PETER – MEETING ON THE SEASHORE
I don’t know if you have a favourite character in Scripture or if there is someone with whom you readily identify? I love Simon Peter in the New Testament. Yet when I think about him I have to readily admit I don’t know an awful lot about him and yet he is mentioned 200 times in the New Testament. That shows how central a character he is when you compare that John is mentioned less than 50. In fact the first 12 chapters of the book of Acts are given over solely to Peter. Peter is generally pictured as rugged, impulsive, strong and quick tempered. He is also remembered as the fragile fisherman who denied Jesus to a little servant girl and the one who cut off Malchus’ ear in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yet he is a far more complex character than the caricature in most people’s minds. So today we start a sermon series on Simon Peter. The purpose is that in understanding Simon from the New Testament we will understand more of his friendship with Christ Jesus – and so learn how our relationship with Christ can grow.
SYNOPSIS OF SIMON’S LIFE
His given name was Simon bar-Jonah – which means today Simon Johnson. Jesus gave him the new name Peter – we will look at that further in a moment.
He was the brother of Andrew, who first brought him to Jesus.
He was originally from Bethsaida, on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee.
In Mark 2.4 we read that his house was 2 stories high, providing space for him, his wife and his mother in law, brother Andrew and possibly Jesus (Matthew 8.14; Mark 1.29, 36; 2.2).
He was a fisherman by trade, he partnered with Andrew, James and John.
He had no formal education..
He had a distinct Galilean accent, which readily identified him.
He was in the core of the disciples, the ‘three’ closest to Jesus.
He was clearly the leader amongst the twelve – the disciples are often designated as ‘Peter and those with him’ (Mark 1.36; Luke 9.32).
His name is always the first in the list of the disciples, and Judas’ always last. The denier and the betrayer as a set of bookends.
He was the first person to confess his sinfulness to Jesus.
He receives the most severe rebukes from Jesus.
At least seven miracles of Jesus are performed for Peter or are connected to him – two miraculous catches of fish, the curing of his mother-in-law, his walking on water, the healing of Malchus’ ear, two miraculous deliverances from prison and the coin in the mouth of the fish to pay the taxes due.
Mark’s Gospel is written because of him.
He suggests replacing Judas (Acts 1.15).
He preaches the first sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2).
He performs the first healing (Acts 3).
He defends the gospel before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4).
He decides the case of Annanias and Sapphira (Acts 5).
He is the first counsellor to Paul (Gal.1.18).
He mediates between James and Paul (Acts 15).
We don’t know much about his later life – other than that he took missionary journeys to Corinth and Rome – where Eusebius tells us he was crucified by Nero. So that is a brief synopsis of Simon Peter’s life. But this morning I want to concentrate on the call of Simon by Jesus.
THE CALL
Turn with me to John 1.40-43. in the NT the friendship between Jesus and Peter is the one we see most clearly. After this first meeting on the seashore at Galilee it would appear that Simon hardly left Jesus’ side. The gospels also show the flare ups between them. It shows the passion, the intensity and the depth of the friendship between Jesus and Simon. In fact Simon is the only disciple who actually rebukes Jesus and says ‘no’ to him. After the resurrection the women are instructed to ‘tell the disciples and Peter.’ So you see there is an intimacy in this relationship between Jesus and Simon which was noted by the writers of the NT and even by the very angels themselves.
Simon is standing on the seashore having no doubt been fishing all night. Maybe, just maybe he is angry with Andrew because we read that Andrew had spent all the previous day with Jesus after John the Baptist had pointed to Christ and said ‘Behold the Lamb of God…’ Here is a rugged fisherman, the sea, the boat and the net are the extent of his working life. There is nothing that marks him out amongst all the other fishermen on the seashore mending nets, tidying up after a hard nights toil. There is nothing that anyone walking along would have said – ‘there call him he will be a great man amongst men, call him.’ But listen to these words from John 2.25 ‘He (Jesus) did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.’ That is significant at this moment – why? Look at what happens when Andrew brings Simon to Jesus. Don’t you just love Andrew bringing his brother to Jesus? Andrew does not even get a chance to introduce them before Jesus speaks Simon’s name. Jesus knew this man who stood before him. In fact he knew more about Simon than Simon did about himself. Then we have these amazing words in verse 42 – READ.
Simon was a common name at that time. Cephas – well it was not a name at all, nor was it a nickname as some have supposed. I want you to listen carefully here because this is important. Cepahs, in the Aramaic is not a name but a title (Rock). This new title is significant because it points to a new identify that will be Simon. When God called Abram he gave him a new name – Abraham. When God called Jacob he renamed him Israel. Simon is now given a new name, a new identity but I want you to note that the words spoken by Jesus are future tense. ‘you will be called Ceophas…’
Now turn to Luke 6.12-14 because here again Jesus uses this title of Simon. Note this time will you that it has become the past tense – ‘he also called him Cephas’ in this incident Jesus has chosen 12 from amongst all the other disciples to be Apostles (those who had authority and were his messengers).
Now turn with me to Matthew 16.17-19 the last picture of this new identity. Simon has just spoken his great confession of Jesus and then Jesus speaks ‘you are Cephas.’ ou will be…he called him…you are Cephas.’ Do you see the progression? These three distinct incidents established a new identity for Simon.
John records the first call when Jesus uttered a prophetic promise about Simon. That is what is happening here in John 1.42. Jesus confirms it when he calls Simon to be an Apostle and he reaffirms and reasserts it when Simon confesses that Jesus is the Christ.
But let me ask you a question: What did Jesus mean by this title ‘Rock?’ He gave Simon that title before Simon had even answered the call to follow. Let me say this about it – it was not a nickname. It was not a description of Simon’s physical strength. When Jesus spoke those words Simon was not a Rock, how could he be? Jesus did not say ‘Simon you are immovable and strong so I will call you Rock.’ It is further explained by Jesus saying ‘upon this rock I will build my church.’ Simon you are going to be one of the foundation stones of the church. Simon you are going to be an important stone in establishing doctrine, teaching and practice in the kingdom of God. Listen to what Simon says in 1 Peter 2.4-8 READ. He speaks of Jesus as the ‘chief cornerstone’ – but he Simon is one of the building blocks upon which the edifice of the church will and is built. Jesus has graciously determined to call and use Simon in the building of His church, His Body. At this very moment Jesus is speaking of things that are not yet as if they are. This is a prophetic promise, a prophetic call on the life of Simon. You know after this Jesus never called Simon anything but Simon – it is not until Acts that Peter becomes his common name. Cepahs (Peter) was a title, a prophetic title about who Simon would become in Christ Jesus.
THE CONSEQUENCES
When Jesus called Simon he did not look at what stood before him. He did not look at the past but to the future. Jesus knew Simon. He knew his heart and he knew the man he would become, despite all the flaws and the weaknesses. Jesus placed a divine call on the life of Simon. Simon standing on a seashore amidst smelly and soggy nets had a life changing encounter that day. John says in verse 42 that ‘Jesus looked at Simon’ – the Greek there is the word ‘emblepo’ which means to look intently, to pierce with the eyes. In fact Luke uses the exact same word of the look which Jesus gave Simon after his denial in the courtyard. Jesus looks intently, piercing the very heart and soul of Simon and knowing what this man will become calls him. The result was that Simon left his nets and followed Christ Jesus. He left the familiar, safe, and predictable surroundings of the fishing boat and followed Christ Jesus. The consequences were life changing, and not just for Simon but also for his family. I believe that is why Jesus constantly and consistently called people to count the cost of following him – exactly because it is life changing.
THE CHALLENGE
So what? That is always a good question to ask at the end of any sermon or any reading of Scripture. So what? So what has this go to do with me? Well allow me for a few moments to guide your thoughts a little further.
I want each and every one of you to hear this today: Jesus looks at your life not for what you have done, not for what you are but for what you will become in Him. He looked at Simon and sure he saw all the frailties of a man who would put his foot in it, who would be impetuous, who would deny him but he still called him. He looked at this uneducated common fisherman and said ‘you are Cepahs….upon this rock I will build my church.’ Friends today Jesus stands before you and he calls you by name. even before you come to introduce yourself he knows your name. just as he knew Simon he knows you. Simon was a common fisherman, the seashore was littered with them but Jesus called him by name. In the eyes of the world you may be nothing special, there may be millions just like you in the eyes of this world but Jesus calls you. In your own eyes you may be nothing special but in the eyes of Jesus you are of eternal value and you are an important building block in the edifice of his body, the church. Jesus never makes mistakes when he calls. His building is perfect, every piece fits perfectly together.
Of course Simon failed his Lord. On one occasion Jesus even called this same Simon ‘satan’. Yet knowing all that Simon would do. Knowing all the failures and the denial he still called him. Jesus knows you will fail him but he still calls you. He knows there are times when you will deny him but he still calls you. He knows there are times when you will put your foot in it, when you will cut off someone’s ear but he still calls you. Learn this lesson this morning – Simon was no one special – he was a sinner like you and I but he became a great man of God because he answered the call of Christ in his life. You will never find his name on a list of great men or great leaders. He will not be on the study list for how to become a successful business tycoon or leadership training techniques. He had no qualifications and yet Jesus said of him ‘upon this rock I will build my church and the very gates of hell will not prevail against it.’ Friends that same Jesus makes that same call on your life and mine today. That same Jesus chooses men and women like you and me to be the building blocks in his body, the church. That same Jesus looks at you this morning and he sees exactly where you fit the building, how unique you are to that one position needed. There is no other brick just like you to fit in that place. But listen to me now, Peter had to confess he was a sinner before Christ. Peter had to go journey with Christ, had to deny him and be restored and eventually die for Christ. Friends you and I are called to the exact same this morning – we are called to confess before Christ our sinfulness. We are called to come before him and admit we have denied him and to be restored. And we do not know but some may even be called to die for Christ – it is happening to our brothers and sisters in Christ this very day.
Simon answered the call – that was vitally important. Jesus calls you must answer. Jesus called and Simon followed. Jesus calls what will you do? Jesus called Simon to leave the past behind and to a follow him to a future which ultimately led to martyrdom – and Simon followed.
Over the next number of weeks will learn more of Simon Peter and his intimate relationship with Christ as we examine this friendship as revealed in the NT. But this morning I want to encourage all of you that Christ calls each of us because he knows our potential in him even when we fail, or refuse to see any potential in ourselves. The important thing is to listen to and for the call and then to obey it. Amen.
