Simon Peter was an ordinary fisherman who transformed into a follower of Jesus. He was faithful, yet flawed. Peter was the first to profess Jesus as the Son of God, yet he later denied knowing him. Peter went on to give his life for the sake of his call. In this series, we take an in-depth dive into the life, faith and character of Simon Peter.
Peter had no idea what hung in the balance of his decision to go fishing with Jesus. When Peter’s simple act of faith intersected with Jesus’ faithfulness, everything changed. What is your next step in your faith journey with Jesus —coming back, confessing, reconciling, choosing purity, serving, giving? Whatever your next step is, take it. You don’t know what hangs in the balance.
The disciples were caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee and they were terrified. Jesus walks on water in the midst of the storm and tells the disciples “Be encouraged, It’s me, don’t be afraid.” This story is about something that happened on the Sea of Galilee a long time ago, but it’s recorded in the Gospel because it’s something that happens in our lives all the time if we just realize it. What can we learn about Jesus and what it means to be a disciple from this passage?
Jesus asks the disciples a question that begs an answer from all of us – “who do you say that I am?” In this moment, Peter declares that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus declares that Peter is correct and that he will build his ‘church’ upon the rock (Peter) and nothing will destroy it. Jesus was giving Peter and through him, the church, the authority to do his work in the world.
Jesus makes it clear that if we want to be his disciple it will require self-denial, sacrifice (take up your cross), and following him. We all want a convenient faith, but following Jesus requires an inconvenient faith.
During the Last Supper, Jesus predicted that all the disciples would soon abandon him and that Peter would deny knowing him three times. Peter adamantly proclaimed that he would never desert or deny knowing Jesus. However, before the night was over, Peter not only deserted Jesus but he denied knowing him three times. It’s a night that Peter would talk about over and over again. If Peter’s story is our story, what can we learn from Peter’s failure?
Simon Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, but that was not the end of his story. When the disciples find the tomb was empty, they begin to understand that the grave could not hold their Lord. When the Resurrected Jesus calls on Peter, Jesus asks Peter to affirm his love, not once, but three times. What will it mean for Peter to repent and be forgiven? What could repentance and Jesus’s forgiveness mean for you? And how then might Jesus be calling you to demonstrate your love?
After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Peter went on to minister for 34 more years. During this period of time, Peter became fearless in his faith, he continued to learn about God, and he left an amazing legacy. The same person who once denied knowing Jesus was crucified for being a follower of Jesus. What can we learn from Peter’s life after Jesus?