Peter was a plain fisherman. Rough around the edges, coarse in his mannerisms ... by all appearances one would think Peter might be one of the last people Jesus would approach. But Jesus knew the real Peter and obviously saw immense potential in him. Peter wasn’t flawless, in fact, he failed quite often. Once changed by Christ he was still Simon Peter.
It’s interesting to note that Jesus first words to Peter were “Come, follow me” [Mark 1:17] and the final words he said were “Follow me” [John 21:22]. One thing can be sure, in spite of his stumbles and missteps, in the end he was still following the Master. He left his business of fishing to fish for the souls of men.
Peter was seen as a leader once the disciples had been formed and were together with Jesus. His boldness many times led to being brash and impulsive. One example is when Jesus and the disciples were at the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas, along with the religious leaders and Roman soldiers. They were there to arrest Jesus. Peter, illustrating his impulsiveness, reached out and sliced off an ear of the high priest’s slave [Matthew 26:50-56]. Luke 22:51 tells us the following: “But Jesus said, ‘No more of this.’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
Although Peter swore he would never disavow any knowledge of Jesus, when push came to shove, he ended up denying Christ 3x. Jesus predicted this in Matthew 26:33-35, “But Peter said to Him, ‘Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.’ All the disciples said the same thing too.”
We all know from reading the scriptures that Peter did indeed deny Christ 3x. The gospel of John is the only accounting of Jesus speaking with Peter after the Lord was raised from the dead. John 21:15-17, 19b ... “After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter replied, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then feed my lambs’, Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love you.’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said. A third time he asked him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Then feed my sheep.’ Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
Notice that Jesus never chastised Peter for rejecting him, for he knew this would take place. In fact Jesus never mentioned the incident again. Instead, Jesus asked him the same question 3x. ‘Peter, do you love me.’ Some scholars think Jesus may have asked the same question 3x as a means of expunging his 3 denials. This is also an example of not bringing up past sins and throwing them up in our face again and again. That’s the devils game, not Gods’.
The Lord knew what he had in Peter, and he accepted him in spite of his failures. Have you ever wondered what Jesus sees in you when he calls you to follow him? I have. God’s love is without conditions. You are of immense value to God for he created you in his image to do great things for the kingdom of God. Oh, make no mistake about it, he could have chosen ANYONE to do what he wants done, but he called YOU.
Up next, the 6 ways Jesus’ trial was illegal. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His name & for His glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible
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