The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
JESUS AND PETER
The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
JESUS AND PETER
Golden Text: “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12)
Lesson Plan:
1. Peter’s First Acquaintance with Jesus (Jn. 1:41, 42)
2. Peter in the School of Christ
3. Three denials of His Master (Mk. 14:53, 54, 66-72)
4. The Restoration of Peter
Lesson Setting:
Time: The denials were early Friday morning, April 7, A.D. 30.
Place: In the court of the Palace of the high priest Caiaphas, in Jerusalem
Research and Discussion: The court of the Palace. The character of Peter before he came to Jesus. His gradual development in the school of Christ. His great temptation on that Friday morning. How he came to deny his Master. Jesus’ method of dealing with him. The process of restoration. How all this affected his later life.
Introduction: Wisdom from a wise mother – “How many of your children are in your home reading club?” “All four.” “What are their ages?” “From 6 to 11,” said the wise mother, counting on her fingers; “Yes, Grace is the oldest ... she’s 11. Marian is the youngest.” “How do you manage it? By reading different books to each one?” “No, dear, that’s not possible.” “You can interest Grace in a book Marian understands?” “No, but I can interest Marian in a book that Grace can understand.” There was a look of confusion. “I mean,” explained the wise mother, “that I select the book that appeals to my oldest child. The younger ones can glean enough to hold their interest, but if I choose my book for the youngest then the older ones would be restless before I had read a page. Don’t your philosophers tell you that the world is turned to the note struck by the greatest among us?” “No, it’s wise mothers that tell us that.” This lesson is a study of the making of Peter, a study of the process and principles of his making, illuminating the methods and character of Jesus. The story of the making of Peter is full of instruction for the 21st Century.
Scripture Reading: John 1:41, 42
1. Peter’s First Acquaintance with Jesus
“If a vote were taken as to the most popular apostle, Peter would get a majority. He flames with contradictions, and yet we seem to understand him best of all. He visits very often in a little house called ‘Myself’ which stands hard by the dusty highway of life. Without his enthusiasm, his candor, his blunders and new starts, the Gospel stories would have been poorer” (‘The Cross Builders’). “Peter remains even today the most fascinating of that band of men which surrounded our Lord in the days of His earthly pilgrimage” (J. Campbell Morgan). He was impulsive, brave, self-confident, overflowing with energy and zeal, whole-souled, ready to act before he thought, generous-hearted, capable of a burning enthusiastic loyalty and love, a natural leader of men, a prosperous business man, owner of a house, and a boat for his business. At heart he was sincere and true. He was conscious of imperfection and sin, as shown by his saying to Jesus in view of a display of His power, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord”: and by his coming with his companions from Galilee to Judea to hear John the Baptist, he shows that he repented and was a sincere seeker for the better life and the kingdom of heaven. “Probably the traditional view of Peter as a rough, uneducated peasant is a considerable exaggeration of one side of the truth. He had not the culture of Paul, but he could read and write, knew two languages, Aramaic, the common language of Palestine, and conversational Greek. He was a well-to-do business man, owning a house in Capernaum, and a boat on the Sea of Galilee. He had the traits – vigor, courage, resourcefulness – which the life of a fisherman on the lake would necessarily develop in a healthy character” (‘Hastings’s Bib. Dict.). Peter possessed the raw material needed for the making of a great and good man. And when his brother Andrew introduced him to Jesus, immediately Jesus recognized the possibilities in him, taking the best possible way of enabling Peter to be the man he might become. Peter’s name at that time was “Simon,” a common name belonging to all kinds of men.
Jesus says: “Thou are Simon. Thou shalt be called Cephas” (v 42), i.e., equals Peter equals a stone or pebble. Thou shalt be a stone-man or a pebble-man. “‘Cephas’ is a Syriac word, and is equivalent to the Greek word Petros, which we render Peter. Both mean a stone, a portion of a rock. ‘Petra’ means a rock, ‘Petros’ a piece of rock. Peter was the latter, not the former” (J.C. Ryle, ‘Expository Thoughts on the Gospels’). Simon was like the soft stone, the building stone when it is first taken from certain quarries in Ohio, easily carved into any desirable form, but which soon becomes hard and fit for building cathedrals, office buildings and homes. This was a vision, a hope, a prophecy, an ideal for Peter. Beneath the shifting sands of impulse lay the possibility of a rock-like character; a character that nothing could move from its firm foundation. “Our Lord here displayed His perfect knowledge of all persons, names, and things. He needed not that any should tell Him who and what a person was. Such knowledge was supposed by the Jews to be a peculiar attribute of the Messiah. He was to be one of ‘quick understanding’ [Is. 11:3] ... It is a peculiar attribute of God, who alone knows the hearts of men. Our Lord’s perfect knowledge of all hearts was one among many proofs of His divinity. His same knowledge appears again in his address to Nathaniel [Jn. 1:47], and in His conversation with the Samaritan woman [Jn. 4:18]” (J.C. Ryle, ‘Expository Thoughts on the Gospels’).
