There are a lot trivial things in my life that I am dissatisfied with, but none compare to the disappointment I have when it comes to my relationship with God. I wish as a pastor I could practice what I preach. I wish I could hold my tongue when my wife or loved one makes me angry. I wish I didn’t hold grudges. I wish I would be more of a prayer worrier rather than just praying to God when I find myself in trouble. I long to pray with out letting my mind wonder to distractions. I desire to be more passionate. I wish I didn’t ignore my sins. I wish I could last a day with out giving in to temptation. I wish in those moments where I strive to be more holy I would not fall deeper in the opposite direction.
However, I understand that I am human and that I am sinful by nature. Sometimes I feel like there is no hope for me in my spiritual quest of perfection but I know there is hope. My favorite character form the bible other than Jesus is the apostle Peter. I can relate to Peter in many ways. It was Peter, like myself, who struggled with so many imperfections. With so many weaknesses it would seem unattainable to ever be spiritually “Holy”, however through the course of Peter’s life God transformed his heart to become one of the most influential leaders in history and one of the founders of the living church. It is through God’s work in the life of Peter that I have regained hope for my own spiritual growth and potential. Throughout this post I will examine the life of the apostle Peter by discussing Peter’s call to ministry, his leadership characteristics, his faults, and his sanctification.
To begin lets start with Peter’s call to ministry. What is remarkable about Peter’s call to ministry is that he was “nothing out of the ordinary”. There was really nothing special about this guy. He was from the village of Capernaum. He was a very loyal Jew. He was a radical Jew, a Zealot! He believed that the Roman Government should have been overthrown, because of its light persecutions against the Jewish people and because of its polytheism beliefs. Peter was a normal guy who had a family. The gospel of Matthew tells us in chapter eight that Jesus traveled to Simon Peter’s house to visit Peter’s mother-in-law. It is through this brief description in Matthew that we find he has a family. Because he has a mother-in-law we know he was married. Therefore, unless a medical problem would have prevented so, it is safe to assume that Peter was a father as well.
Peter was a fisherman by occupation. He was in business with his brother Andrew and friends James and John, who would all become disciples. It is significant to note that these men were not men of great scholarship, influence, wealth, or social background. They were not poor but rather simple working people with no extensive backgrounds. Most would have said these men were ordinary individuals with little ability and they would surely not change the course of history as we know it. (Barclay 91 vol. 1) The New Testament scholar William Barclay teaches that the fishing business that Peter and his co-owners ran was a very small business that probably consisted of two minute boats.
When Jesus called Peter in to ministry, he was fishing along the see of Galilee. It was a normal day in the life of a fisherman. In the days of Jesus, the Sea of Galilee was thick with fishing boats around 300 squeezed into a small area (Barclay 89 vol. 1). Matthew chapter four tells the story of how Peter was called into ministry. Matthew writes that Jesus was walking along the side of the Sea of Galilee and Jesus saw Peter, Andrew, James and John. Then Jesus called out to them and asked them to drop their nets and follow him.
“It is not to be thought that this was the first time that Jesus had seen them, or they him. As John tells the story, at least some of them were already disciples of John the Baptist (John 1:35). No doubt they had already talked with Jesus and had already listened to him, but in this moment there came to them the challenge once and for all to throw in their lot with him.” (Barclay 90 vol. 1)
The thought that Jesus already knew Peter before this experience and still called him in to Ministry really speaks to me. It shows that God has this pre-existing love for us that is overwhelming. God’s love is a love that calls us to a higher purpose despite who we are. If Peter had seen Jesus before he must have thought that he knew Jesus enough to be acquainted with him. However, Jesus wanted Peter to be more then just an acquaintance. Jesus desired for Peter to be a disciple, a follower. Peter’s call to ministry helps remind me that regardless of how many experiences I have had with God; He is continuously calling me to a higher level of personal intimacy with Him.
After Jesus called Peter into ministry he followed faithfully. Throughout the years of his discipleship Peter separated himself as a leader and trail blazer. Peter along with the sons of Zebedee seemed to share special status among Jesus’ disciples. It is Peter that is present for the restoration of Jairus’ daughter, at the transfiguration, and during Jesus’ final prayers in Gethsemane (Camille 43). Jesus gives Peter his name which meant “Panagioti” in Greek translating to “Rock”. This inevitability identified that Peter was the Rock or the leader of the group. Peter is often the one who speaks and sometimes the only one that speaks when Jesus asks for feedback. He shows primacy. On the morning of the resurrection, John allows Peter to enter the tomb first showing a natural respect to one who has already become the leader of the group.
In an article from “U.S. Catholic” author Alice Camille states, “Peter is reliable. Jesus counts on him, not Judas, to pay the temple tax for the two of them, even though Judas has the responsibility of holding the common purse”. Peter possessed extraverted characteristics that lead him to have an advantage on leading the group of disciples.
