Resources/Articles
The Days of Peter with Jesus (1)
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times
that you know me.”
Luke 22.31-34
Before you read anything else about Peter and his relationship with Jesus, you must know one thing: Satan was working to destroy it. “Satan demanded to have you” is a very bold and aggressive statement. It implies that if Jesus did not comply with Satan’s request, Satan would resort to some other deceptive device to persuade Peter and destroy Jesus’ efforts to save him.
Luke 22.31 says Satan’s effort to destroy Peter would be to “sift [him] as wheat.” Considering the agitating part of a sifter, Satan would agitate, frustrate, and annoy Peter with all manner of trials and temptations in an effort to separate him from Jesus. In other words, it would be a test. A test to establish the stability of Peter’s faith. Would he leave or stay with Christ?
Thinking about Jesus’ prayer for Peter to come through, keep his faith, and be determined should cause us to believe Jesus is offering the same intercession for us. Our Lord desires of us to come through, remain steadfast, hold on, and stand true. Be rock solid.
Most often we study about Peter and all he did or did not do and immediately think, “I sure can identify with Peter.” When Peter is described as impulsive, aggressive, hasty, suffering from the “disease” of “open mount, insert foot” or “human,” we easily relate to this man and believe we are just like that. In view of all this, note…
Peter Believed Jesus
In Luke 5, Jesus entered Peter’s boat. He spoke to the people, then turned to Peter and said, “Let down your nets” (v. 5). Knowing of the circumstance of catching no fish the night before, no one other than Jesus could have persuaded Peter. Peter said, “At thy word I will.” There was no disagreement, just simple submission: Submission which brought opportunities and blessings. After receiving an abundance of fish from following the command of Jesus, Peter learned that to fish for men is a greater endeavor, and the power to do so is by the same source as the one who brought him a massive amount of fish from the water.
Another example where Peter believed Jesus was John 6.51,53-54. Those words were a “hard saying” of Jesus which caused others to walk away (vv. 64-66). Jesus asked his disciples if they would go away. Peter’s answer tells of his belief in Jesus: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (v. 68). He did not turn to the other apostles, soothsayers, astrologers, etc. Peter turned to the only giver of life. It was this same Peter who wrote parallel words in 1 Peter 1.23-25. Peter believed the words of Jesus “liveth and abideth forever.” We need to have the courage to stand for the same words of Jesus on baptism, marriage, holiness, godliness, and say, “At thy word I will.”
Peter & The Church
In Matthew 16, 13,16,18, Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question lays the foundation for the nature of the New Testament church. Upon the rock of Peter’s belief in Jesus, the church would be established. Therefore, the church does not stand upon the ideas and philosophies of man. It would be like the crusades of the New Testament that Gamaliel spoke in Acts 5.33-37, which Theudas and Judas led but ended. It was the Christ and the church of which Peter and the apostles spoke that was noted by Gamaliel in vv. 38-40.
Peter may have thought he understood all things about the church of Christ in his confession of Jesus as the Christ. It was when Jesus said that he must go to Jerusalem to be crucified that Peter rebukes the Lord (Matthew 16.21-23). Peter did not understand the connection of Jesus’ death with the cross. Someone who is the “founder” of a special group of people is not killed. He lives to oversee it.
In Matthew 17.1-8, Peter wants to build a tabernacle for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, but the kingdom - the church - is not recognized by a building (another man-ordered philosophy). Then in Matthew 26.51-54, when the mob comes to take Jesus, Peter uses a sword as a defense. Jesus told him to put it away, and that what was happening was to fulfill prophecy.
However, in Acts 2.30-33, Peter is converted to the truth that Jesus would be upon the throne of a kingdom that is not of this world. Jesus is the foundation of that kingdom which will never be destroyed by Satan, death, or Hades. The footing of this church is sure and eternal. It will last forever. One day we had a man pour some concrete at a house where we once lived. He said, “That will be there long after you’re gone.” The same is true about the eternal foundation of the church. It is one lasting forever, even after we are dead and gone (1 Peter 2.4-6).
Be a believer like Peter. Believe in the Lord’s church.
There will be more to say about the days of Peter and Jesus…
