The Master’s men - Part 3The Master’s men - Part 3 Simon Peter: Up Close and personalSimon Peter: Up Close and personal

Mathew 10:1 to 4Mathew 10:1 to 4

INTRODUCTION to the topic and contextual background

Before chapter 10, Mathew’s focus was on Jesus’ public ministry. In Mathew 10, he directs his attention to Jesus training of the 12 apostles. For the past 2 Sundays, We had learned about their conversion, their training and their weaknesses in general. We learned that this chapter is all about the 3rd phase of Jesus training of these twelve men which is their internship. We had an overview of the 12 apostles, and we learned about how God choose 12 ordinary men to spread the Gospel message. We learned all we can from the list of their names found Mathew 10:1 to 4.

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In the next few Sundays, we will learn all we can about each of the Apostles individually. For today, we will be discussing the first one in the list, Simon Peter.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: SIMON PETER

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All of the twelve, Peter was by the central figure, both during the three years of Jesus’ earthly ministry and during the early years of the church. Aside from Jesus no name is mentioned more often in the New Testament than Peter’s. No disciple was reproved as often or as severely as Peter,

How could Jesus take such an inconsistent, and self-centered man and make him into the first—the “first”—of the apostles? From the gospels we can discern at least three elements that were instrumental in the Lord’s preparation of Peter.

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Name: Simon (Common name given by his parents)

Known aliases: Peter (Which means “stone” as called by Jesus Christ), Cephas (in Aramaic)

Occupation: Fisherman

Residence: A native of Bethsaida and later moved to Capernaum

Relationship status: Married

Known family Relationships: Father: John (Jonah), Brother – Andrew, an apostle as well.

SOME KNOWN FACTS ABOUT SIMON PETER

I – THE RIGHT RAW MATERIAL

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Peter had the right raw material from which Jesus could fashion the sort of leader He intended Peter to be. Peter had potential, but left to himself, Peter would never become what we know he is today. Here are some facts recorded about Peter on why he seemed to have the right raw material..

a.) Inquisitive – Peter was always asking Jesus questions. Many of his questions were superficial and immature, but they reflected a genuine concern about Jesus and His work.

A person who does not ask questions has little chance for success as a leader, because he has no desire or willingness to inquire about what he does not understand. When the other disciples failed to understand something, they appear to have been more likely to keep quiet or simply discuss their doubts and questions among themselves. Peter, on the other hand, was never reluctant to ask Jesus about whatever was on his mind. (Matt. 15:11,15, (Mathew 19:27, Mark 11:21, John 21:21)

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b.) Initiative – Peter showed initiative, another necessary ingredient of leadership. Just as he was usually the first to ask Jesus questions, he was also usually the first to respond to questions Even though his actions were often misguided, Peter was ready to respond in what he thought was Christ’s behalf. (Matt. 16:15-16, John 18:10)

c.) Intent to be in the action – Peter positioned himself in the middle of the activity. He was a natural participant, never content to be on the sidelines. He stayed as close to Jesus as possible and wanted to be a part of everything that happened. (Mathew 26:69-75, Mathew 14:22-23 ,John 20:4)

II – THE RIGHT EXPERIENCES

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A second element in preparing for leadership is having right experiences. The Lord brought into Peter’s life all the experiences necessary to develop his leadership ability.

a.) Given wonderful revelations – Peter has been given an opportunity by the Lord to reveal wonderful truths to others about Him. (Matt. 16:16-17, John 6:66-68)

b.) Given great honor and reward - After Jesus explained to Peter that the truth of his confession was revealed to him by the Father (Matt. 16:18). The Lord used Peter to bring the gospel to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. Peter unlocked the doors of the gospel to both the Jews and the Gentiles. All of the apostles opened the door to the kingdom as they preached the gospel of salvation, and every time any man of God preaches Christ he, too, unlocks those kingdom doors to let men in.

