations.
Again Peter speaks with a carnal viewpoint and tempts Jesus from the cross! The Father rebukes him. “Hear ye Him!” (Mat 18:5) is still God’s message, for Christ is God’s “last word” to men (Heb. 1:1-3). The law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) witness to Christ (Luke 24:27, 44), but Christ is superior to Moses and Elijah (see Rom. 10:4; Acts 10:43.) “Jesus only” (v. 8) is the only safe attitude for the Christian to have.
5. Denies Christ (John 18:15 – 27) –
Peter had promised that he would follow Jesus even to death, only to be answered with Jesus’ prophecy that he would in fact deny him (Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:33-34; Matt. 26:33-35; John 13:37-38).
The narrative focuses on Peter now, and we see his sad decline. In the Upper Room, Peter had boasted three times that he would remain true to Christ (Matt. 26:33, 35; John 13:37).
In the Garden, he had gone to sleep three times (Mark 14:32-41) when he should have been praying. Then he denied the Lord three times, and in John 21 had to confess his love for Christ three times!
In the Upper Room Peter fell into the snare of the devil (Luke 22:31-34); in the Garden he yielded to the weakness of the flesh; and now in the priest’s courtyard, he would surrender to the pressures of the world. How important it is to watch and pray!
We do not know who the unnamed disciple was in v. 15. It may have been Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea. Whoever he was, this disciple led Peter into a sin by opening the door for him! Verse 18 says “it was cold,” so Peter sat by the fire, but Luke 22:44 states that Christ had been sweating as He prayed that night! Peter was cold both physically and spiritually and had to warm himself at the enemy’s fire. He had “walked in the counsel of the ungodly” and was now “standing in the way of sinners.” He would soon “sit in the seat of the scornful” (see Ps. 1:1). While Christ was suffering, Peter was warming himself, not sharing Christ’s sufferings at all.
Peter had a cold heart, and because his heart was not right, he had difficulty answering those who questioned him (see 1 Peter 3:15). When the cock began to crow, Peter remembered the Word. It was forgetting the Word that got him into sin, and now by remembering the Word, his cold heart was warmed again (Luke 24:32) and he wept in repentance.
6. Exhorted By Christ
Because Peter had denied Christ three times publicly, he had to make it right publicly. Note that Christ fed Peter before He dealt with his sins. How like the Lord to bless us first, then deal with us! The issue was Peter’s love for Christ. If a man really loves Christ, his life will be devoted and dedicated. Note that Christ gives Peter a new commission: he is now a shepherd (pastor) besides being a fisher of men. (See 1 Peter 5.) He is now to shepherd the lambs and sheep and feed them the Word of God. All Christians are expected to be fishers of men (soul-winners), but some have been called into the special ministry of shepherding the flock. What good is it to win the lost if there is no church where they might be fed and cared for?
There is a vast difference between sonship (being saved) and discipleship (following the Lord). Not all Christians are disciples. When Peter sinned, he did not lose his sonship, but he did fall away from his discipleship. For this reason Christ repeated His call, “Follow Me.” Christ also confronts Peter with the cross (v. 18), indicating that Peter would one day be crucified himself
Had not Peter met Christ here in John 21, confessed his sin, and affirmed his love, we would not have read about Peter again in Acts 1. God was able to use Peter later because he made things right with the Lord. Christ blesses and uses those who obey and follow Him.
7. Preaches at Pentecost (Acts 2)
Keep in mind that Peter was not preaching the Gospel of the cross as we preach it today. He was accusing Israel of a great crime (vv. 23) and warning them that they had rejected and crucified their own Messiah (v. 36). Peter was giving Israel one more opportunity to receive Christ. They had slain John the Baptist and Jesus, but God was now giving them another chance. The resurrection of Christ was the promised “sign of Jonah” that proved He was the Messiah (Matt. 12:38-40).
The men were convicted and asked Peter for counsel. Peter told them to repent, believe and be baptized; in that way they would be identifying themselves with Jesus as the Christ. This is the same message John the Baptist (Mark 1:4) and Jesus (Matt 4:17) preached. There is no salvation in the waters of baptism, for salvation is by faith in Jesus.
8. Jailed (Acts 12)
Here we read one of the last instances of Peter’s ministry among the early believers. Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great, was, like his forbears a murderer. He goes after the “Church”
He kills James and when he saw that it pleased the Jews he went after Peter. There is a practical lesson here: when Satan wanted to hinder the work of the church, he went after Peter and James. He goes after the best Christians and seeks to hinder their work. Are we the kind of Christians that Satan wants to attack? It is significant that Peter was delivered while James was permitted to die. God has a unique purpose for each of His own.
The word “Easter” in v. 4 should read “Passover.” This ceremony would last eight days, after which Herod promised to kill Peter to please the Jews. For safety’s sake, he assigned four relays of four guards each to watch Peter. Two were at his side and two at the cell door.
“But constant prayer was offered to God” (v. 5). How thrilling those words are to the believer! When Satan does his worst, Christians can turn to God in prayer and know that He will work.
How could Peter be so peaceful when he knew that he had only a short time to live? The prayer of the church certainly helped him, but Christ’s promise in John 21:18-19 must have sustained him. Peter knew that he would not die until he was older, and that his death would not be by the sword (as with James, v. 2), but by crucifixion. Faith in the Word of God gave him peace. If we will but trust Christ’s promises, we will have that same peace in the midst of tribulation.
We should never underestimate the power of a praying church. They prayed fervently (v. 5), definitely, and courageously. In spite of their unbelief when Peter did appear, God honoured their prayers and drew glory to Himself.
9. Martyred
Although the Bible does not say how Peter died, tradition tells us that Peter was crucified on a cross upside down. This took place during the time of Nero who was ruler of the Roman Empire. Peter did not feel that he was worthy to die the same way his Lord died, so he was crucified in a different way—upside down.
Death for the believer is not the end; it is just the beginning! Death for the believer is just the doorway that brings the believer into eternity and into the presence of our Saviour.
Spiritual Lessons from Peter.
The more clearly we see our Saviour the more clearly we see our sin.
Only by looking at the Lord can we stand firm (and survive the storms)
Peter was an eyewitness to Christ’s earthly ministry. Even though he greatly valued that experience (2 Peter 1:16 – 18) he seemed to value even more the written Word that it confirmed.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
