Decisive Moments in Peter’s Life

John 1:42; Mark 8:27-29; Luke 22:54-57, 61, 62; John 21:15-17; Acts 5:29

GOLDEN TEXT: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”—Acts 5:29

IT IS not with the thought of eulogizing Peter that we consider the critical moments of his life; nor, on the other hand, of pointing out his weaknesses and mistakes. All the Lord’s people would find much in themselves to remind them of Peter. All need the refining influence of the Word of God—sanctification by the truth. All need the providences of God, giving opportunity to sense their own deficiencies and weaknesses. All need “conversion” such as Peter experienced, and “power from on high,” in order to share in the work of the Lord here and now, and to be prepared for greater service in the kingdom.

Our first reference above tells of Peter’s introduction to Jesus. His brother Andrew, one of John’s disciples, attracted to Jesus by John’s remark, “Behold the Lamb of God!” together with another of John’s disciples, followed Jesus, spent the day with him, and thus became convinced that he was the Messiah. Assured of Peter’s deep interest in the prophecies which foretold his coming, it was only necessary, in order to arouse his desire to meet Jesus, for Andrew to tell Peter that they had found the Messiah.

We are told that the Lord had the power of discerning what was in the minds of men. (John 2:23-25) He saw in this plain fisherman of Galilee that which called forth the remarkable statement, “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone [margin, Peter].” (John 1:42) In the following years, when Peter’s conduct may have seemed out of accord with the strength and determination that his new name implied, the memory that the Lord had said that he should be called “a stone” was doubtless an incentive and an encouragement, as well as an assurance that he would, by God’s grace ultimately overcome any natural weaknesses and become worthy of the name the Lord, had given him.

Our lesson now carries us forward perhaps as much as three years. Jesus’ ministry was drawing to a close, and he asked his disciples what the results were as far as the people were concerned—“Whom do men say that I am?” Strange to say, the disciples could not tell of even one, beyond their number, who had sensed the fact that Jesus was the great Prophet whom Moses had foretold. They could only reply to the Master’s query that some of the people thought he was John the Baptist restored to life; others Elias, Jeremias, or another of the prophets. The question was then directed to the disciples and in response, Peter made that great confession of his faith in Jesus which has ever since been associated with him: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”—Matt. 16:16

Jesus’ well-known commendation of Peter, given at this time, indicates the importance of the truth Peter had stated—the recognition that he was not only “the Son of man,” not only a prophet comparable to John, Elijah, and Jeremiah, but One far greater than any of these, “the Son of the living God.”

It must have given Jesus much joy to see that this disciple had recognized his divine origin, that his Father had so influenced his mind that this great fundamental fact was discerned. It was evidence to Jesus that his work thus far had been successful and that now, recognizing him as the Son of God, Peter and the other apostles would be prepared to be his witnesses to others.

However, there was another important lesson which his disciples must also learn. It was that the promised Christ could not accomplish his divinely appointed mission except by suffering and a sacrificial death. The record indicates that immediately after Peter’s declaration that Jesus was the Christ, the Master began to ex. plain to his disciples that he must suffer many things; be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; be killed; and after three days rise again. This did not coincide with Peter’s idea of the Christ, and he rebuked Jesus, saying positively, “This shall not be unto thee!”—Matt. 16:22

Our Lord’s stern reproof followed. Peter’s well-meant suggestion, Jesus indicated, was to the same effect as Satan’s in the wilderness; namely, that of an easier way than God’s Word had marked out. How glad we are for the evidence that Peter meekly accepted the Lord’s rebuke; that he was one of the three who, just one week later, accompanied the Master to the mount where he was transfigured, his final victory over death and the glory of his kingdom pictured, and where both the Master and the disciples heard that sublime testimony, “This is my beloved Son, … hear ye him.”—Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35

Peter had other critical moments as the Lord’s ministry in the flesh drew to a close. They centered about the two great truths emphasized in our Lord’s conversation with him and the other disciples referred to above. It is worthy of ties special note that our Lord’s revelation to his disciples that he must suffer and die as a sacrifice at the hands of his enemies, followed immediately Peter’s great confession that Jesus was the Son of God. It is as though the Lord had awaited the recognition of his divine origin; and once that was clearly apprehended, this second great truth that he was to be a sacrifice—second in importance only to the understanding of his identity as the Son of God—must be grasped by his disciples.

As we follow the brief history of the remaining months of Jesus’ association with his followers in the flesh, we find this reiterated in conversation, and illustrated in his conduct. In the upper room on that last night before the crucifixion, Peter assured the Master that he would never desert him, that he would willingly lay down his own life rather than deny him. This is the best of evidence that Peter had grasped some measure of the necessity of sacrifice, and, at heart, was in accord with the Master’s own determination to do the Father’s will even unto death.

But Peter still had much to learn, both as to his own weakness, and what it meant to be a faithful follower of his Lord. In Gethsemane Peter must learn the necessity of non-resistance; and even though possessing weapons for self defense he was not to use them. In the high priest’s palace he must learn of his own weakness and how much he needed the “power from on high” which the Lord later promised, and which the waiting disciples received on the day of Pentecost. And on the seashore, after Jesus’ resurrection, he must learn and accept the Lord’s assurance that if he loved his Master as he professed, he would not only devote his life to a ministry for the Lord’s sheep and lambs, but must be willing that this should result in the same kind of persecution and death which the Master had experienced.

Begotten of the spirit at Pentecost, we find in the record of the Acts a greatly transformed Peter: a man filled with courage, zeal, devotion, self-control; a warm-hearted and earnest missionary of the Gospel; and a faithful brother and fellow-servant in the early church. And in the Epistles we have Peter’s final testimony, the evidence of how fully he had become like his Master in thought and manner of life and in his determination faithfully to carry on the ministry of the truth and the service of the brethren unto death.

QUESTIONS:

Under what circumstances did Peter receive his name as an apostle?

What great fact did Jesus say God had revealed to Peter?

What further lesson did Jesus impress upon his disciples, immediately thereafter?

How was Peter’s conversion accomplished?—Luke 22:32; 24:49

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