Identity - Who am I - Peter

Who am I? Who are you? That is the question of the day. Our culture is working to make it OK for people to identify as something they are not. Identity means so much to us. It shapes our beliefs, our actions and ultimately where we will spend eternity.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at three guys who had to deal with their identity in various ways. Paul thought of himself one way and then had an encounter with Jesus. It was after this encounter that Paul saw his true identity as a follower of Christ. Paul is a great example of a new creation in Christ. Who he became after Christ was in direct opposite to who he was before. Before he was killing disciples of Christ and after he made disciples of Christ.

Then we looked at John the Baptist. Before his birth, a prophecy was spoken over his life. He grew up and fulfilled that prophecy as a someone who prepared the way for Jesus. Others, when they looked at his influence, tried to get John to be something he wasn’t, but John stuck to who he was. When his influence waned because Jesus came, he was secure in his identity. He had fulfilled his purpose by staying true to his identity.

Last week, we looked at David. David started as shepherd boy and was anointed king. He was little, but challenged a giant. Saul tried to make him a soldier, but David went into battle as God had equipped him - with a sling and stones. As king, David really messed up by succumbing to temptation with Bathsheba. When confronted with his sin, he confessed and was forgiven. That sin could have defined David, but he sought after God and received forgiveness, blessing and full life in the Lord.

We all likely see a little bit of ourselves in the lives of Paul, John and David. Whether we’ve had a distinct conversion experience like Paul, a life following Christ from a young age like John, or allowing sin to derail our walk like David, we all need the reminder of who we are in Christ. Who God sees us to be. We need to speak to the lies and deceptions of this world and speak truth over our identity.

Today we are going to look at the life of Peter. Like previous weeks, we are going to read about Peter and see what the Bible says about his life and his identity in Christ. Let’s start in Luke chapter 5.

As you turn there, I want to give you a little about Peter. He was not very well educated if at all. He was a fishermen by trade as we’ll see. He often spoke his mind, saying things that others were thinking, but didn’t say for one reason or another.

Luke 5:1–11 NIV

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Simon, who would later be called Peter by Jesus, was a fisherman. Based on the simple interactions with Jesus here, we can see that Peter says what’s on his mind. First he tells Jesus that they haven’t caught anything, but that he would let down the nets because Jesus said so. He is willing to humor Jesus in lowering the nets even though it doesn’t make sense.

After pulling up a huge load of fish, Peter reacts by calling Jesus Lord and confessing his sinfulness.

After this event, Jesus calls Peter and his companions to follow him and they did. They left everything behind and followed Jesus.

Where ever Jesus went, Peter was usually right there. Among the twelve disciples, Peter was generally regarded as the leader or the first among them. The book of Mark is likely written from Peter’s perspective by John Mark. It was not likely that Peter was educated enough to even write on his own. The book of 1 Peter closes by saying that Silas helped Peter write that letter.

If we took the time this morning, we could skim through the book of Mark and see all that Peter saw and did as he followed Jesus. I do want to turn to a very familiar story to us in Matthew 26. This takes place just after the last supper.

Matthew 26:31–35 NIV

31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Jesus is general in describing how they will all fall away that night. Peter immediately takes offense and tells him that this is not going to happen. He is willing to lose his life in following Jesus.

This conversation is a good example of who Peter is. He is not one to shy away from speaking and believes that he would do anything to follow Jesus. He leads the others in their proclamation that Jesus can count on them to never leave.

Jesus then responds directly to Peter and gives him the detail surrounding his denial. At the end of chapter 26, Peter denies knowing Jesus three times and the rooster crows. Peter would weep about his actions. I imagine that the next 3 days were very difficult for Peter. He would see Jesus put on trial, crucified and buried. Peter said he would never fall away and at the very first sign of trouble, Peter folded. He had three days to think about this until Jesus rose again.

Of course, Jesus rose again and appeared to the disciples. Turn with me to John 21...

John 21:1–3 NIV

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Peter and his friends returned to what they knew. They knew fishing. At this point, they haven’t been given direction as to what they are to do now that Jesus rose from the Dead. So, without clear direction, they do what they know - fishing.

John 21:4–8 NIV

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

Something happens when they realize it was Jesus. Their love for him never stopped. They missed Him and now that he has appear to them again, they are quick to go to Him, but none quicker than Peter. He makes a swim for it.

John 21:9–17 NIV

9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Peter denies Jesus three times before the crucifixion and now Peter tells Jesus that he loves Him three times and three times, Jesus tells Peter to be the shepherd that feeds Jesus’ followers. Peter now has a direction to go. He’s calling is clarified moving forward. Peter would teach, but he’s not ready yet…turn with me to Acts 2.

In his time with the disciples after the resurrection, Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come on them - for them to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 tells of that event:

Acts 2:1–14 NIV

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

Peter is now ready to step into his calling. Prior to being baptized with the Holy Spirit, Peter was operating from his own power. He said he would never deny Jesus, but he did. He spoke of Jesus from his own earthly understanding and in many instances, what he said lacked understanding until this moment.

In this moment, the Holy Spirit awakened within Peter his true identity in Christ. He now understood and was able to teach what all that happened meant. As a result of this first teaching, 3,000 came to trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Peter was walking out his identity in Christ. The world made him a fisherman, Jesus made him a fisher of men.

In Paul, we saw a man converted from who the world made him to be into the man God intended him to be.

John walked out the purpose of his life by knowing his identity in Christ. People thought he might be something else, but John stayed true to who he was to the end.

Terrible sin placed a black mark on the life of David. He willfully and intentionally gave in to temptation. Even though there was a consequence for the sin, David confessed and was forgiven. David could have let those acts define him, but he continued his quest to follow God with all his heart, mind soul and strength.

People looked at Peter and saw an uneducated simple fisherman. Jesus looked at Peter and saw the man who would lead the early church. Jesus saw a man who would fully realize his call and would feed the Lord’s people.

You are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17

You are eternal, lake an angel. Luke 20:36

You have a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25

You are a holy priest. 1 Peter 2:5

You are a treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

You were chosen before the creation of the world. Ephesians 1:4

You are destined for “praise, fame and honor” and you will be a “holy people to the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 26:19

You are God’s child. 1 John 3:1 Galatians 3:16

You are chosen. 1 Peter 2:9

You are a special possession. 1 Peter 2:9

You are Free. Galatians 5:1

You are more than a conqueror. Romans 8:37

From Psalm 32:

You are Blessed. Psalm 32:1-2

You are forgiven. Psalm 32:5

You are protected and surrounded. Psalm 32:7

You are righteous and upright in heart. Psalm 32:11