The Apostle Peter Series

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.