Prepared for Service - Peter, the Disciple

OPEN - ILLUST

Peter

Who - brother of Andrew, son of John; Hebrew name is Simon/Simeon

Name: Simeon - Hebrew; Simon - Greek; Petros - Greek; Cephas - Aramaic;

Normal to use three languages for name, depending on circumstances

As apostle, the second name became prominent - Petros - PETER

Grew up in Bethsaida (a fishing village) on the shore of Galilee; later in Capernaum

What - fisherman, fishing business with the Zebedee brothers (James and John), blue collar

Married (Mark 1:30, 1 Cor. 9:5)

Likely continued fishing throughout ministry, at least intermittently - returned home after each ministry tour

Martyred - tradition holds to him being crucified, upside down

Likely influenced Mark’s Gospel

Apostle - typically speaks up for the 12; his name is mentioned first in list of those called

His home may have been HQ for the 12; Jesus may even have dwelt there when they were home (Matt. 8:14)

Sees amazing miracles - bleeding woman healed (Luke 8:45); raising Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:37), Transfiguration (Mk. 9:1-8)

One of two to run to Jesus’ tomb (Matt 28:17, Luke 24:1-2, John 20:1-10)

HE looks inside, John waited - NOPE, not Peter

1) Truly Converted, and Follower of Christ

1 Peter 1:3 - “Born again”; 1 Peter 2:9 (chosen according to the plan of Christ)

Jesus commands, and he follows:(Matt. 4:18-19, Mk. 1: 16-20)

Peter walks with Jesus, follows Him - AND HE KNOWS THE WORD (this will come up over and over)

John 6:66–68 NASB95

As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

He knows Jesus is the truth!

Matthew 16:16 NASB95

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

He knows Who Jesus is - and he proclaims it clearly, boldly!

2) Not Perfect, but Holy

1 Peter 1: 15-16 - quoting Leviticus (REM, he knows the Word)

Peter’s formative spiritual life is marked by ups and downs, extremes, at times

His motivation never changes, always motivated to follow and support Jesus

Set apart, old self is gone, REM?

UPS and DOWNS

Walks on water (Matt. 14:28-31)

then falls for lack of faith

Confesses Jesus as Messiah (Matt. 16:13-19)

then he is rebuked for not believing Jesus, about His death

Peter asks questions, wants to learn and grow

In Matt. 18, Peter is the one to ask for an explanation on forgiveness

He proclaims having left everything to follow Jesus, and wants to know what’s in it for him, and them

At the transfiguration of Jesus, he wants to build tents for Moses and Elijah, taking advantage of being with them

Indignant reaction to having feet washed (John 13:6-11)

Boasts of never leaving Jesus

And Jesus foretells Peter’s denial (John 13:36-38)

Peter tends to wear emotions on his sleeve

With Jesus in the Garden

Then falls asleep instead of praying (Matt. 26:36-46)

Cuts off the ear of the soldier (John 18:10-11)

Then watches Jesus heal the soldier, reminding Peter what He is doing

Denies Jesus three times (John 18:15-27)

Then runs to the tomb with John (Luke 24)

He rushes in where angels fear to tread - perhaps this is why he leads the 12

Jesus calls Peter “a rock” for a reason

This man, who denied Jesus three times, then left Him to be crucified

How could he possibly be a model disciple - maybe we can relate to his ups and downs...

3) Uses Life to Prepare to Serve Jesus

The Holy Spirit does the preparing, our part is the RESPONSE

2 Peter 1:8 - READ, Peter knows he was being prepared for something greater than himself

All those ups and downs? To prepare him to serve, boldly, unashamed

At the transfiguration, we are told that this would not make sense until the resurrection

Now the resurrection has occurred, and the last thing Peter did was deny Jesus

Then he meets the resurrected Savior, while fishing, and he needs to deal with his guilt

READ: John 21:15-19

Three times denied Jesus

Three times restored

Then....FOLLOW ME! - and he does, BIG TIME!

CLOSING SUMMARY

What held Peter back?

What did he need to learn along the way in growing as a disciple?

Fear, Pride, Stubbornness, Disbelief, Confusion, Feeling alone

Ever feel any of these, maybe others not mentioned?

Yeah, me, too

Fear - walking on water - he needed faith

Pride - getting feet washed - he needed humility

Stubbornness - soldier’s ear - he needed reliance on Jesus

Disbelief - fishing after Resurrection, not knowing what to believe - he needed trust

Confusion turns to Knowledge turns to Wisdom

Proper Sorrow turns to Repentance and Reconciliation

AND IT STARTS WITH ACCEPTING FORGIVENESS

When God offers, take it!

He has offered salvation, forgiveness, TAKE IT!

We get saved, so we can follow. That’s why we do.

All these aspects of Peter - (rehearse) can we see US in them?

Fear, Pride, Stubbornness, Disbelief, Confusion, Sorrow over our sin

Fear, doubt, etc. show our tendency to worship self - it’s what we fight with

Like Peter, we must get rid of that old self, put it behind us, and start TODAY

Peter’s life - ALL OF IT - prepared him to serve Jesus

Your life - ALL OF IT - is to prepare you to serve Jesus - Romans 8:28

Teach your kids that their lives are preparing them to serve Jesus - PERIOD

What else could be the purpose, our purpose in life, but to serve Jesus?

Peter didn’t wait until he was “all there” - he just did

Don’t wait until you have it all figured out, till all the trials are over and the struggles are done

Don’t wait until you feel like you might be done falling short - JUST DO

Mark’s Gospel - influenced by the life of Peter, telling John Mark about the life leading up to the cross:

Peter fails when he relies on his own strength

Peter is victorious when he understands, and yields to, the power of the risen Savior

PETER IS A DISCIPLE!

Are YOU?