by Mr. Titus Menezes
This evening we have for our study the life of the apostle Peter – his journey with the Lord – right from the time Jesus picked him up while fishing until his death.
The purpose of today’s teaching is to identify how we fare vis-a-vis Peter – how similar or different are we? Before we get to scripture verses let us first understand something about Peter:
- His original name was Simon, son of John Mt 16:17
- Jesus gave him the Hebrew origin name Cephas which means Peter (Jn 1:42). Peter in Greek is known as Petros. Petra which means rock – a stone.
- Simon Peter was a fisherman by profession Mt 4:18
- He was a married man (Mt 8:14) and history writers say he had children
- Peter was an impulsive hasty speaker. On many occasions, Peter had to eat his words after he had spoken it
- He was a member of the inner circle of Jesus along with James and John
- He declared Jesus as the Messiah, Son of the living God Mt 16:16
- Jesus was angry with Peter once Mt 16:23 – when Jesus foretold his death, Peter rebuked Jesus. Jesus rebuked him sharply with the words “get behind me Satan”
- He denied Jesus three times and that too at the crucial moment.
Why did Jesus choose a man like Simon Peter for the top job if he had so many weaknesses? As God, He knew each person. But why would he trust such an important mission to an unfit person?
If we look a little deeper we find there is much similarity between the job of a fisherman and the job that Jesus had:
- A fisherman is someone who has to have patience. If a fisherman lacks this attribute, he can never be a fisherman. A couple of years back I was in Goa and wanted to go fishing. I sat out with the bait and after half an hour I returned and said – enough. A fisherman has to work long hours before he gets a catch. The end result is not always fruitful. Not every time you cast a net will you make a catch.
- A fisherman’s life is always in danger at sea. Read it in those times where they did not have forecasting systems as we have today.
Now compare this with the job Jesus has at hand.
- It required patience and lots of it. Not every time could large numbers be drawn to Christ.
- On the risks part, we all know the kind of death Jesus and the early Christians had to go thru’ while fighting for the kingdom
So Peter was a good choice for the job.
So lets examine a few passages on the life of St Peter and we begin with his call:
Jesus calls the first disciples Lk 5:1-11
Simon Peter and team had returned from an unsuccessful night of fishing and yet when Jesus asked them to cast out the nets they caught so much fish that the nets began to break. At this juncture Jesus gave them their mission “From now on you will be fishers of men” – catching people Lk 5:10. Mt 4:19 says Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.
The Transfiguration: Mt 17:1-13
Watch Peter’s words “Lord it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Peter was stunned by the sudden happenings on the mountain top, seeing the transfiguration of Jesus and the presence of Moses and Elijah and wanted to live in that experience. He was feeling good, probably anointed and wanted to have that feeling for all time.
Peter’s declaration about Jesus Mt 16:13-20
Jesus was being referred to by the names of various prophets – John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah… but He wanted to know who they thought he was and Simon Peter under anointing said – You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. This was no ordinary statement. Jesus acknowledged that it was not human but a divine revelation that Peter could make this statement. Peter could not grasp the dimensions of his statement.
Peter walks on water Mt 14:28-33
A little background here: Jesus the previous evening had finished feeding 5000 and wanted the apostles to go away to a secluded place from the crowds to rest and He himself went to a mountain top to pray. A strong wind was against them and they had difficulty in sailing. Jesus came walking to them on water and at that time, initially they thought it was a ghost after which Jesus identified himself. Peter was not satisfied and he too wanted to walk on water. Imagine what must be going on through the minds of the other disciples in the boat when a storm is raging? Peter accepted the invitation and walked on the water towards Jesus. Peter’s faith in Jesus had allowed him to be like Jesus. At one moment Peter looked at the wind in other words took his eyes off Jesus, and was frightened and he began to drown.
Jesus reprimanded Peter for the little faith he had inspite of being with Jesus for so long. Peter in his walk with Jesus was growing in faith but he still had that element of doubt – he saw the storm when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the problem.
Peter’s denial foretold Mt 26:31-35
Following the Passover, Jesus told his apostles they would be deserters. But Peter protested, although all had become deserters, “I will never desert you even to the point of death”. At which Jesus said “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times”.
He even said that he would be willing to die with Jesus. But we know what happened.
At Gethsemane Mt 26:36-46
The inner circle were with Jesus at Gethsemane. He asked them to remain there and stay awake while he prayed in agony to His father. On His return he found them asleep and he asked Peter could you not stay awake with me for one hour? The least that you expect of a trusted aide is to be at side when in difficulty.
The arrest of Jesus Jn 18:10
When Jesus was betrayed and was being arrested, Simon Peter showed his so called ‘loyalty’ by cutting of the ear of the high priest’s slave Malchus. But Jesus did not approve such acts of violence to show loyalty. Jesus came to give life.
Peter denies Jesus Mt 26:69-75
Peter who confidently declared a few hours back that he would never deny Jesus even to the point of death now denied Jesus three times with curses and swearing – I do not know the man.
Peter is promised the highest office Mt 16:18-19
Inspite of all that we have heard of Simon Peter, Jesus was not going to take away the top job he had planned for this fisherman. Even though Peter failed repeatedly, he was still useful for God. What God gives, its given.
Jesus prayed for Peter Lk 22:31-32
Jesus had a plan for Peter. Peter was full of himself and this was going to fail him. Satan was going to sift him like wheat. This trial was necessary in order to reveal to Peter the condition of his heart, the worthlessness of his self-confidence and to humble his proud spirit. Peter had to go through this trial and Jesus was praying that his faith should not fail him and when he turned back he should strengthen his brethren.
Each of the incidents mentioned here looked to be a turning point in the life of Peter when he answered Jesus’ call,
- he had a glimpse of Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration,
- when he declared Jesus as the Messiah,
- when he declared his full fledged support for Jesus and last but not the least
- when he wept bitterly having denied Jesus
His weeping is compared with that of Judas: While Judas hung himself, Peter wept. He felt hurt and sorry for what he had said and done. But that had still not brought about a change in Peter’s life. For we read in Jn 21:3 Peter decided to go fishing and took the others too.
If he was really sorry then he would have done what the Lord had asked him to do. He knew the Lord had sent them out on a mission Mt 10:5-15
- to go and proclaim the good news
- cure the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons
Peter did none of these after the death of Jesus instead he returned to his profession before he met Jesus – he went fishing. All that the Lord taught and did and commanded them was not on his list.
But now watch the sequence of events and this is the turning point in Peter’s life.
In the resurrection appearance, i.e. when Jesus appeared to the seven disciples:
Jn 21:3b – they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Remember at the call of Peter Lk 5:1-11 – at that time too Peter had caught nothing after fishing the whole night. At daybreak Jesus stood on the beach and told them to cast their nets and they could not haul the net into the boat for there were so many fish. In Lk 5:6 their nets began to break. The disciple whom Jesus loved i.e. John said – it is the Lord. On hearing this, Peter while his clothes were still put on, he jumped into the sea. We can see the excitement in Peter here.
Three times Jesus asked Peter whether he loved him and three times Peter replied in the affirmative – I love you Lord. Contrast this with the three times Peter denied Jesus saying he did not even know the Lord. Jesus was giving Peter an opportunity to reconcile.
Now we all follow the English Bible and so we hear the same question from Jesus – Do you love me? But this is not so in Greek in which the NT was originally written. In the first two questions Jesus asked of agape love.
Agape is the kind of love that is perfect and pure; selfless and active. Agape is looking out for the interest of the one being loved, putting them ahead of self. Jn 13:35
There is also a lesser love that would describe the affection we have for a friend. This is called phileo.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you." How could Peter say I love (agape) you after having denied Jesus three times? Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love (agape) me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love (phileo) you." Peter’s reply was still the same. Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love (phileo) me?" Jesus changed from agape to phileo. Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (phileo) you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Some versions say Peter was grieved because the Lord asked him three times. Peter was not only hurt because Jesus asked him three times but also because Jesus lowered the bar from agape to phileo.
