Peter

I’ve been reading a good book lately called, What Have They Done With Jesus? by Ben Witherington.  I bought the book because I like Ben Witherington’s writing and I wanted to learn more about the Gospel of Judas, Thomas, and other apocryphal gospels that have gotten a lot of attention lately.  However, upon reading the first few chapters I’m finding that instead I’m learning much more about a guy named Rock…or as we usually call him, Peter.

From what I can tell, most scholars place Peter in his teenage years.  There have been many cultural changes and developments since Peter’s time, but the fact that he was a teenager when he began to follow Jesus remains significant to me. 

Peter is typically thought of as the kind of guy who would jump off the cliff before checking the depth of the water.  Sometimes this worked for him €“ like when he walked on water or when he dove out of the boat and swam to Jesus.  Other times this did not work out €“ like when Jesus told Peter €œget behind me Satan.€?  Can’t imagine what was going through his mind as his mentor called him Satan€¦I know if Jeff called me Satan I’d probably be looking for a new job!

But I’ve been intrigued by Peter’s whole life, that is what happened with Peter after the first Easter.  In John 21, Jesus redeems Peter with the threefold €“ €œdo you love me.€?  This, of course, after Peter had denied him three times on the night of Jesus’ betrayal.  Peter was given a second chance - a new beginning - he had been forgiven, encouraged, and given a job to do.  Not long after we see Peter preaching at Pentecost, healing the paralyzed, rejoicing after being beaten for the sake of Jesus, witnessing to Cornelius the gentile, and leading in the Church.  Of course Peter wasn’t perfect thereafter, read Galatians and see how he was rebuked by Paul - but his life was changed forever.  

So if you’re in your teens reading this, I hope you hear loud and clear the message from Peter - “If God can call and use me, he can call and use anybody.”  No, Peter never said that, but I bet somewhere in his mind at some point he thought it.  So when you’re thinking about who you’re going to be, where you’re going to go, or what you’re going to do, never turn down a dream because you think you’re not good enough, smart enough, strong enough, or anything else.  You don’t have to be any of those things anyway, you just have to be willing to take the next step with Jesus.  If he’s put a dream in your heart, he’s the one who can make it become real - all he needs from you is a willingness to take the next step, whatever that may be.  So when you’re thinking about these things…

Remember Rock.  Remember that he was an average, teenage fisherman when Jesus got a hold of him.  He didn’t get it all right and he messed up…just like we usually will too, but needless to say, his life was definitely far from average post-Jesus.

Remember that with Jesus all things are possible.  Whatever dream he’s put in your heart, whatever calling he’s offering you, he’s big enough to make it happen - one step at a time.

I bet the other disciples were shocked when ear-cutting, Jesus-betraying Peter boldly preached at Pentecost and three thousand were added to their number that day!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

 

 

~ by ryanmcbride on January 24, 2007.