v 42 ... “The son of John.” These are the exact words Jesus used in His confession of Peter (Matt. 16:13f), and the Lord’s use of them here appears to have been prompted by His divine knowledge of the great confession that Peter would make. Jesus saw the true nature and possibilities of Peter. It was a name and a character he could win, but only through many hard experiences, many struggles, “tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt,” long instruction and abiding with Jesus, many prayers “with strong crying and tears,” and many a fall from which he rose stronger than before.
2. Peter in the School of Christ
Peter immediately came under the influence of Jesus. There was much to be done. His incohesive qualities were to be unified into one beautiful whole; the separate and sometimes discordant notes of his character were to be formed into the exquisite harmonies of a Hallelujah chorus. Three particular influences were at work in securing this result. (a) His personal association with the Master. (b) The direct teaching which he received at the Lord’s hands. (c) The share he was allowed to have in Christ’s work. For a year and a half Peter was a student of Jesus, witnessing His miracles of healing and help, watching His methods, imbibing His spirit, receiving His instructions; all made more effective by being schooled together with the other disciples. The greatest influence in this training was the wonderful personality of Jesus. Soul grows by contact with soul. The power of the teaching lies in the teacher behind the teaching. Illustration The ancient Persian monarchs acted on this principle when, according to Xenophon’s ‘Memorabilia,’ they selected for the training of their princes the four best men in their kingdom – the ‘wisest’ man, the ‘most just’ man, the most ‘temperate,’ ‘self-controlled’ man, and the ‘bravest’ man – men who could teach such virtues because they had experienced them, illustrating them by living examples. Peter’s teacher was the wisest, most just, most self- governed, bravest person the world has known. Jesus called Peter to a higher grade, electing him to be one of the chosen twelve. He will always be in that list, placed with the first group. Jesus seems to have had a special love for Peter and John who were so different, though each had the most perfect comprehension of Jesus and His work. Peter was the first to see that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” which truth was revealed to him “not by flesh and blood but by My Father who is in heaven.” Peter was one of three to see Jesus in His glory on the mount of transfiguration. He was brought near to Jesus on other special occasions. His experience in the storm on the lake was a new lesson, as was the Lord’s Supper. Notice that all through this period Peter made many mistakes and errors, faults that were almost always in connection with virtues. Notice also the wise, loving gentleness of Jesus in His methods of curing Peter of his faults. He did not launch woes at him as He necessarily did at the hypocrites whom nothing but thunderbolts could move. The only seeming exception is when Peter rashly rebuked his Master for foretelling His death, when Jesus said to him, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” for Peter was unconsciously repeating Satan’s temptation in the wilderness, which was received by Peter’s words. In every instance Jesus’s reproofs of Peter were by a gentle question, a look, an action, or a warning. This beautiful and delicate mode of reproof, as a beloved friend to friend, was the most effective possible, and is well worth the attention of those ministers and teachers who try to make Christians better by scolding and denunciation. Thus we gain glimpses of Peter in the school of Christ, till we see him in the next higher and more difficult period of his schooling on the day of the Savior’s crucifixion.
