We know Peter was the first disciple of Jesus Christ. He was very close to Jesus ,still he betrayed Him and his story of redemption with Jesus and how he had used him as a leader to setup the early apostolic church is amazing. In this study we look at Life lessons of Peter : Redemption with Jesus
Life of Peter with Jesus
Before we understand the redemption experience of Peter , lets understand Peter, how Jesus chose him as the 1st disciple and his interactions with Jesus.
Peter was often called as Simon Peter - He was a fisherman
He had a gang of his companions “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners”
Luke 5:2-4,8-10 'He (Jesus) saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 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.” '
He was the 1st Disciple named in Bible -
Matthew 10:2 'These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; '
Mark 3:13-16 'Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), '
In the last supper Jesus Predicts that Peter will disown him three times
Matthew 26:31-35 '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.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 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’s word came true when Peter denied Jesus three times and the rooster crowed, This is when Jesus is arrested taken to the court for trial. He denied 3 times with servant girls. Mind it he fell on trap of sin of denying Jesus 3 times with a ‘girl’ not even an adult..
Matthew 26:69-75 'Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.'
Jesus is ascended to heaven. Simon Peter who was ordained as disciple for Christ, has betrayed Jesus. He had gone back to fishing with “the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.”
John 21:1-9,12-13 'Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus ), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “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. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 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. 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. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. '
Peter’s transformation with “Breakfast with Jesus”
If any of us was in Jesus position we would have scolded him, to say I warned you, but you betrayed me, we would have had a vengeance to see him with anger or what not.. some would have gone to the length to even beat him..
After the betrayal Jesus sees him and asks him a question “Do you Love me ?” what a saviour our lord is. Lot to Learn from him
John 21:15-17 '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.” 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.” 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. '
Lot to learn here from the Love of Jesus “Do you Love me ?”
Jesus did not abuse or torment Peter why did you disown me ? Instead he asks “Do you love me ? “
Jesus came to save the Sinners 1 Timothy 1:15 'Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. '
Jesus did not inflict pain with words to question his past, instead he was there to relive him of his past.
Imagine for a moment on the guilt that Peter would have had when he would have met Jesus, In Matt 26:75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.'
By asking “Do you Love me ?” He got the bitterness out of him, not one but three times.
Peter went to write his own life testimony in 1 Peter 1 , his victory has come thru Jesus.
1 Peter 1:3,6-7 'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. '
He details his mercy (read the word “us” new birth (old vs new)) was of Great mercy Jesus had given 1 Peter 1:3 'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
He had gone thru a grief and trials for a period 1 Peter 1:6 - “though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials”
His faith in Jesus is proven greater than Gold or anything that we may consider precious 1 Peter 1:7 “proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Lessons to Learn
Jesus does not hold our past to make what he has planned for future - Biggest lesson we need to learn from Peter’s transformation. Jesus does not condemn us, Jesus fulfilled this verse John 3:17 'For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. '
Jesus chose to save us. No matter how bad our sin may look he chooses us to reach and save us. Ephesians 1:4 'For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love '
We need to learn from Jesus to ask “Do you love me?” When we are hurt by someone, We choose to slander / retaliate with words of anger / shame. We need to ask Jesus to help overcome this..
Peter’s faith remained in Jesus even though he betrayed Jesus, it was the root for Jesus coming back.. 1 Peter 1:7 “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith”, Peter action on Faith fulfilled this John 3:18 'Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. '
Jesus does not write off with our sin, Faith is the Lynch pin to get us back to Jesus. Like Peter let’s hold Faith that he will take back. Don’t be bought into the lies of satan that we are doomed with that fin. No matter what ever worst Sin we have, we have the Love that covers the sin (its the same Peter who wrote this) 1 Peter 4:8 'Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. '
Peter was a Fisherman turned to Shepherd
John 21:15-17 '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.” 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.” 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.
Jesus asks 1st time “Feed my Lambs”, 2nd time “Take care of my sheep”, 3rd time “Feed my sheep”
Peter’s testimony of him being a Shepherd is given in 1 Peter 5:1-4 'To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. '
Jesus gives a prophetic word on his future on how he will glorify him - John 21:18-19 'Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” '
Eusebius(1st cent historian) in his Ecclesiastical History tells us that Peter was crucified in Rome, by Nero, but that he asked to be crucified upside down, as he was not worthy to die exactly as his Master (a.d 61).
When Jesus Said “Follow me” ~ He reinstated Peter to do his commission
Peter was very instrumental in shaping up the early pentecostal church. We read that when Peter preached, people were cut to the heart to repent and come to Jesus, his sermons added 3000 every day. (Read Acts 2 fully)
Acts 2:14,32-33,36-37 '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. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” '
3000 people added that day with his message - Acts 2:38-41 'Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. '
Lessons to learn
Never be Spiritually Overconfident like Peter - He was very confident that he will not forsake Jesus. But we know what happened.. Be humble and always keep in mind we can be taken down by Satan with this overconfident, Overconfidence leads to Arrogance / Pride. Remember Peter was the 1st disciple, if he can be taken no matter what level of closeness we are with God we can also be taken down..
Call to be a shepherd, is from Jesus - Don’t abandon what you do with others telling what to do, if you plan to do full time or part time minister, without Jesus calling don’t do it.. Jesus said three times to Peter, Same way if he plans any of you or me, he will speak to you directly, not thru any mediators.. He will reaffirm to us his calling like what he did with Peter..
Words of Jesus promise is true - When Jesus said he will betray, he betrayed. When he said he will bring glory ~ Peter’s death and his life has glorified Jesus. There is no two ways on his word..
When Jesus says “follow me” - We have to follow Jesus, not the other way around.. The Holy Spirit was there to lead Peter which made the 1st Pentecostal Chruch.Early church had scores of people because Jesus was there leading them.. He did not say I am the 1st disciple let me lead and others come.. No matter how 1st you are in your intellect, charisma or any thing. Without God leading you, you’re going to be a pauper in God’s calling.
Personal obedience matters - Peter followed Jesus to bring glory to Jesus. He obeyed Jesus.
Our past does not matter to Jesus to where he plans our destiny - Jesus did not look Peter’s past or his mistakes to make him great.. Peter lead the early apostle church and he wrote the 2 chapters in bible with the Holy Spirit leading him..
Jesus touches Peter in the same place where he met him 1st time ~ its in the same sea shore (”Seas of Galilee”) where he was washing the nets.
When Jesus met the 1st time Luke 5:1 'One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret (that’s Sea of Galilee), the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. '
When Jesus restored the discipleship of Peter - John 21:1-9,12-13 'Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee