“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” -Matthew 4:18-20

We are going to take four glimpses into the life of the Apostle Peter as we prepare to study the books of first and second Peter.

Jesus called Peter, and Peter followed with his brother Andrew. Jesus declared that he would make Peter a ‘fisher of men.’ When we follow Jesus he makes us a person of influence and uses us in the lives of others. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Peter was the only other person apart from Jesus to walk on water. Jesus called to Peter to come to him out on the water, and Peter did. He got out of the boat and walked towards Jesus. He began to sink when he became afraid, but Jesus reached out and caught him and said, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ It is better to have little faith than no faith. What would it mean for us to get out of the boat and walk by faith? To follow Jesus means something. It takes us beyond ourselves and beyond what we would otherwise be and do.

Peter denied Jesus three times. When Jesus began to reveal to the disciples that he was going to leave them and take the way of the cross, Peter made great claims. “I will lay down my life for you,” Peter said in his enthusiasm to follow Jesus. But Jesus said, “Will you really lay down your life for me?” The truth was Peter would deny Jesus three times before the end of the night. That question pierces deeply for all of us. Will we really follow Jesus – whatever it costs? Peter failed, and so have we.

Peter was restored. Three times he denied Jesus, three times Jesus asks him, “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt by this – he knew his history with Jesus. Jesus tells him that, “When you are old you will stretch out your hands,” signifying the kind of death Peter would die. Peter would someday be crucified, even as Jesus was. And then, having told Peter the truth about his future, he says, “follow me.” And we know that Peter did, for thirty more years, knowing full well what the end would be for him. But he had a job to do – to feed Jesus’ sheep; to fish for men; to be used by God in the lives of others. And that includes writing the books of first and second Peter

As we study the books of 1 & 2 Peter, may we allow the Word to break us, and then make us ‘fishers of men,’ as we follow Jesus and serve others.

Pastor Tim, October 21, 2007