Life and Teachings of Peter
Imagine that you are an invisible, incognito witness to the earthly life of Peter, much like a private investigator watching every detail to gain facts about an extremely interesting person. First, observe his life in the four gospels, then in the book of Acts. Then, listen to him teaching—through his epistles—the apostle’s doctrine that fed the early church.
PART I – The Gospels
Each time that one of the gospels mentions the disciples, the Twelve, or later, the Eleven, the apostles, or they/them with respective antecedents, stop and remember that PETER was there in the group as one of the actors. These actors were in a real drama that God caused to happen when He invaded their world about 2000 years ago.
Another important detail to remember (as an observer) is that Capernaum was Peter’s adopted hometown, although originally from Bethsaida (John 1:44). Whenever Jesus was in action in Capernaum, PETER was most likely an eyewitness, forming stronger and stronger faith in Jesus by seeing actual healings and hearing live teachings by the Son of God. Throughout the narratives, he was also sometimes called SIMON, SIMON PETER, or CEPHAS (John 1:42).
Also, watch for the name PETER where the gospel narrator reveals the actual individual in the account who did the deed. [I drew a rectangle around his name each time he was singled out.] For example, only John tells us who cut off the servant’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew, Mark, and Luke protect PETER’S identity by simply saying that “one of the disciples” did it.
Some writers say that Jesus sent two disciples ahead to set up the Last Supper. Luke 22:7-8 reveals that it was Peter and John. This choice shows us the persons whom Jesus trusted to get the assignment done. PETER was one of the three in the inner circle which accompanied Jesus—along with James and John—at Jairus’ house, the Mount of Transfiguration, and in the Garden.
When the disciples were sent out as a larger group by twos, Peter was included with those who rejoiced at the results. He had witnessed healings as he and his partner prayed for healings. Perhaps it was no surprise to him to have God verify his witness in the book of Acts by miracles, signs, and wonders, even healings from his shadow. He and his friends had observed them already after their commissioning, being sent forth as a group.
And then, there are those times when the vocal PETER spoke up before anyone else, earning him a reputation for speaking up a lot. For example, he showed his spiritual insight in his confession of the Messiahship of Jesus. He pointed out that many had touched Jesus when the latter asked, “Who touched me?” Luke 8:45. On the Mt. of Transfiguration, he spoke up to offer to build three tabernacles for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses. (He obeyed his Master’s instructions to keep his mountaintop experience to himself until after the resurrection, even if he didn’t understand what Jesus meant. He refers to it with reverence in his second epistle (II Peter 1:16-18). This man of action didn’t waste his life dwelling on his death but looked ahead to the glory to be revealed. He learned that from the mountaintop experience and the example that Jesus set.
PETER’S name is first in 3 lists of the disciples’ names: Mark 3:16-19; Luke 12:16; Acts 1:13. That’s like listing the most predominant person first.
PETER’S negation of any association with Jesus was punctuated by his bitter, remorseful crying and his restoration in John 21. Also, his name is singled out by His resurrected Lord when He told the women to go “tell his disciples and PETER” that He had been raised from death (Mark 16:7; Luke 22:31. See also Luke 24:34.) Jesus had prayed specifically for PETER and prayed for him and others against Satan’s tactics to stop them (Luke 22:31). Jesus paid PETER’S tax once (Matthew 17:24-27). They were tight!
But with the special status that PETER enjoyed, much was required and expected of him. When Jesus found the disciples sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane instead of prayerfully watching, He asked PETER if he could not watch one hour (Matthew 26:40).
PETER and other disciples were rebuked by Jesus for refusing little children and not having faith during a storm. PETER got a strong rebuke from Jesus for arguing against the agonizing end that Jesus was facing; this happened on the heels of PETER’S outstanding declaration that Jesus was the Son of God. Religious leaders rebuked all the disciples for eating grain in a field on a Sabbath day (Luke 6:1-5).
PETER’S questioning mind wanted answers. He asked, “What about us?” Mark 10:28 and Luke 18:28 say that he had left all to follow Jesus, and he pointed that out. He asked what parables meant. “What about John’s future?” he wanted to know (John 21).
PETER’S love for Jesus was shown by his running to the tomb to check a report of the resurrection. Church fathers give PETER credit for imparting a lot into Mark’s gospel content. If so, that explains why only Mark tells us that Jesus had a cushion under his head during a storm at sea. Did PETER again show his love for Jesus by supplying Him with a cushion? Dr. George Wood, former head of the Assemblies of God, thinks so.
There are numerous lessons to be learned by watching this courageous man as he grasped the reality that the Son of God had intruded into his fisherman life in Galilee. May we allow Him to invade our lives any way He wants to—there will be adventure ahead!
The best YouTube movie presentation on PETER that I have found is found at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFdi65-UF30.
PART II & PART III - Stay tuned.