Meet Simon Peter : The Apostle of Christ

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            Peter the apostle has many interesting ups and downs, but before I get into who he REALLY is, I want you to understand why I started this project.  It has always been my understanding that the apostles followed Jesus Christ, and believed He was God.  But I never once considered to ask “I wonder what they were really like. “  Their favorite foods, their quirks, their temperament; the apostles were real men, so they obviously had lived just like you and me, right?  And since I think I’m a decently interesting fellow, I thought that perhaps one of these special, unordinary men might have had some characteristics that resembled my own. 

            You have to understand that I’m not a know it all.  Though I’m sure I’d like to think I am.  I am also not a very good speaker, though I believe God is creating me for that purpose.  I love to eat my foot.  I stick my foot in my mouth at almost any given time.  I’m quick to speak without thinking, and often don’t realize I’ve said something drastic or stupid until it’s too late.  Then I catch myself apologizing, only to do it all over again.  I always say “Faith is a journey, and not everybody is in the same place.” I’m on a faith journey, and I’m beginning to learn grace from my Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ.  Having said that, in my quest to understand these characteristics, I was hoping to find some that matched my own so that I can maybe receive a better idea of what The Lord wants to do with me, and the results have been astonishing!

Without much knowledge of the apostles, I have found out that Peter the apostle was often just as quick to speak as I was!  He was also quick to be wrong, quick to be right, quick to have the first say in things.  He also over analyzed situations, asked too many questions, and was easily tempered.  “THAT’S ME!” I said, pointing out all of his faults and comparing them to my own.  However, even though Peter was the LEAST likely person to take care of God’s commands, Jesus Christ who is God Himself chose him and him alone to be the leader of the early church!  In this particular study, we’ll see how Jesus Christ shaped Peter into the leader he became, and how Peter’s life became significant to the spread of Christianity.

Simon, also called ‘Peter’

            Jesus Christ gave Simon a nickname.  He knew what he wanted Simon to do, He wanted Simon to become a leader.  But like most leaders, they must be shaped into the leaders they become.  In Luke 6:14 you can see Jesus give Simon his new name. “Simon, whom He also named Peter.”  Jesus “also” named him Peter.  His reason was to help Simon see who he was, and who he was being.  The name “Peter” comes from the greek word “petros” meaning “rock”.  Jesus wanted Simon to become “like a rock”.  Whenever Simon did something commendable, Jesus gently called him Peter.  When he was acting like his old un-regenerate self, or sinning in a word, Jesus called him Simon.  The only times when the name Simon (when reffered to Simon Peter) was called Simon and he wasn’t being rebuked, was when the scriptures talked about his house, his mother in law, or his fishing business, as Simon Peter was a remarkable fisherman. 

            Some examples of his name being used as a scolding are in scriptures here.  When Jesus is referring to Simon Peter’s denial, Jesus rebukes him: Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”
           

            Also when Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, he finds the desciples sleeping instead of praying.   Jesus calls to Simon Peter, the “would be” leader:

Mark 14:37-38 “Jesus came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch for one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing indeed, but the flesh is weak.”

            However upon Jesus’ resurrection, He asks Simon three times if he loved Him.  Three times, Simon Peter says he does, and from that point on, Christ never had to call Simon “Simon” again.  He was “Peter” the rock. 

            Peter had his ups and downs.  In the book of Acts we see Peter calling himself “Simon Peter”, I believe He does this to indicate that Peter is not just a rock, but also a sinful man.  He recognized his faults, and considered them most of the time.  We also see Simon Peter being mention in the book of John, as “Simon Peter”, because John and Peter were good friends, and John could not distinguish which “Peter” or “Simon” he was.  John saw both men in him, and so called him “Simon Peter” throughout the book. 

Simon Peter showed many leadership qualities.  Life experiences often helped Simon Peter become the man he was.  He learned that crushing defeat and deep humiliation often follow hard on the heels of our greatest victories, because Simon was often the first to speak up, and yet the un-afraid to be incorrect.  Peter was also very submissive.  As a leader, you don’t want ppl to submit to your every world, but you also want to show them that you are equally submissive, teaching your followers how to accomplish their missions, and to be submissive to others. 

He was also confident and aggressive.  You see Peter confidently walking on water towards Jesus in Matthew 14:22-33.  Agressivly attacking the jewish soldiers, cutting off the ear of their slave, Malchus in John 18:10.  Peter also learned restraint.  Because Peter was so quick to answer every question, the Lord was also quick to correct his wrong thinking!  With every wrong word or wrong answer that Peter gave, the Lord rebuked his answers, teaching him restraint.  Nobody in the whole Bible spoke to the Lord more than Peter, because Peter often spoke before thinking!

            Peter became a remarkable disciple.  His actions during Christ’s life shaped him into one of the greatest leaders of all time.  Saving thousands and thousands of people just by speaking.  Healing other people, just by touching them with his shadow.  Healing the lame, and even raising the dead!  Peter’s remarkable transfiguration from Simon to Peter, became one of the most important aspects of the gospel, and teaches us that sometimes humility and discipline can bring about grace and peace.  Simon Peter became everything that Jesus needed. He became Simon Peter, “the Rock.”