http://www.onlinethoughts.com/onlinethoughts/Peter.htm


Peter was just a regular working class guy

“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.” Matt 4:18

Peter experiences Jesus healing his mother-in-law from a fever

“Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So He went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.” Mark 1:30

Peter hears Jesus preach the Beatitudes to the people,
sees Jesus heal lots of people,
feels the tension as Jesus confronts the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day,
watches Jesus deliver many people of demons by the raw power of God….

Peter is one of 3 who see Jesus bring life back into a dead girl’s body

When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 8:56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. Luke 8:51

Peter begins to realize that Jesus is more than a mere teacher or prophet

“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat , the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." “Matt 14:25

Peter is a little slow understanding all that Jesus says….. doesn’t it remind you of us?
Jesus just explains the whole parable to them.

“Peter said, "Explain the parable to us." "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.” Matt 15:15

Peter’s Up – tells Jesus that He is more than a teacher, or prophet, but the One and Only Son of God

"But what about you?" he (Jesus) asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ." Mark 8:29

“Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” Matt 16:16


Peter’s Down – He misses what Jesus wants to do and imposes his own will on God
Do you ever find yourself RESISTING God’s will because you don’t understand it? – you have your own AGENDA!

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" (-Matt 16:22) But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." “Mark 8:29

Peter is 1 of 3 that ascends the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus and sees Jesus raw power and glory!
He Blows it but Jesus just tells him not to be afraid!

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.” Matt 17:1

Peter blows it – “Should I forgive my friend, say, even 7 times?” Jesus just works with him.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy seven times.” Matt 18:21


Peter – Lord, what about me? Ever feel like this? Jesus just encourages him and also tells him of the suffering

Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you! (“What then will there be for us?”- Matt 19:27)

“I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:28


Right after Jesus tells the disciples He will be killed …. They start arguing about who is the greatest!
Who does that remind you of? Then the others (probably Peter) are Indignant with James and John.
Jesus just works with them and uses it to teach them instead of saying, “You guys are blowing it….”

“Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." “You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers.” Matt 20:17-24


Jesus – God of Heaven and Earth – gets down on His hands and knees and washes their feet

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean...” John 13:6

Peter doesn’t understand … just like us lots of the time

“Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” John 13:36

Jesus tells the disciples that He will be killed – a little later they argue about who’s the greatest

“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” Lk 22:20

Jesus knows that Peter is going to totally and completely break & fail – But Jesus prays for Him to overcome

“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." Lk 22:31

Jesus again tells the disciples that He will be killed. Peter doesn’t know his own weakness, but Jesus does…. and Jesus loves him anyway!

Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." Matt 14:29

“But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.” Matt 14:31

Peter is blows it – Sleep overcomes him when Jesus wants him to be with Him in His agony

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Matt 26:37

2nd time

“Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Mark 14:37

3rd time

“When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.” Mark 14:40

Peter courageously tries to defend Jesus – with a sword

“Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)” John 18:10

Peter Follows to see what will happen

“But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.” Mat 26:58

“Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.” Matt 26:69

“ (he – Peter) went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." Mark 14:68

From a distance Jesus looks at Peter….

“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:61

Jesus dies and comes back to life – Peter is one of the 1st two people Jesus visits!

“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Luke 22:33

Jesus completely restores and affirms Peter…. like He wants to do to us when we fail

“Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Then he said to him, "Follow me!" John 21:1-19

Peter, in boldness and empowered by the Holy Spirit confronts the whole ruling counsel of the Pharisees – The Sanhedrin

“They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is

"`the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.'

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” Acts 4:7

And it goes on…. all through Acts Peter is used by Jesus to heal, preach and empower the church… and he makes some other mistakes…. but Jesus continues to encourage and discipline him!

*** In light of seeing who Jesus is and how much He cares for us --- Commit to Him! Because He is committed to you and is good. Therefore respond and hand your life and the control of your life over to Him exclusively!

Conclusion
The bottom line is that Jesus is for us and will support and encourage us as we follow Him. When He disciplines us it is only for our growth, health and maturity. Jesus never disciplines us out of mere frustration or anger like other people. His only motivation is His love for us and His desire to see us become truly Great! (Great in the best definition of that word.... Great in humility, Great in forgiveness, Great in strength, Great in trusting Him, Great in truly caring about others...) When we fall or deny Him (like Peter did).... He will not abandon us, but come to us and strengthen and encourage us! This is the Character of Jesus, which is the very Character of God! This is who we worship! We don't just worship a God of infinite power, but a God of Majestic Beauty.... this Beauty is His Character - nothing less! His Character IS the Glory of God!