Peter’s Call and Commission
Two of John the Baptist’s disciples heard him affectionately say of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God,” and they followed Jesus. One of the two was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother and said unto him, “We have found the Messias... and he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:36-4236And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:36‑42)).
Jesus knew Peter’s kindness would allow Him to preach from his ship. Peter was rewarded by the greatest catch he ever had. It made Peter feel his unworthiness in the presence of his Creator. Falling down at Jesus’ knees, he said, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Peter recognized himself a sinner and Jesus as “Lord.”
Jesus told Simon, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him” (Luke 5:3-113And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. (Luke 5:3‑11)).
Peter’s Self-Confidence
“The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak” sometimes characterized Peter, as it does us. Guided by the Father, he spoke the truth concerning Jesus’ person in Matthew 16:1616And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16): “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Yet shortly after this, his zealousness for the Lord caused him to deny Jesus’ words concerning His decease and he was sternly rebuked: “Get thee behind Me, Satan” (vs. 23).
On the mount of transfiguration Peter slept while Moses and Elijah were speaking of Jesus concerning His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. When he was awake and saw His glory, he wanted to prolong the occasion and he makes the mistake of putting Jesus on a level with these two men.
On another occasion the Lord warned Peter, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted [restored], strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-3231And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:31‑32)). Jesus said to His disciples, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night.” Peter’s self-confidence made him say, “Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended.” Jesus replied, “Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice” (Matt. 26:31-3431Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Matthew 26:31‑34)).
In Gethsemane, rather than praying as Jesus had told them, Peter, James and John fell asleep. When the Lord was confronted by those sent by the chief priests, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus. Again Jesus rebuked him. The Lord Jesus had been in prayer and went through His whole ordeal with the Father and never faltered. Peter’s lack of dependence in prayer led to fear and his triple denial of his dear Lord under pressure.
Peter’s Faith
Later on, however, after the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers, Peter fell into a confident sleep. Even though Herod intended to behead Peter shortly, he slept so soundly that the angel sent to deliver him from the prison had to strike him on the side to awaken him.
The Spirit of God has been pleased to tell us some failures of this dear, warmhearted man. If He had not told us any failures of His devoted followers, we would be very dejected when we fail the Lord in our day. Who has not been encouraged by the Lord’s immediate response to Peter’s call, “Lord, save me,” as he began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus while walking on the water (Matt. 14:28-3128And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:28‑31))?
Peter’s restoration began in a private meeting of the Lord with Peter. Of what was said we know nothing. This is always the first step in restoration. We must humble ourselves before the Lord alone. His public restoration is recounted in John 21. Peter, a natural leader, goes back to fishing and takes others with him. The Lord graciously gives them a good catch after a fruitless night’s work.
After He had fed them, Jesus spoke to Peter in the presence of the others. Thus all would know that Peter had been fully restored. Peter was charged with feeding and shepherding His sheep, even the lambs. This was according to the Lord’s words in Luke 22:3232But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:32), “When thou art converted [restored], strengthen thy brethren.”
Peter’s Work
On the day of Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles preached boldly and about 3000 were saved. Peter’s mandate was to the Jewish people, as Paul was charged with the gospel to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:7-87But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) (Galatians 2:7‑8)). The early chapters of Acts show Peter working among his people. His epistles are addressed to those dispersed among the Gentiles.
What a contrast to the former age of law we see in 1 Peter 1:4-54To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:4‑5). Now we have an inheritance that is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” Israel had lost theirs. Ours, Jew and Gentile, is reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God. Thankfully, we can never lose it.
He learned lessons which we find in reading his epistles. For example, denying his Lord made him realize how important it is to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:1515But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)). He affectionately closes his epistles with, “To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:1818But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)).
T. A. Roach