If Jesus had asked the same question before crucifixion, Peter would have said I love (agape) you. But his actions over the last few days showed that even on the phileo part (friendly part) he had failed. This hurt, this grieving was going to be the turning point of Peter’s life. Life was going to change forever. Peter was never going to go to his old profession of fishing for fish but he was going to fish for people as the Lord had told him.
After each of Peter’s reply, Jesus gave Peter a commission.
- Feed my lambs
- Tend my sheep
- Feed my sheep
All three commissions were not the same. Lets understand that the feed here is not so much as physical nourishment as much as spiritual nourishment. Feed here means supply with nourishment, to minister, to strengthen, develop and guard.
A sheep less than a year old is called a lamb and so Jesus was telling Peter to take care of the young Christians – spiritual babies.
The second time Jesus said – tend my sheep. These are no longer lambs but have become sheep. They are maturing. Tend here means attend to, be attentive to, guide, guard, warn, protect discipline etc. A good shepherd will always ensure his flock gets the finest grass, cleanest water and enough food for the winter. He will shelter them from storms, enemies and diseases to which sheep are susceptible. All day long he watches over his sheep from the corner of his eye.
The third time Jesus said – Feed my sheep
First he said feed my lambs then tend my sheep and now finally feed my sheep. As I said lambs were the young ones while tending was guiding and guarding and defending.
Hebrews 5:12-14 - It was the duty of Peter and all to follow, to teach the word – not just repentance and doing good but how to rely and operate in the Holy Spirit, to discern. This is what Jesus meant by feed my sheep.
Peter was to provide the leadership and Peter was not to quit. Jesus did not ask Peter will you work for me for in work you could quit but he asked do you love me and we all know in love there are no quits. And Jesus gave the assurance to Peter through a prophecy at that moment.
Jn 21:18 - Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.)
Peter was going to serve the Lord till his last breath and that he would be martyred for Christ. After this Jesus said to him, "Follow me." The same words when he called Peter first. Peter now understood all that the Lord said and did right from their first meeting and what it meant when the Lord said “I will build my church”. Peter accepted the challenge and his leadership began as follows:
Acts 2:14-41 At Pentecost, he preached his first sermon on the Lord and 3000 were converted.
Acts 3:1-10 Peter heals a beggar crippled since birth
Acts 3:11-26 Peter preaches his second sermon in Solomon’s portico
Acts 4:1-22 Peter preaches to the Sanhedrin
Acts 9:32-35 Peter heals Ae-ne-as who was paralysed and bedridden for 8 years
Acts 9:36-41 Peter raises the dead Tabitha of Joppa
Acts 10:34ff Peter preaches the Good News to Gentiles for the 1st time
Acts 11:1-18 Peter defends his action of preaching to the Gentiles
Acts 12:1-19 Peter is imprisoned and miraculously set free
Threats and imprisonment were not going to frighten him anymore. No matter even if he had to pay with his life he was not going to deny Jesus any longer. He lived the rest of his life doing the mission entrusted to the apostles which I spoke of earlier in Mt 10:5-15
- to go and proclaim the good news
- cure the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons
At the first call, Jesus had told him he would be fisher of men. At the call after resurrection he was to be the shepherd of the flock. Peter had to perform both the roles that of a fisherman and a shepherd. As a fisherman he had the charge of evangelization and as the shepherd he had the responsibility of building up the community.
Don't you feel many of our lives are like Peter? We hear of a miracle and we run there without seeking the Lord. We go for a prayer meeting because we feel good, anointed but that's about it. It does not sink deep inside. We proudly say Jesus is Lord but do not hesitate to dump him the next moment for the pleasures of this world and fear of our life.
The call is still the same – Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men
- I will – It is Jesus who does it, not us
- Make you - Its not about changing others, its about changing us
- Fishers of men - Servant leadership
Just like to Peter, Jesus comes to us at daybreak asking the same question do you love me and we say Lord we love you BUT and give a list of grand excuses of how we have planned the day. Jesus still stands there, the fire still burns but Peter i.e. you and me are missing on other side.