I Want To Be Like Peter

I want to tell you about someone that I long to be like. Someone that I wish someone would look at me and say, “you know, you remind me of another guy I’ve met a few times.” Now, I’ll admit there are times that, if it were your first encounter with this fellow, you would want nothing to do with him. You would certainly wonder why in the world ANYONE would ever want to pattern their life after someone like this! At times he hung out with the wrong crowd. He cussed. He wanted to worship men. He had a habit of putting his two cents where it did not belong. He went back on his word. HE ONCE EVEN LEFT THE MINISTRY AND WENT BACK TO THE LIFE HE HAD BEFORE HE WAS SAVED!!!!!! However, I want to be like him!!!!!

Matthew 14:22–34 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

STOP!!!!!!!! Right here, some would say, “now here is Peter’s problem! Jesus told them to get in a boat and go to the other side. Peter just DOES NOT want to obey Jesus! Jesus said, ‘get in the boat,’ Peter said, ‘I want to get out of the boat!’ That’s Peter’s problem, disobedience.” Maybe some else would say, “That’s Peter’s problem, pride! He just wanted to do something no one else had ever done.”

My question to those people would be, “what did Jesus say about it?”

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

I may be wrong, but I believe that if Jesus had been displeased with Peter, He would have rebuked him right here on the spot. In Matthew 8:23-26, we read of another storm that the disciples were in. This time Jesus was on the ship with them.

Matthew 8:23–26 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Mark 10:13–14 13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luke 9:51–55 51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Matthew 16:22–23 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

In each and every one of these instances, Jesus IMMEDIATELY corrects His men.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

I. Peter’s Collective Faith

Matthew 14:22 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

To be honest, this is one of the easier things we see Peter do in this text. Jesus says, “get in the ship,” Peter, along with the other disciples, says, “oh, look, there’s the boat; let’s get in it.” John is getting in, Phillips is getting in, James, Andrew, even Luke. Oh, and Luke, he’s a physician, so if anything goes wrong, we even have a doctor on board! So, there is a collective movement of faith to do what Christ says.

II. Peter’s Informed Faith

Matthew 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

Again, this was easy. Jesus says, “get in the ship,” Peter says, “Okay! No problem!” It was an object he could see; he could feel it, he could verify that it was a good ship. He had even been in ships before, and maybe he had even been in THIS ship before. After all, he was a fisherman before he met Christ, as we find in Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. So this is something he knows and that he’s comfortable with.

He can make an informed decision.

III. Peter’s Proven Faith

We have already dealt a little with Matthew 8, where Jesus was asleep in the ship and then calmed the storm. So obviously, this is not the first time Peter has been a storm. Peter was a fisherman, so more than likely, this wasn’t the first time he had been in a storm without Jesus on the ship.So even in the midst of the storm, Peter knows what to do. The Bible says nothing here about them, fearing they would sink or perish, as in Matthew 8. Yes, they are “toiling,” which means “laboring with pain.” However, they don’t really seem concerned until they see Jesus walking on the water and think that He is a spirit. This is something that Peter has been through before; in fact, he has probably been through worse storms. So, he has a proven faith from past experiences.

IV. Peter’s Incomparable (unmatched) Faith

Matthew 14:28–29 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

This happens about 3 - 4 miles from shore or about the middle of the sea.

We have already discussed how some people criticize Peter for this request. Now I have a question for those people. I’m not trying to be a smart alack, but……

“WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THEY WALKED ON WATER?!?!”

How many of these men, in this passage, do you think had the opportunity to walk on water that night?

Romans 2:11 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

John the beloved is in the boat; don’t you think Jesus would have let him come? Here’s his brother James. Doctor Luke. Thomas. What about Matthew? Why did they not walk on water that night? THEY HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY AS PETER!!!

IT’S TIME WE STOP SAYING, “LOOK WHAT GOD DID FOR THEM” AND GET SOME “LOOK WHAT GOD DID FOR ME” STORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

V. Peter’s Continued Faith

Matthew 14:30–31 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Peter’s in trouble now. He has taken his eyes off the Lord and is sinking. What he doesn’t do, however, is accuse Jesus of getting him into this mess. No, he just keeps his faith RIGHT WHERE IT BELONGS! He keeps it on the One Who let him walk on water in the first place. He knows that if He can walk on water, and if he can let ME walk on water, He can also save me when I look at the storm instead of Him!!!! All I have to do is cry out, and He will be right there EVERY TIME!

CLOSING

Closing

I. The One Glorified By Peter’s Faith

Matthew 14:32–33 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Never once did the other disciples say, “Peter! Man, that was awesome!” “Peter! You were really walking on water like a pro!” “Peter, Peter, HEY PETER! Can you teach me how to do that water walking thing?”

No. As soon as they stepped in the ship, Peter stepped out of the way, and they worshipped Christ as the Son of God.

One way to tell if someone is really operating by faith is to ask the question, “who gets the glory from what they do?”

Better yet, let us ask ourselves the question,

“who gets the glory from what I do?”

If we are truly living by faith, our daily life will direct all glory to HIM.

I. Peter’s Collective Faith

II. Peter’s Informed Faith

III. Peter’s Proven Faith

IV. Peter’s Continued Faith

Closing: The One Glorified By Peter’s Faith