Introduction
We are studying a series of messages called “The Apostles of Jesus.”
Last time, we introduced the topic of Jesus' apostles.
Tonight, I want to examine the Apostle Peter.
John MacArthur says of Peter:
“Peter’s name is mentioned in the Gospels more than any other name except Jesus. No one speaks as often as Peter, and no one is spoken to by the Lord as often as Peter. No disciple is so frequently rebuked by the Lord as Peter; and no disciple ever rebukes the Lord except Peter (Matthew 16:22). No one else confessed Christ more boldly or acknowledged His lordship more explicitly; yet no other disciple ever verbally denied Christ as forcefully or as publicly as Peter did. No one is praised and blessed by Christ the way Peter was; yet Peter was also the only one Christ ever addressed as Satan. The Lord had harsher things to say to Peter than He ever said to any of the others” (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], 39).
There is more about Peter in the Bible than about any other apostle.
He even wrote two letters that are part of the canon of Scripture.
So we will obviously not be able to do a comprehensive study of his life.
I want to hit a few highlights for our consideration this evening.
Lesson
The Bible tells us a lot about the Apostle Peter.
Let us use the following outline:
1. Peter’s Clan
2. Peter’s Characteristics
3. Peter’s Call
4. Peter’s Courage
5. Peter’s Confession
6. Peter’s Confusion
7. Peter’s Claim
8. Peter’s Commissioning
9. Peter’s Consummation
I. Peter’s Clan
First, let’s look at Peter’s clan.
We don't know much about Peter's family.
John 1:42 tells us that Peter was “the son of John” or, in Hebrew, Jonah.
We don't know anything about Peter's mother.
Peter was from Bethsaida (John 1:44).
Later, he moved to Capernaum.
It was in Capernaum that Peter and his brother Andrew, also an apostle, worked as fishermen.
They were in partnership with James and John, whom Jesus would also call to be his apostles.
They apparently had a relatively successful fishing business.
Peter was married (see Mark 1:29-30; Luke 4:38-39; 1 Corinthians 9:5).
We don't know Peter's wife’s name.
It is likely that she also became a believer in Jesus and accompanied Peter on some of his travels (1 Corinthians 9:5).
In his first letter in 1 Peter 3:1-7, Peter wrote a beautiful description of a godly wife. No doubt that was a tribute to his own wife.
Though we don't know Peter's wife’s name, we know that God knew it.
One may serve in obscurity, but God certainly sees and rewards faithful service to him.
II. Peter’s Characteristics
Second, let’s look at Peter’s characteristics.
Peter was a complex character.
He clearly was a leader of men.
He was also quick to speak and often rash in his actions.
Yet he was also loyal and tender-hearted.
The name his parents gave him at birth was Simon (John 1:42).
Simon comes from the Hebrew “Simeon,” and it means “listening.”
It does not seem that Simon did much listening, but instead did a lot of speaking.
The first time Jesus met Peter, he said to him, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter)” (John 1:42).
Jesus gave him a name that was opposite to Peter's nature.
Peter means "rock."
So Jesus called Peter not by what he was, but rather by what he was to become: Rock!
As Christians, we are new creations in Christ.
However, because of sin in our lives, we constantly wrestle with our old natures.
Thankfully, as we mature as Christians, we are not what we once were, but we are also not yet what we will be.
III. Peter’s Call
Third, let’s look at Peter’s call.
Mark 1:16–18 tells us that as Jesus was “passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
The call of Jesus to follow him always demands an immediate response.
There is no time for delay.
In evangelistic services, an invitation is an appeal for unbelievers to follow Jesus.
Properly speaking, however, we are not invited to follow Jesus; we are commanded to follow him.
Why was Peter called to follow Jesus?
Was it because Peter had impeccable credentials?
No.
Was it because Peter had leadership skills?
No.
Was it because Peter had academic credentials?
No.
Jesus called Peter because Jesus was going to shape Peter into a proper vessel for his service.
The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:26, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”
This was certainly true of Peter.
And it is certainly true of each one of us.
Paul goes on to say, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29a).
Jesus called Peter to himself, not because of who Peter was but because of who Jesus is.
The same is true for each one of us.
IV. Peter’s Courage
Fourth, let’s look at Peter’s courage.
After Jesus fed the five thousand, he told his disciples to get into a boat and cross to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds.
As they were making their way to the other side of the lake, a furious storm came up.
The disciples in the boat were “a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:24-25).
