Being Like Peter

Written by Herb Schreur

There are many examples in the Bible, including but not limited to, the Apostles, that we can and should learn from.

At this time, in the history of the CRCNA there are, I believe, some who have seen themselves as the rock that the CRCNA part of the church was built on and there were certainly times that appeared to be accurate. I think we might do well to look at the life and times of Simon Peter, Cephas, The Rock. Peter was the first disciple that Jesus called to follow Him, to become a fisher of men, to submit his will to God’s will.

In Matthew 14 we see Jesus sending the disciples ahead across the Sea of Galilee in a boat. Later Jesus comes walking across the water to them. Peter immediately shows faith, but also challenges Jesus to prove who He is. He starts out OK, then loses focus, sinks, and must be rescued solely by the power of Jesus.

In Matthew 16:16 we hear Peter declare to Jesus that “You are the Christ, The Son of the Living God.” Jesus responds by telling Peter that he has had a revelation from the Father that has enabled this confession. In verse 21 Jesus begins to teach what his Messiahship will look like. And Peter immediately gets in Jesus' face saying “no, no.” Peter was looking for a conquering hero, not a suffering Savior. And Jesus has to call him out for doing the work of Satan, for wanting to stop the progress toward the completion of God’s Plan of Salvation for Peter and all of God’s people

In Matthew 17, during the transfiguration, Peter once again has a better idea. He is having an experience, the best of his life, that he doesn’t want to end. And who of us wouldn’t want to stay closer to heaven than we have ever been? But it is not God’s plan or God’s will that Jesus stays on the mountain. Peter is not to build on the mountain. He must submit his will and his life by following Jesus Christ, his LORD and Savior, back down the mountain and on toward the Cross.

In John 13, during the Last Supper, Peter again thinks he knows better than Jesus. First, he won’t let Jesus wash even his feet, although Jesus has washed the feet of others. Then washing just his feet is not enough. Peter always has another plan. He loves Jesus and wants to make sure that Jesus always has the benefit of Peter’s help, knowing what Peter wants.

In Matthew 26 we have Peter declaring that he will never run away. That he would never deny Jesus. That he would die before he ever denied Jesus. Then he, along with the rest of the disciples, sleeps through Jesus’ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. When the mob comes for Jesus, Jesus does not resist, or tell his disciples to resist, yet Peter takes up his sword and has to be rebuked by Jesus. Peter does not run away, but yet he soon fulfills Jesus' prediction of three denials.

In Acts 10 Peter is granted a vision that makes it clear to him that the gentiles are also to be part of the New Israel. Yet in Galatians 2 we read about Paul having to correct Peter when he chooses the tribe over the truth of the Gospel so clearly revealed to him in a personal vision.

No matter what blessings of ability and leadership we may be blessed with, we must constantly be on guard against the temptation to think that we, because of our blessings, know better. Better than the clear plain teaching of the Word. Better than all those who have passed down that teaching to us. Better than so many of those God has put around us. When Peter was guided by the desires and feelings of Peter he was not graciously submitting to God’s will. That was Peter falling to the wiles of the Enemy. We need to be like Peter when he repents, when he submits to feeding the Shepherd’s sheep. Doing not what Peter wants, but God’s will.