Scripture Reading: Mark 14:53, 54, 66-72
3. Three Denials of His Master
The Scene now before us is still in the palace of Caiaphas, in the open court from which steps led up to the hall where Jesus was being tried. The time was very early on Friday morning, the day of the crucifixion. In the court were gathered various kinds of people – “officers of the military guard, who, having delivered over their prisoner, were awaiting further order concerning Him;” “servants, Levites, and the hangers-on of the high priest’s family lounging about.” In the court was a brazier of lighted charcoal, for it was chilly. Peter and John had followed afar off the multitude accompanying the guards who were taking Jesus to the high priest’s place. “John, who knew some of the officers, secured admission for himself and Peter; and he went into the judgment chamber, while Peter stayed outside within the shadow of a porch, from which the open windows of the second story could clearly be seen, and through them what went on in the council. The seductive flames of the brazier beckoned Peter from his solitary hiding-place to share the warmth which the group of coarse men and women were enjoying, while they told those who stayed at home of the strange things which had happened in the olive garden” (T.C. McClelland, ‘The Cross Builders’). “On the ground floor, under this hall, were rooms for servants and for various domestic purposes. As in modern Eastern houses, there was probably in this house, in addition to the kitchen and other domestic rooms, a stable and accommodations for poultry, so that it is quite possible that the cock whose crowing brought such distress to the wretched Peter was not very far away from him” (Dr. Albert L. Long).
The Warning: A few hours before, Jesus had put Peter on his guard so he wouldn’t be taken by surprise. “Satan” [the concentrated essence of all the powers of evil] – said Jesus to Peter, “asked to have you that he might sift you as wheat” (Lk. 22:31), may toss and shake you up by the winnowing fan; so that you shall fall away from the faith as the chaff and dust are blown away from the threshing floor. Satan desired to place Peter in such battle-fires of temptations that Peter would fall before them. Thus the man in the front ranks of the apostles, one of the mightiest forces for the building up of the kingdom of heaven, would be a failure, a wreck, a traitor, like Judas with whom Satan had succeeded. But Jesus knew that the making of Peter required that he be tried and tested by fire before he could be fitted for his great work. So, He said to Satan, “Thus far and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed;” and Himself prayed for Peter that his faith fail not, and that he should come from the furnace like gold tried in the fire. He did not pray that Peter should escape the shifting of Satan, for the sifting was an essential part of his education. All the Father’s chastenings are with a view to sift His children as wheat. It is of the essence of the ways of God with men alike in providence and grace. All persons, all causes, all reforms, all business, all government, need the sifting of Satan – the difficulties, the persecution, the uprisings, the criticisms, of which Satan and his servants are the instruments, but which the wise use as a means of growing purer, wiser, nearer the ideal.
The Sifting of Peter: “And as Peter was beneath in the palace” (v 66), on the court level, a story lower than the hall where the trial was being held.
v 54 ... “He was sitting with the officers and warming himself in the light of the fire,” for it was chilly, Jerusalem being 2000 feet above sea level.
One of the maids of the high priest (looking steadfastly on Peter) said: “Thou also wast with the Nazarene, even Jesus” (v 67).
v 68 ... “I neither know nor understand what thou sayest,” came the reply. Peter immediately left his exposed position in the firelight and went out into the porch near the outside door, and the cock crew. Not the regular cock-crowing which occurred an hour later but enough to have put Peter on his guard had he not been so occupied with his fears. The porch was not empty now. A few men and the maid were gossiping there, which Peter was shunning notice in the shadows.
v 69 ... “This is one of them,” said the maid. Peter (with an oath) responded, “I do not know the man” (Matt. 26:72).
An hour later, one of the bystanders (a kinsman of Malchus) saw Peter who was still in the porch daring not to go into the firelight again, and after looking closely at him said: “Of a truth this man also was with Him. For he is a Galilean. [To Peter] Thy speech bewayeth thee. Did I not see thee in the garden with Him?” (v 70)
v 71 ... “I know not this man of whom ye speak,” said Peter (beginning to curse and swear). The cock crows, even while he is speaking. It was the main cock-crowing, which gave the time of night. In the days when no clock marked the time, “cock-crowing” became a familiar phrase, as today, when referring to the earliest hour of dawn. The Lord Jesus turned and looked at Peter, probably as Jesus descended from the hall of His trial into the court where He was mocked. Peter heard the loud call of the chanticleer. Involuntarily he lifted his eyes up to where they were breaking the heart of his friend, and there stood Jesus, and Jesus was looking his way, and their eyes met. Their eyes met – that was all; but that was enough. The brazen self was broken down; and the dear past days came crowding in on him – the old pledges of affection, the promises of loyalty, the asseveration of undying devotion. “He cast his cloak about his head to hide from his eyes the sight and the sound of the denials, and rushed out into the night weeping bitterly” (McClelland, ‘The Cross Builders’).
Lessons From Peter’s Fall: (a) Realizing the fearful circumstances under which he fell, we should be careful condemning Peter’s conduct. The strongest and bravest of men have sometimes felt sick and faint when brought face to face with the stern reality of battle for the first time. Even Frederick the Great ran away from his first battle. Many soldiers have become the bravest of the brave, after a weak and fearful beginning. As the disciples do in the not too distant future. (b) Let us take heed lest we fall under far less fierce temptations. (c) Peter slept in the garden when he should have watched and prayed. (d) Peter followed afar off instead of keeping close to Jesus. (e) “It is always dangerous when a follower of Christ is sitting among Christ’s enemies without letting it be known what he is” (Stalker). (f) Peter’s profanity was probably the out-bursting of an old habit from his earlier sailor days. This is a warning to youth – avoid all wild oats, bad habits, things unworthy of Christian manhood.
4. The Restoration of Peter
It would be unfair both to Peter and ourselves if we left the story of Peter at this point. Anyone can fall. In fact, we all do. Dwelling on the negative, on life failures, is of little or no help to the progress of the kingdom of heaven, when compared with the positive, i.e., restoration to righteousness, and victory over evil. There were three stages in the restoration of Peter.
1st Stage: Repentance – Peter repented from the depth his inter most soul. It was the opposite of the repentance of Judas. Judas was sorry for the consequences of his sin, not the guilt of it. And instead of living to remedy all the possible results of his crime, he hung himself, thinking of himself, not the cause. But Peter still loved his Master and His Cause, and in the depths of his remorse and despair he hated his sin; and in the end he lived a long life in His service, proving the sincerity of his repentance. Peter is not mentioned again during the trial before Pilate, nor seen among those who watched beside the cross, nor during the long hours, including the whole Sabbath, in which Jesus’ body lay in the tomb. One author represents a companion as saying, “I knew that hell’s torture was upon him. What is any grief to the pangs of a noble breast when its love is wrecked by its own falseness.” Life at one time had a series of interviews in which a man is described as holding a dialogue with himself. How Peter must have talked to himself during that Sabbath of fears and hopes. “I wish that there were some wonderful place Called the Land of Beginning Again, Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches And all of our poor, selfish grief Could be dropped, like a shabby old coat, at the door, And never put on again. We should find all the things we intended to do But forgot and remembered too late. Little praises unspoken, little promises broken, And all of the thousand and one Little duties neglected that might have perfected The day for one less fortunate. It wouldn’t be possible not to be kind In the Land of Beginning Again; And the Jones we misjudged, and the Jones whom we grudged Their moments of victory here Would find in the grasp of our loving handclasp More than penitent lips could explain. So I wish that there were some wonderful place Called the Land of Beginning Again, Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches And all of our poor, selfish grief Could be dropped, like a shabby old coat, at the door, And never put on again” (Frances E. Tyner).
2nd Stage: Forgiveness – The first sign of forgiveness was when the angel in the empty tomb told the women coming early with spices that Jesus had arisen, and bade them “go, tell His disciples, and Peter.” The same Sunday, Jesus appeared to Peter (Lk. 24:34). He appeared to the eleven several times and Peter was among them. But the crowning act, perfecting the forgiveness and restoration of Peter to his place and work, was that touching scene by the Sea of Galilee when Jesus asked Peter three times, “Lovest thou Me?” Then the past sin was hidden by the glory of divine love; and Peter was sent forth to a long life devoted to Jesus and His work of saving the world, with the confidence of his fellow disciples. It is not the chipping off of the diamond’s surface that polishes the diamond, but it is by the wise use of the diamond dust or chippings, in the hands of a skilled lapidary, that the diamond’s polish is finally secured. It is not the making of mistakes that makes a man, but it is the wise use of mistakes that enables a man to be made – to become a polished man in his best sphere. Whenever we see the light and glow of a beautiful character, we may know that its illuminating power came through its slow polishing by its own diamond dust, at the hands of the Great Lapidary. The question God asks the sinner is not “What have you done?” but, “What will you do now?” The decisive question for each of us is not, “Did you sin?” but “What did you do after you sinned?”
3rd Stage: The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2) completed the restoration of Peter by filling him with divine power, purifying, enlightening, guiding to the end. Simon had become Peter – Peter had become Apostle.