However, when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified.
Realizing their fear, Jesus said to them, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (14:27).
That is when Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came to Jesus (14:28-29).
I don't know what possessed Peter to ask Jesus to walk on the water.
But that was Peter!
He threw caution to the wind and stepped out, beginning to walk toward Jesus.
After a while, and we don't know how long Peter was on the water, he suddenly realized how bizarre it was for him to walk on water, and so he began to sink.
He cried out to Jesus for help, and Jesus did help him.
Jesus said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (14:31).
Jesus rebuked Peter not for his lack of faith but for his little faith.
How often are you and I paralyzed for lack of faith?
V. Peter’s Confession
Fifth, let’s look at Peter’s confession.
Now it happened that as Jesus was praying alone, the disciples were with him.
And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
And Peter answered, “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:18-20).
Jesus commended Peter for his answer.
He went on to say to the Apostle Peter, “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” (Matthew 16:18).
Jesus was using a play on words because "Peter" and "rock" are very similar in Greek.
Most likely, Jesus was saying that the Church would be built on Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ of God.
Only those who can affirm that Jesus is the Christ of God can be part of Jesus’ church.
VI. Peter’s Confusion
Sixth, let’s look at Peter’s confusion.
Peter was often confused about Jesus' ministry.
He was confused about Jesus having to go to the cross to pay the penalty for sins (see Matthew 16:21-23).
He was confused about the matter of forgiveness and how often Christians ought to forgive others (see Matthew 18:21-22).
He was confused about servanthood and humility when Jesus stooped to wash his feet in the Upper Room (see John 13:1-17).
He was confused about the relationship of Jesus to Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:2).
Nevertheless, he did learn the truth about Jesus.
He eventually wrote two letters that are now part of the canon of Scripture and are wonderful teaching documents for God's children.
Our task as believers is to keep growing so that our confusion can be cleared up, and we can be certain of the truth that Jesus is teaching us.
VII. Peter’s Claim
Seventh, let’s look at Peter’s claim.
Toward the end of his life, Jesus warned his apostles that they would all fall away from him and be scattered like sheep.
Peter vehemently denied that and said, “Even though they all fall away, I will not” (Mark 14:29).
And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
But Peter said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you” (Mark 14:30-31).
Of course, Peter denied Jesus three times.
Peter learned, much to his dismay, that he was far weaker spiritually than he thought.
Peter was utterly crushed after he had denied Jesus three times.
Never presume that you cannot fall into sin.
VIII. Peter’s Commissioning
Eighth, let’s look at Peter’s commissioning.
After his resurrection, Jesus met with his apostles on the Sea of Galilee.
He fed them breakfast.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He asked Peter the same question three times.
Three times, Peter answered that he did.
And three times Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs.
Peter was beautifully and graciously re-commissioned for service by Jesus.
The lesson for you and me is that there is no sin that is so big that Jesus cannot forgive it and commission us to serve him.
IX. Peter’s Consummation
And ninth, let’s look at Peter’s consummation.
After Jesus' resurrection, Peter began his ministry in Jerusalem.
He preached the first sermon on the day of Pentecost, and thousands were converted.
Later, he healed a lame man at the Beautiful Gate while boldly preaching about the resurrection of Jesus.
Peter became the chief apostolic spokesman for the church and gained such prominence that people sought healing from his shadow as he walked by.
Peter's ministry expanded to Lydda and then to Joppa, where he continued performing miracles.
After Herod Agrippa I executed James in 44 AD, he imprisoned Peter, but an angel freed him, leading Peter to escape Jerusalem, "for another place."
According to the early church fathers, Peter later went to Rome, where he ministered for many years.
He was ultimately martyred during Nero's reign, somewhere between 64 and 67 AD.
Peter was most likely crucified and perhaps beheaded.
Peter's body was buried in a cemetery beneath what is now St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
The burial location changed over time.
Peter’s remains were temporarily moved to a vault on the Appian Way around 258 AD during the Valerian persecution to protect them from desecration.
Constantine the Great later had a magnificent basilica erected over Peter’s grave at the foot of the Vatican Hill, and the present St. Peter’s Basilica replaced this earlier structure in the sixteenth century.
Conclusion
One of the things we will learn as we study the Apostles of Jesus is that they were each very different from one another.
We know a lot about the Apostle Peter.
Though he was a flawed man, God used him mightily to advance the church of Jesus Christ.
So let us be encouraged that God can use us with all of our flaws. Amen.