He was passionate. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the rough seas early in the morning, Peter was the one who asked if he could join Jesus. He is the one disciple who was constantly making that first step forward Jesus. Whether it is jumping out of a boat to walk on water with Jesus (Matthew 14:29), jumping out of a boat to swim to Jesus (John 21:7), or being the first in the tomb (John 20:6) Peter always made the first step.
Peter is humble, in John chapter 13 we are told of Jesus washing his disciple’s feet. When Jesus came to Peter, he stopped Jesus and told him “No”, “you shall never wash my feet”. Peter understood that he was not worthy to have the God of all gods wash his feet. When Jesus explained why the feet of the disciples must be washed, Peter then says, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" If having Jesus wash one’s feet would lead to holiness then Peter wanted to be fully bathed.
Peter was Loyal. He was the only follower who told Christ that he would follow him to death (Luke 22:33). Peter was willing to fight for Jesus by pulling out his sword and taking a whack at the high priest Malchus (John 18:10). Peter is open to inspiration. When the spirit speaks, He is capable of listening. When Jesus asks the group, “Who do you say that I am?” most of the disciples stand slack-jawed at the pop quiz while Peter allows the grace of the Holy Spirit to fill him with the answer. “You are the Christ.” (Camille 44).
Peter possessed numerous characteristics for leadership. However, he made a lot of mistakes during his leadership. Through reading and my study of Peter, his life, and behavior characteristics I personally conclude that perhaps Peter was ADHD. Like me, Peter often found himself putting his foot in his mouth. When Jesus took him to the Mount of Transfiguration and allowed Peter to see the fullness of God. Peter misunderstands the meaning of this event and interrupts it with a foolish question, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah" (Matthew 17:4). Peter speaks before he thinks, and what’s worse, he acts before he thinks! Peter is impetuous, impulsive and inpatient. In John chapter 21 Peter becomes inpatient with even Jesus. Jesus asked Peter three times “do you love me?” and by the third time John tells us that “Peter was grieved”. When Jesus took Peter to the Garden of Gethsemane he told him to pray. This was one of Jesus most vulnerable moments and Peter could not stay awake long enough to pray for his God. When Jesus came back he scolded him telling him, "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" Jesus asked Peter to "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (John 26:40, 41). Still he could not stay awake.
“Peter suffered form forgiveness fatigue. “How often do I have to forgive my Brother?” goes the famous question. “Seven times?” Peter thinks seven is a commendably generous number. Imagine the look on peter’s face when Jesus replies, in all seriousness, “seventy- seven times.” (Camille)
It is Peter who continuously struggles with his faith. Earlier, I referred to Peter as being the disciple who “takes the first step in coming closer to Jesus”. It is also Peter who takes the first steps in falling away from Jesus. When Matthew talks about Peter jumping out of a boat to walk on water with Jesus, however Peter soon losses his faith and begins to sink. John chapter 21 tells us that Peter was the first to quit fishing and jump out of the boat and swim toward Jesus. However the disciples were not suppose to be fishing in the first place, but Peter convinced them to do so which disobeyed God’s commandment to wait on Him. Peter was the first to enter the tomb, however he doubted that Christ had risen and believed someone had stolen him. It is Peter who tells Christ that he will follow him to the death and then denies knowing him three times. The betrayal Peter exhibits is so overwhelming that he verbalizes some of the heartbreaking words in the Gospel, “I do not even know this man” (John 18:25). One minute he confesses Jesus is the Christ and the next he refuses to accept Jesus’ suffering and death (John 20:8). It is Peter who steps so out of line so badly that Jesus has to reprimand him by saying, “O ye of little faith” or “Get behind me, Satan”!
Throughout Peter’s following of Christ we see him fall into sin and temptation again and again. But is because of his faithlessness and because of the varied traits ascribed to him, he may be the most fleshed-out character in the gospels (Cline 1). This allows us to see what God can do in the hearts of sinful, typical, average individuals.
God took Peter on a spiritual journey through faith. This impetuous, impulsive, inpatient, temper-minded, disloyal, faithless man is the one Jesus named “Rock”. Jesus took Peter with all of his flaws and disappointments and transformed his heart to become one of the most influential leaders of history and one of the founders of the living church. After Peter’s denial of Christ, then seeing Christ resurrected and experiencing the forgiveness of Christ it is easy to see a change in this man’s heart and spirit. Most scholars including William Barclay believe that during John chapter 21 while Christ was questioning Peter’s love for him Peter’s heart made a transition from being an impulse believer to a passionate, sanctified leader. He was the first to begin preaching to the Gentiles. He was the one who lead in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. He is considered by the Catholic Church to be the first pope. He is the figure of two books in the New Testament accredited with his name. Countless cathedrals and churches have been named after St. Peter throughout the course of history. It is through Peters call to ministry, his leadership characteristics, his faults/ spiritual warfare and his sanctification that I am reminded that God can call us to great things regardless of who we are or how far we fall. It is through the life of Peter I gain hope for my own quest of sanctification and spiritual perfection. I definitely have a lot of disappointments with regards to my spiritual progress, however if there was hope for Peter than I am confident there is hope for me. If God can use a man like Peter to change the world then just maybe he can use me too.
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