So, when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs (John 21:15). (King James Version)
Have you ever noticed that of all the good deeds done, people still have a tendency to define one another by their failures? Sadly enough, the denial of Jesus is what many people remember the most about the Apostle Peter.
I noticed as I was studying about Peter that he was part of Jesus’ inner circle. When Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead he didn’t allow anyone in except for her parents, Peter, James, and John (Luke8:51). These three were also taken apart to the “Mount of Transfiguration” (Matthew 17:1), and at the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus took Peter, James, and John on further with him to keep watch as he prayed (Matthew 26:36-38).
Peter was the impulsive one who cut off the soldier’s ear (John 18:10). The one who spoke out of turn at the Mount of transfiguration. The one who was quick to answer (John 6:67-68), and the Only one besides Jesus who walked on the water (Matthew 14:26-). “Let that sink in.” He did start to sink, but he was just a man (Acts 10:26).
The Catholic church teaches that when Jesus named him Peter (The Rock) that he was making him some kind of a chief steward or Prime Minister (first Pope), but in reality, Peter’s revelation of Jesus being Christ is the Rock that the church is built upon, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone (Matthew 16:15-18), Amen.
As I was reading John 6, it stirred my spirit. Many of Jesus’ disciples went back because of his doctrine, then he said to the Twelve, “Will ye also go away”? Then Simon Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go”? (John 6:60-71) I Love That! In reality All of the disciples vowed that they would not deny Jesus, but they All forsook him in the garden (Mark 14:31,14:50).
I for one will remember Peter as “the one who loved Jesus more.” It is a beautiful thought that John sees himself as “the one who Jesus loved”, but as I read John 21:15 it occurred to me that Peter thought that he was “the one who loved Jesus more.” Some days I feel like Peter, other days I feel more like John.
Peter was passionate. He called for the replacement of Judas (Acts 1), Preached the first sermon proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), gave us the beautiful words, “Silver and gold have I none: but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The sick were brought into the streets hoping that at least Peter’s shadow would pass over them (Acts 5:15), and Tabitha was raised from the dead (Acts 9:40).
Through his trials, failures, and triumphs Peter learned how to take joy in suffering, and victory over it. He teaches us the importance of humility, Christian behavior, and tells us to “Grow in Grace” which he did (Acts 5:41, 1Peter, 2Peter). He was filled with the Holy Ghost, and Jesus called him to feed us, the sheep (Acts 4:8, John 21:15). It never was about Peter, and it’s not about us.
People are watching our walk. Humility and Christian behavior are fruits of the Spirit. We are all a work in progress; I pray that we remember the good in one other, and as we face life’s trials and fall short at times, that we can remember to “Give Peter a Break”, and “Grow in Grace”, Amen.
myheartburnswithinme.com 