Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

 

Peter knew the grace of getting another chance.  Peter was an extrovert.  He talked out loud to know what he was thinking.  Peter was a man of action.  He acted out to know how things worked.  He is like those of us who read the instruction book after trying to put together whatever needs to be assembled.

 

Feeling courage, he acted courageously.  Feeling fear, he acted fearfully.  When he failed … he recovered through God’s grace.

 

As Peter discovered, God connects our failures into success if we are:

 

1) Humble enough to learn;

2) Repentant enough to act differently;

3) Hopeful enough to trust again, and;

4) Bold enough to commit.

 

Who among us has not needed another chance in life?  Who among us today doesn’t need another opportunity, another “do over” some area of our life?

 

The desire to get it right where before we got it wrong beats inside every earnest person.  Correcting life mistakes is a built in part of learning … and being a learner is what the New Testament word disciple means.  A disciple is a learner by being in a trusting relationship with Christ and following His teachings.  Men and women (Luke 8:1-3; Acts 9:36) were New Testament disciples of Jesus.  The early Christian leaders set the tone in understanding that disciple is synonymous with Christian.  Jesus connects His mission to His disciples.

 

A basic requirement for being a disciple of Christ is to commit by trusting God’s leadership.  “Come, follow me.” Jesus said, “And I will make you fishers of people.” (Mt. 4:18-22).

 

The very act of being called out by Jesus meant that Peter was committing himself to another chance at life.  And that same grace-filled opportunity, on behalf of Christ, Peter would offer to others.  Choosing to follow enabled Peter to be lifted from a shallow existence into the depths of a disciple’s life:

 

-Peter desired, with his brother Andrew, to know the Messiah, John 1:41-42;

-Peter followed Jesus as a Disciple, Matthew 4:18-22;

-Peter offered his home to Jesus, located, within a 100 feet, of the Synagogue which became the central location for Jesus’ ministry, Mark 1:29-31;

-Peter was chosen & accepted to serve as an Apostle, Matt. 10:2;

-Peter allowed his thatch roof to be cut open so a paralyzed man could be lowered into his crowded home & be healed by Jesus, Mark 2:1-12;

-Peter walked on water, doubted, nearly drowned, rescued by Jesus, and never felt the need to walk on water again, Mt. 14:22-36;

-Peter confessed his doubts about salvation to Christ, Mt.19:27-30;

-Peter made the Great Confession of Christ, Matthew 16:13-20;

-Peter told Christ not to be crucified, Mt.16:22-23;

-Peter witnessed the Transfiguration, Mt. 17:1-8;

-Peter fished to pay the Apostle’s taxes , Mt. 17:24-27;

-Peter hesitantly allowed Jesus to wash his feet, John 13;

-Peter promised not to deny Christ, Mt. 26:31-35;

-Peter asked to be in the inner circle in Gethsemane, Mark 14:32-42;

-Peter shamefully denied Christ 3 times, Mt.26:69-75;

-Peter hid in the Upper Room, with the other Disciples, after Christ’s crucifixion, Luke 24 & John 20;

-Peter ran to the tomb to see if Jesus had been resurrected and reported back to the other disciples, Luke 24 & John 20;

-Peter was asked 3 times by Jesus if he loved Jesus and as a sign of his love Peter was commissioned to teach & care for the other believers, John 21;

-Peter became a leader of the Apostles, Acts 1-15;

-Peter preached the bold Sermon at Pentecost, Acts 2;

-Peter faithfully led the young Christian movement in Jerusalem & Samaria during a period of persecution, Acts 3-8;

-Peter confronted, punished, and imprisoned by the rulers, but miraculously released from prison, Acts 12;

-Peter received a revelation that God’s salvation was equally open to all people, Acts 10;

-Peter shared the “good news” of Christ with Cornelius; and defended his actions in Jerusalem, Acts 11;

-Peter spoke a courageous message to the Jerusalem Council, Acts 15;

-Peter visited & encouraged the Gentile churches, Galatians 2:11:21;

-Peter wrote the biblical books I & II Peter;

-Peter mentored John Mark (I Peter 5:13) who penned some of Peter’s messages which helped to form the Gospel of Mark.

 

Just as Peter discovered … Jesus is saying to us, “Come and follow me – learn as you go – to fulfill your life purpose.”

 

Pastor Les Hollon

 

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

- Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV)

 

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 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. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly 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 truly 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. I tell you the truth, 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!”

- John 21:11-19 (NIV)

 

This article was written by Les Hollon, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.  For more information about God and your place in His world, contact Dr. Hollon, click over to Trinity Baptist Church.

 

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