He was the first disciple, hand picked by Christ along with his brother Andrew. Peter's partners John and James (brothers and sons of Zebedee) were also chosen at that time.
These four were present as Christ stepped into Peter's boat. He asked Peter to put out a little and He sat and taught the people. When Jesus finished he told Simon Peter to "put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch."(Luke 5:4)
Peter resisted because they had been unsuccessful all night but eventually relented and did as he was instructed. The nets were so full the boats were nearly capsized. This is of course when Peter repented, dropped everything and followed Jesus.
Peter witnessed many more marvelous and miraculous events. He was witness to the calming of the storm. He was witness to much healing. Only Peter, James, and John were with the Lord at the Transfiguration. Peter saw Christ, Moses, and Elijah in conversation. If that were not enough to solidify his faith, Peter also heard the voice of God say to them, " This is my son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."
Peter should have had no doubt within him that he was with the Son of God. Alas, Peter often lost faith and failed.
In Matthew 14:22 Peter walks on the water with Jesus. His fear of the wind and the water cause him to sink and he cries out, " Lord, save me." Christ reaches out and catches Peter. " You of little faith," he said, " Why did you doubt?"
I often ask the same thing. How could there be any doubt in Peter's mind that he was in the company of Christ. Peter was standing on water and did not sink - until his faith wavered. Even then, Peter cried out to the Lord and was saved.
None of us have ever witnessed miracles as Peter had. Peter had felt the warmth of Christ's hand. Peter had looked into the eyes of the Son and heard the voice of the Father and doubt still crept into his heart.
How much more vulnerable we must be than Peter. How much shame do we feel when we fail? How much sadness, when we disobey God? We say to ourselves, " I am a new creature in Christ. I am saved by the blood of the Lamb. Baptized in the Holy Spirit. And yet I continue to fail. I continue to choose the wrong path. I confessed and was saved. What am I doing?"
God knows that our confession and acceptance was heartfelt, just as He knew Peter's was.
Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Christ eight days prior to the transfiguration. Jesus said to him,"Blessed are you , Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."(Matthew 16:17-19)
Jesus, Himself, promised Peter the keys to heaven. Peter's faith and resolve must have been stronger than ever. But his greatest failure was yet to come.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Here we see Peter's resolve when he replies, " Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
Jesus answered, " I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." (Luke 22:34)
As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, Peter fell asleep. Jesus had warned them to keep watch and pray that they not fall into temptation. In fact, He told them twice. (Luke 22:39)
Of course, we all know that Peter did deny Christ three times and Luke 22:60-62 tells us that when the rooster crowed, " The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the words the Lord had spoken to him: ' Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly."
Can you imagine the conviction and the shame that Peter must have felt when the Christ that he had confessed locked eyes with him as the rooster crowed? Can you imagine the shame and the feeling of utter uselessness? I doubt any of us have felt a cut that deep.
When I fail Him, and I often do, I look to Peter.
You see, Peter was sifted and it seems to me that the farther from Christ's presence he was, the weaker he became. When Jesus was taken, Peter was no longer near Him. He became more susceptible to the temptations of Satan. This applies to our lives as well. If we do not remain close to Christ, through daily prayer, study, devotion, and worship, we too become more vulnerable to temptation and sin.
Peter would later dive headlong into the sea and swim to shore and embrace the risen Christ. (John 21)
What is interesting to me is that this was the third time that Jesus had appeared to the disciples. And He chose this time to reinstate Peter. We see in John 21:15-19 that Jesus asks three times, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was given, through the grace of God, three more questions and a chance at redemption for his previous denials. And Peter answered," Yes Lord, you know that I love you." And Jesus responded to him and instructed him to, " Feed my sheep" and " Follow me".
Even in Peter's denial, Christ knew his heart.. Though Peter failed, Jesus knew that he would one day soon have his eyes opened and would become the rock and keeper of the keys of heaven. Peter was now to turn back and strengthen his brothers, as he had previously been told.
How Gracious is our God?
Through his love and forgiveness, we are renewed and recreated. We are often sifted and tossed and sink in deep water, but Jesus remains always by our side. He lifts us from the depths of our own betrayals and makes us whole again, in Him.
Praise God and may He bless you abundantly as we come together and give thanks tomorrow -
David
No comments:
Post a Comment