Peter

Jos Jacob Vengassary

Biblical Characters • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Peter declares Jesus the Messiah

Peter’s denials

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Peter declares Jesus as the Son of God, But he at times wavers and another time again asserts his alliegience. There are similar characters in the OT like Jacob, Moses, David etc. For.eg. Moses a convict in the eyes of Pharao still standing against the Pharao, but fails in the wilderness of Sin Kadesh as hedid what he was supposed not to do at all (Numbers 20:11; where upon he was denied the entry to the promised Land (Deuteronomy 32:51)All were great only when they walked with God and when God was with them. But when they handled according to their will and forgot God they failed . Peter also failed when he departed Jesus. His denial, his resuming the old profession and failing there utterly without catching any thing. But as he received Holy Spirit He stood for Jesus and feared no consequences. He even was not stubborn to execute his will alone. Instead he was open enough to accept the Will of God though he was unwilling to share that insight. He after having the vision, was ready to baptize Cornelius and accept him to the fold. But it was a long process mixed with denial , failiure and conviction. At last the conviction that Jesus is Son of God prevailed. This is repeated in the Acts of Peter in the Quest for the Historical Apostles P.84. The question of Peter to Jesus as he was fleeing from Rome to escape prosecution when he met Jesus coming in the direction of Rome Quo vadis, Domine? and Jesus answer to Peter hearing which Peter returns to Rome and became a martyr. If we go only our way we will only fail and will be like the donkey on whom Jesus rode. When Jesus is no more upon the donkey, it is nobody. Two verses. 2.Corinthians 11:9; I Corinthians 15:10.

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Peter’s Question

Quo vadis, Domine? Quest for the Historical Apostles P.84

He sets out in disguise, setting up one of the most legendary events among the stories of the apostles. “When he went out of the gate he saw the Lord come into Rome. And when he saw him he said, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘I go to Rome to be crucified.’ And Peter said to him, ‘Lord, are you being crucified again?’ and Peter came to himself.… Then he returned to Rome, rejoicing and praising the Lord because he had said, ‘I am being crucified.’ This was to happen to Peter.”

The scene is epic. The Latin words between Peter and Jesus are memorable: Quo vadis, Domine? Venio Roman iterum crucifigi. Now Peter is confronted with the compelling choice to obey the Lord and suffer persecution unto death. Precedent for escaping is provided by his earlier rescue from prison in Jerusalem (). On his return, Peter is arrested. When the people appeal to Agrippa, Peter insists that they not be angry with him since this is the will of the Lord. “Why do I delay and not go to the cross?” he declares to them.

Simon: Simon is the Greek form of the Hebrew name shimʿon (שִׁמְעוֹן), a diminutive form of shimeʿeʾl (שִׁמְעֵאל), meaning “God has heard.” (New IDB-Simon). Here it reverses. Here he heard Jesus, the Son of God.

1.1 His declaration that Jesus is the Son of the Living God () gave his name Peter (petros- rock). But he at times is so hard as a rock in his convictions .But at other times he wavers. Many a times the name of a person may not correspond to his character. Satyasheelan may be one who always lies, Sumana may be one who always has a wicked mind.

Peter’s firmness and waverings:

upholder as against satan

response to call at once as against denial

His zeal as against his retreat

1.2 Similar Characters in the Old Testament

Similar lives of OT characters like Jacob, Moses and David

For eg. Moses

Moses a convict who killed an Egyptian as he was commissioned by Yahweh stood before Pharaoh to challenge him. But the same Moses as he got angry with his people acted against the Command of Yahweh ( ) As a result, he was denied the entry into the Promised Land ()

2 Peters conviction means his mind is transformed and becomes like the mind of Jesus as is written in the ancient christological hymn in . The Kenosis enables him to think and act like Jesus.

we see that in his change of attitude to Cornelius after having the vision

or his firm stand towards the priests in

3 . It took a long time for Peter to achieve this mind. He experienced failings, successes and at last he was bold enough to accept the Will of God which resulted in his death for that conviction.

4. A persons’s real nature will be revealed when he faces tribulations. In our life also we will discover our true nature when we go through trials and sufferings. Remember, Only when we are with God, we are strong and determined to the faith in Christ and can live with His mind, and accept His Will. Whenever, we are stubborn and live only according to our will, we are lost and we fail in our lives. Sufferings become unbearable, because Jesus is not with us to suffer . We will be like the donkey without Jesus on his back, worthless and ignored by others.

5. We should remember two verses which has strengthened Paul the Apostle.

2.Corinthians 11:9 and 1.Corinthians 15:10