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c.) Given great rebukes – After Jesus honored Peter by his declaration in Mathew 16, perhaps feeling proud and overconfident as the leading disciple, he demonstrated that his mouth could be used by Satan as well as by God. When the Lord foretold his crucifixion, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You’” But his severe rebuke of Jesus brought an even more severe rebuke from Jesus: “ (Matt. 16:21-23)

Peter was also rebuked in advance by the Lord when the Lord predicted that all the disciples would fall away when He was arrested, Peter again contradicted Him, but God told him he will deny him three times. (Mathew 26:31-35, 69-75).

d.) Given a great re-commissioning - When Jesus confronted him with the lack of love, Peter assured the Lord three times that he had affection for Him, and Jesus three times reinstated him and charged him to care for His flock. Jesus had not given up on Peter. He reassured His backslidden disciple that his calling still stood and commanded him again just as He had in the beginning, “Follow Me!” (John 21:15-19).

III – THE RIGHT ATTITUDES

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A third element in Jesus’ training of Peter was teaching him the principles of godly leadership.

a.) Taught Submissiveness - Because leaders can easily become domineering, they have a special need to learn submission. When the Capernaum tax collectors demanded a Temple tax from Jesus, He commanded Peter to go and catch a fish, in whose mouth would be a coin, exactly enough to pay the tax for both Jesus and Peter (Matt. 17:24-27). From that experience Peter learned a lesson not only in submitting to Jesus but to human authorities. This is lesson from the Master is later on reflected when he wrote 1 Pet. 2:13-15, 17.

b.) Taught restraint & self control - When the Roman soldiers came with the officers of the chief priests and the Pharisees to arrest Jesus in the garden, Peter drew his sword and began to fight—even though those that came to arrest Jesus may have numbered 500 or more men. Jesus told Peter to put away his sword and to let God’s divine plan take its course (John 18:10-11).

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c.) Taught humility - Only a few hours after he proudly boasted, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away,” Peter denied the Lord three times—although he was in little, if any, danger (Matt. 26:33, 69-75). But he eventually learned his lesson, and many years later wrote, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5).

d.) Taught Sacrifice – Jesus foretold Peter’s death through martyrdom in John 21:18-19). When Peter became concerned that John might not have to pay such a costly sacrifice, Jesus told him sternly, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (vv. 21-22). For the second time on this occasion Jesus commanded Peter to follow Him, That was the last time Jesus had to command Peter to follow Him. From then on, Peter obeyed whatever the cost. He even learned to rejoice in his suffering for Christ, as he wrote in 1 Peter 4:13-14, 16, 19.

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e.) Taught genuine love – It was genuine love that caused Peter to deny His Lord, and it was about that love that Jesus pressed him three times. Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet not only was an example of humility but of the source of humility—love. Service to others, no matter how costly or demeaning, is neither humble nor godly if done from any motive but love (1 Cor. 13:3). Peter records the lesson he learned: “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).

f.) Taught courage - Because Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s suffering pointed to great sacrifice, it also pointed to need of great courage. When Peter was brought before the high priest and the Sanhedrin council for preaching the gospel, he was no longer the fearful coward he had been in the high priest’s courtyard the night of Jesus’ arrest. (Acts 4:10-11; 3:1-8).

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CONCLUSION

Peter learned his lessons slowly, but he learned them well. He took the initiative to replace Judas among the apostles (Acts 1:15-17), became the first spokesman of the church (2:14), was the first to defend the gospel before the Sanhedrin (4:8), was the first to enact church discipline (Acts 5:3-9), did several miracles, was the first to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10), and wrote two epistles in which he included all the lessons Jesus had taught him. Peter was indeed a man God touched with His grace in a special way.

Tradition reports that Peter died a cruel death. Before he died, He is said to have been forced to witness the crucifixion of his wife. Peter is said to have pleaded to be crucified upside down, because he was unworthy to die as his Lord had died.