Note: This is a study from the book 12 Ordinary Men by John McArthur an excellent book. There is also a fill in the blank outline from Adult Bible Fellowships of First Baptist Church Orion that I have posted in the series. This is not original but worth posting for study.
Twelve Ordinary Men
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed
for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” - Luke 22:31-32
I. Peter’s place among the Twelve: he was the leader of the group.
a. The three groups seem to be listed in descending order based on their intimacy with Christ.
b. The men in group one had known him as the fishermen, they were all tied together by this trade.
c. Peter, at the top of all four lists, was the leader and overall spokesman of the Twelve.
The three names of each group seem to be the leader of that group.
Insert chart comparing the recording of the 12 disciples from Matthew 10:2-4 Mark 3:16-19 Luke 6:14-16 Acts 1:13
Different personalities and interests throughout the whole group. Economics, fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. Political wise zealots who wanted to overthrow the government at all cost, all in per say.
II. Peter’s name turns out to be quite significant.
a. His birth name, Simeon, was a very common name, kind of like Joe (There are at least 7 Simeons mentioned in the Gospel accounts). His surname was Bar-Jonah,
literally, “son of Jonah.” So his father had a common name, too. To give you a J.M.D.E. for his
birth name, it would be something like, Joe Schmo.
b. Jesus gave him a new name, Peter (John 1:42, Luke 6:14 “also known as Peter”). This didn’t replace his other
name (as was the case with Paul) but was used sometimes instead of and sometimes with his birth name.
Peter means “Rock” Aramic Cephas. John 1:42 “Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’ (which translated, A Stone).” Apparently the first words Jesus ever spoke to Peter.
c. It appears that Jesus was very purposeful with his use of Peter’s names. By nature, Simon
was brash and undependable. His nickname, “the Rock” was a constant reminder of how he ought to
act. It is interesting to note how the gospel writer’s use “Simon” to refer either to his secular life or to
his carnal nature. – see John 21:15-17). (p. 37)
You see this back and forth usages of Simeon or Peter. It is according to what behavior Peter was exhibiting. It is interesting that Jesus gave him a new name, it seems mainly to define him as what he wanted him to become, stable and solid. Yet when he would express behaviors of wavering and bullheadedness of the old Simeon he would call him Simeon.
John 21:15-19 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (16) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." (17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. (18) "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." (19) This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
It is a common problem that we wrestle with the spiritual and the carnal.
Rom 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Fishers of Men
Mar 1:17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."
Simeon Peter’s wife
Luke 4:38 mother in law 1 Corinthians 9:5 Paul says that Peter took his wife on a apostolic mission trip.
III. Peter had the three things in his life that made him a true leader: the raw material, the right life experiences, the right character qualities.
IV. The Raw Material
a. He was inquisitive. Knowledge is power. Whoever has the information has the lead. If you
want to find a leader, look for someone who is asking the right questions and genuinely looking for
answers. In the Gospel accounts, Peter asks more questions than all the other apostles combined.
Peter asked questions about difficult sayings (Matthew 15:15; Luke 12:41), need to forgive (Matthew 18:21), asked about the reward for leaving everything and following Jesus (Matthew 19:27), asked about the withered fig tree (Mark 11:21), asked questions about the risen Christ (John 21:20-21)
Pro 10:14 Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
b. He showed initiative. A true leader must be the kind of person who makes things happen.
Peter was usually the first one to answer Jesus’ questions. – see Matthew 16:13. (p.41)
Mat 16:13-19 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (14) So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." (15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (16) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
“It is much easier to tone down a frantic that to resurrect a corpse”
c. He demonstrated involvement. A true leader goes through life with a cloud of dust around him.
Peter was the only sinful man to ever walk on water. Matthew 14:26
V. The Right Life Experiences
a. He learned that crushing defeat and deep humiliation often follows closely on the heels of our greatest victories.
Compare Matthew 16:16 “Peter the Rock” with 16:23 “Get thee behind me Satan”
b. He learned that he was double-minded and could not trust his own resolve. (p. 46)
VI. The Right Character Qualities
“Lasting leadership is grounded in character. Character produces respect. Respect produces trust. And trust motivates followers.” – John McArthur
a. The first character quality Peter learned from Jesus was submission. Leaders must be examples
of submission themselves, if they would teach other people to submit. Compare Matthew 17:24 with I Peter
2:13.
Earthly: Jesus and paying taxes Matthew 17:24
Peter: 1Pe 2:13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
Jesus: Mat 26:36-39 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." (37) And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. (38) Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." (39) He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
b. Another important character quality that Jesus modeled for Peter was humility Compare John 13:1 with I Peter 4:8.
John 13:1 Jesus washing the disciples feet
1Pe 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
c. He had to learn restraint. (self-control, discipline, moderation, and reserve)
Peter was willing to take on a brigade of Roman soldiers Matthew 26:51
Jesus - 1Pe 2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (22) "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; (23) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (24) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
d. He had to learn compassion.
Luk 22:31-34 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. (32) "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." (33) But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." (34) Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."
“People with natural leadership abilities often tend to be short on compassion, lousy comforters, and impatient with others. They don’t stop very long to care for the wounded as they pursue their goals.” – John McArthur
1Pe 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (9) Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (10) But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
e. He learned love. They all needed to learn this.
Mar 9:35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."
Again washing the disciples feet.
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
f. Finally he had to learn courage. He denied his Lord when challenged by a servant. But after Pentecost, we see a different Peter (Acts 4:19,20).
Act 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. (20) "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Peter’s death:
Joh 21:18-19 "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." (19) This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Over all Peter learned to be teachable
Gal 2:11-14 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; (12) for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. (13) And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. (14) But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?
Acts 15:7-14 tells us that it was Peter who stood up n the defense of the gospel of grace. He defended Paul’s ministry against the Judaizers.
How did Peter’s life end? We know that Jesus told Peter he would dies as a martyr. (John 21:18-19) But Scripture doesn't record the death of Peter. All the records of early church history indicate that Peter was crucified. Eusebius cites the testimony of Clement, who says that before Peter was crucified, he was forced to watch the crucifixion of his own wife. When it was Peter’s turn to die, he pleaded to be crucified upside down because he wasn't worth to die as his Lord had died. And thus he was nailed to his cross head-downward.
Peter’s life could be summed up in the final words of his second epistle: “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 That is exactly what Simon Peter did, and that is why he became Rock – the great leader of the early church.
